[Nautilus-list] Re: [PMH] Idea for Nautilus and GMC.

[Jakub Steiner <jimmac ximian com>]

On 22 May 2001 20:23:38 -0400, Miguel de Icaza wrote:
> 
> Currently when people download executables from the network, say for
> installing software, they can not execute them because the execute bit
> is not set.
> 
> So typical installation instructions for a Unix application look like
> this:
> 
> 	1. Click on this link to download.
> 	2. Run a shell
> 	3. type chmod +x file
> 	4. Run
As has been already mentioned, nautilus has a way how to change perms without launching a shell (I bet gmc has too, dunno). I'm surprised by the number of positive responses to this idea. IMHO this is a small good for usability and a big security drawback. A lot of trojan horses will pop-up once there is such a feature in an end-user app like a file manager. Users that won't be able to set the execute bit won't  be able to recognise the risks of clicking on a See-Miguel-Naked icon ;) 

Every "will linux email clients be threatened by melissa-like worms?" article ends with "we have the execute bit 'security'". I vote for not having this feature implemented...

Jakub

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   Jakub Steiner - GFX wizard - Ximian Inc. - jimmac ximian com : http://jimmac.musichall.cz