Root exploit for FreeBSD

[Kevin Wilcox]

2009/12/10 Anton Shterenlikht <mexas at bristol.ac.uk>:

> >From my information security manager:
>
>        FreeBSD isn't much used within the University (I understand) and has a
>        (comparatively) poor security record. Most recently, for example:
>
>        http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Root-exploit-for-FreeBSD-873352.html

Wow.

Just...wow.

FreeBSD's security record, the rate at which fixes occur, the ports
system and the overall sanity of the environment is *precisely* why we
have been migrating from RHEL to FreeBSD at my University (I'm
employed by the University, not a student).

I would be quite curious as to which operating system is serving as
the baseline for this comparison. I would also be quite curious as to
whether the manager making said statement is responsible for central
IT services or is locked into providing services by a particular
vendor.

kmw

-- 
Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the
citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a
double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows
the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the
blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no
need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry,
infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of
their rights unto the leader and gladly so - Unattributed, post 9/11