Closed Source Hardware

Closed Source Hardware
Jason Miller, 2004-12-01

Trust with hardware vendors for open source systems is becoming a one-way street, where in exchange for support they offer a closed source binary solution with no provision to audit security.

Expand all | Post comment

Closed Source Hardware 2004-12-03
JTC (1 replies)

Closed Source Hardware - Clarifications 2004-12-03
Jason V. Miller (Author) (4 replies)

Closed Source Hardware - Clarifications 2004-12-04
anonymous elf

Closed Source Hardware - Clarifications 2004-12-04
Anonymous (1 replies)

Closed Source Hardware - Clarifications 2004-12-06
Jason V. Miller (Author) (1 replies)

An Opening and Motive for Spyware in Drivers 2004-12-08
Anonymous (1 replies)

Re: An Opening and Motive for Spyware in Drivers 2007-01-08
Anonymous

Closed Source Hardware - Clarifications 2004-12-04
Anonymous

Closed Source Hardware - Clarifications 2004-12-07
Andreas Mohr (1 replies)

Closed Source Hardware - Clarifications 2004-12-07
Jason V. Miller (Author)

Closed Source Hardware 2004-12-07
Mace Moneta (1 replies)

Closed Source Hardware 2004-12-07
Jason V. Miller (Author)

Closed Source Hardware (and software) 2004-12-07
GreyGeek (1 replies)

Closed Source Hardware (and software) 2004-12-07
dph (1 replies)

I would point out that this is something that they are inherently allowed to do. There is nothing that prohibits them or restricting your right to redistribute the compiled binaries. They only must make all the source and their modifications available. Whether the whole system is as useable if you compile from source isn't guaranteed by the GPL. If you don't like it, get the source and roll your own ISO.

Some other "free software" options (FreeBSD) don't even require derivative product to distribute the source and modifications.

The GPL is an amazing license, and I am happy that a company like Novell or Redhat can make a profit by putting together a useable and SUPPORTED distribution, while a group like Debian and Gentoo can use the same source code, and put together a different distribution with different aims.

Diversity is good.

[ reply ]

Link to this comment: http://www.securityfocus.com/comments/columns/281/29405#29405

Closed Source Hardware (and software) 2004-12-08
Anonymous

Closed Source Hardware 2004-12-07
lsi

Jailing a driver 2004-12-07
Jack Carroll

soon to have an open HAL 2004-12-07
Evan