Hi Mac Security readers!

This message is in two sections:

- First is a proposal to start a Mac Security dedicated eGroup.

- Second is a thank you, and a sorry, with an brief explanation of
why I write this weekly post.

-----------------

-> Part 1: Mac Security eGroup

One of my readers asked if I could start a listserv dedicated to
Macintosh security. My own Internet server is dedicated to providing FTP
services to about 900 clients. So that's out of the question. However, I
am a veteran at administering eGroups. I currently run a rare music
group at Yahoo, and would be glad to run another group there for those
interested in news and discussion of Macintosh security.

The eGroup would be kept open to anyone who wanted to join. All members
will be encouraged to post Mac Security information. I will post my
weekly summary reports to the eGroup as well as to the current
newsgroups. Members will be welcome to comment on any Mac security
related issues. Spammers, flamers and trolls will be banned at my
personal discretion as well as by request from the membership.

I am not sure what the 'interest density' (as I call it) will be
regarding such a group. Therefore, I am soliciting feedback here in this
thread, both pro and con. All useful thoughts will be appreciated.

-----------------

-> Part 2: Thanks, sorry, and why I write 'Mac Security'

Thank you for the appreciation I have been receiving! Encouragement is
inspiring.

And, 'Sorry, but I disagree' to the fellow who thought summarizing Mac
security issues each week was pointless, and that everyone should gather
this information from the net on their own.

My purposes for writing this series of articles are to:

1) Point out that the anti-Mac security FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt)
that has been perpetrated recently is worthless, if not outright lies.
Something in the style of my 'Mac Security' posts are what I would much
rather see on the net. FUD is destructive. My goal is to instead be
constructive.

2) Present the actual facts concerning Mac security issues as compared
with those of Windows.

3) Encourage Mac users to practice responsible security while providing
suggestions of methods.

4) Present the Mac security summary I know I would be interested in
finding and reading on the net. As far as I know I am the only person
creating these weekly summaries. I think the venerable newsgroups are a
great place to post them. Someone suggested starting a dedicated
website. I could do that, but I think the large newsgroup audience, at
least for now, is considerably preferable.

Because I cross-post to both Mac advocacy (aka computer warz) newsgroups
as well as Mac OS X system newsgroups I have to consider what writing
style is suitable for the reader cultures of both these types of groups.
As a result I am striving to drop the computer warz attitude, just for
this series. The summaries may now be a bit stiff for the warz veterans.
But my goal is to maintain a profession style that is characteristic of
the systems veterans. This is the best compromise.

Share and Enjoy,

:-Derek

--
Fortune Magazine, 11-29-05: What's your computer setup today?
Frederick Brooks: I happily use a Macintosh. It's not been equalled for ease
of use, and I want my computer to be a tool, not a challenge.
<http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005/12/12/8363107/>
[Frederick Brooks is the author of 'The Mythical Man Month'. He spearheaded
the movement to modernize computer software engineering in 1975]

In article
<derekcurrie-A5FF93.08523702072006@syrcnyrdrs-03-ge0.nyroc.rr.com>,
Derek Currie <derekcurrie@mac.com.invalid> wrote:

> Hi Mac Security readers!
>
> This message is in two sections:
>
> - First is a proposal to start a Mac Security dedicated eGroup.
>
>

Derek, I would be very interested to be a member of the list.

The topic is even...ahem...topical. I am hung up on a silly problem
right this minute, that seems to have no obvious solution.

Some functionality in the Mac world has been _lost_ recently. It used
to be true that I could create a Stuffit archive, encrypt it for
privacy then set it as an executable i.e. a self-extracting archive so
the recipient could open it without Stuffit. ( A PC user, for example.)

Similarly with PGP. I have just been on the phone to a guy at PGP. He
confirms that the executable feature that used to be in there, was
removed because of the proliferation of malware.

I've seen current utilites that permit the creation of a
self-extracting archive. (For example, Stuffit's SEA Maker.)

I've seen current utilites that permit encryption. (For example,
Stuffit's Stuffit Deluxe.)

Why the hell can I no longer find one utility that does both? Doesn't
make any sense. And I'm getting grumpy. I rapologise but I'm going to
post here, there and everywhere until I'm read by someone who can help
because I'm sure there is sa tool out there that will do this simple
job.

--
"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike
your Christ." ‹ Gandhi

In article
<derekcurrie-A5FF93.08523702072006@syrcnyrdrs-03-ge0.nyroc.rr.com>,
Derek Currie <derekcurrie@mac.com.invalid> wrote:

> Hi Mac Security readers!
>
> This message is in two sections:
>
> - First is a proposal to start a Mac Security dedicated eGroup.
>
>

Derek, I would be very interested to be a member of the list.

The topic is even...ahem...topical. I am hung up on a silly problem
right this minute, that seems to have no obvious solution.

Some functionality in the Mac world has been _lost_ recently. It used
to be true that I could create a Stuffit archive, encrypt it for
privacy then set it as an executable i.e. a self-extracting archive so
the recipient could open it without Stuffit. ( A PC user, for example.)

Similarly with PGP. I have just been on the phone to a guy at PGP. He
confirms that the executable feature that used to be in there, was
removed because of the proliferation of malware.

I've seen current utilites that permit the creation of a
self-extracting archive. (For example, Stuffit's SEA Maker.)

I've seen current utilites that permit encryption. (For example,
Stuffit's Stuffit Deluxe.)

Why the hell can I no longer find one utility that does both? Doesn't
make any sense. And I'm getting grumpy. I rapologise but I'm going to
post here, there and everywhere until I'm read by someone who can help
because I'm sure there is sa tool out there that will do this simple
job.

--
"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike
your Christ." ‹ Gandhi