buggNewSense GNU/Linux - Bugs: bug #28409, [SPAM] Using a magnet on a hard...

 
 

bug #28409: [SPAM] Using a magnet on a hard drive can result in nonfree software

Submitter:  Daniel Dreiberg <nite_owl_ii>
Submitted:  Sat 26 Dec 2009 06:36:21 PM UTC
   
 
Category:  Infrastructure Severity:  3 - Normal
Item Group:  All infrastructure Status:  Invalid
Privacy:  Public Assigned to:  None
Open/Closed:  Closed

Discussion locked!

Mon 28 Dec 2009 08:21:28 PM UTC, comment #5: 

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December 28th 2009 in GNU Savannah bug 28409: "Using a magnet on a
hard drive can result in nonfree software"

Hi Daniel,

It would consitute a violation of the GNU GPL if you distribute gNS in
object code form with random bits swiped because GNU GPL requires to
provide the source.  In this case the source code will be the source
of gNS and a document describing how you obtained the hashed object
code (This is, the enviroment and commands you use for compilation and
the exact bits you swaped).

The mere action of swipe a magnet on your HD don't contititutes an GPL
violation at all becuase the GPL dont put restrictions on personal
use, just on distribution.

If you really want to help, make sure there is a true GNU GPL
violation before report it and then contact the mantainer and
copyright holder. This was not an violation and only makes us loose
time.

Please dont disturb RMS or another free software memebers unless they
are directly related to the issue, that is called spam and we dont
want spam.  I understand this time you dont wanted to disturb anybody
but now you know wath to do and wath not to do.

GNU GPL dobuts can be consulted to the GPL Compilance Lab:
-email is unavailable-

Regards.
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Mario Castelán Castro <marioxcc>
Sat 26 Dec 2009 11:52:12 PM UTC, comment #4: 

Also, I apologize for adding RMS to the CC list. As a new user, I thought I should add him as he is very important and I was under the impression that he was the maintainer of all Free software.

Daniel Dreiberg <nite_owl_ii>
Sat 26 Dec 2009 11:47:53 PM UTC, comment #3: 

Ah, ok. Well then, you can ignore my comments about it being a GPL violation. Next time I will perform more research and be more careful about my language before making such drastic comments as these.

Thank you for your work to make gNewSense better!

Daniel Dreiberg <nite_owl_ii>
Sat 26 Dec 2009 11:26:21 PM UTC, comment #2: 

gNewSense is not responsible for your actions. gNewSense's policy is to not provide or recommend non-free software. You are free to use any non-free software you install or create yourself (with a magnet or otherwise).

And it's only a GPL violation if a derivative was distributed without releasing the source code.

Please use your time in a more useful way than trolling.

Sam Geeraerts <samgee>
Group administrator
Sat 26 Dec 2009 11:25:05 PM UTC, comment #1: 

I have also found out that, even though this bug was clearly noticed by those in the gNewSense irc channel, no action was taken to help prevent this issue. This is not becoming of a Free Software project, and shows that there is not true motivation to keep gNewSense 100% Free.

Daniel Dreiberg <nite_owl_ii>
Sat 26 Dec 2009 06:36:21 PM UTC, original submission:  

It has recently come to my attention that a computer with gNewSense installed can become compromised if a magnet is swiped over the hard drive. This will result in random bits being changed. Normally this would not be a problem, but as there is no source code for these random bits, nonfree binaries will be produced as a result.

This is a very important issue for me personally. I was told by a user online that doing this would produce nonfree software. I answered back saying that, as I run gNewSense, I am completely void of all traces of nonfree software. I tried to prove it to him, but it turned out that he was right. Random bits were changed on my hard drive, and there was no source code for them. Not only is this a violation of gNewSense's standards, but it is also a GPL violation since a derivative work was created without releasing the source code.

I believe that this problem is a grave issue for the project, and that some means necessary must be taken to prevent this from occurring. Please fix this issue, as it completely goes against the gNewSense and Free Software Foundation's high moral standards.

Daniel Dreiberg <nite_owl_ii>

 

(Note: upload size limit is set to 16384 kB, after insertion of the required escape characters.)

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Depends on the following items: None found

Items that depend on this one: None found

 

Carbon-Copy List
  • -email is unavailable- added by marioxcc (Posted a comment)
  • -email is unavailable- added by samgee (Posted a comment)
  • -email is unavailable- added by nite_owl_ii
  • -email is unavailable- added by nite_owl_ii (Submitted the item)
  •  

    Follow 8 latest changes.

    Date Changed by Updated Field Previous Value => Replaced by
    2009-12-27 kgoetz Discussion LockNone Locked
    2009-12-26 samgee Carbon-CopyRemoved -email is unavailable- -
    2009-12-26 samgee StatusNone Invalid
        Open/ClosedOpen Closed
    2009-12-26 nite_owl_ii Carbon-Copy- Added -email is unavailable-
    2009-12-26 nite_owl_ii Carbon-Copy- Added -email is unavailable-
    2009-12-26 nite_owl_ii Carbon-CopyRemoved leo_rockway -
    2009-12-26 nite_owl_ii Carbon-Copy- Added leo_rockway

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