17 Dec
2003
17 Dec
'03
11:17 p.m.
The recent flap over Netscape and GAK ought to serve as a wakeup call and a reminder of the advantages the anarchstic GNU/FSF paradigm of software development has over the corporate model. No one can control GNU code, and no entity can impose changes on everyone else. If everyone was using GNU browsers and ssl servers right now we'd be safe. Competing with Netscape is obviously something that's easier said than done. But we ought to consider the strategic importance of having robust, free, open source packages for security applications, even if affordable and high quality commercial products exist.