At 09:58 19/12/2000 +0100, Peter Lairo wrote:
>OK, most people use Win9x. If one were to set up multiple user profiles in
>Win9x,
>would:
>
>a) Mozilla install its user files to that users directory?
It should do, if it doesn't that's a bug.
>b) would that directory be in any way protected from view by persons
>logging in
>under another Win9x profile?
Check
http://msdn.microsoft.com/training/options/FREE/VBSOL/Topics/winvbvc00198.htm
this says that My Documents should be used to store User created data. As
its a virtual path set up at the time of login then it is certainly true
that only the logged in user would see their own data in My
Documents. However, I'm not aware of anything in 9x or Me that implements
permissions to lock out other profiles from being physically searched.
This is slightly better than just using a password in Mozilla, but suffers
the same drawback.
>If either answer is NO, then Mozilla should consider implementing a profile
>password to add even a minor layer of security to ones mail privacy, since
>if Win9x
>doesn't encrypt or hide users' info from others, most people wouldn't
>bother to use
>it.
>
>If either answer is NO, then why are so many people using Win9x.?
>According to your
>logic, this would "damage the reputation of the product (Win9x) as a whole
>and call
>into question the integrity in other areas"? Then why are so many people using
>Win9x? Despite why you or I may think about M$ and it's flawed OS, this is the
>reality. Obviously, people are making their usage habits (Win9x & IE) based
>primarily on convenience and not technically optimized criteria (or most
>people
>would be using Win NT or Linux for security, but they mostly use Win9x -
>makes one
>think, doesn't it). Mozilla must think very hard when deciding between
>what users
>want and what is technically optimal. Mozilla must make this important
>compromise.
I'd imagine that many people given the choice would want a more secure
operating system than 9x or Me, most people don't get the choice
though. Their operating system is bundled with their hardware, and if not
the home user is generally told that 9x is their ideal operating system and
that Win 2K etc is a corporate user's operating system. That this is now
generally false is a pity but there's not a lot can be done about that
until MS produce their unified OS, and even then they will have a smaller
Home User O/S still dependant on DOS, because their marketeers believe
anything else would be too difficult.
This isn't to inculcate any OS platform war, I really couldn't care less
what platform is used.
Simon
