[BBLISA] Quick Poll: Would you trust system software from an anonymous source? (take2)

[Dean Anderson]

On Sat, 27 Feb 2010, Edward Ned Harvey wrote:

> > 5. Would it be reasonable to fire the admin responsible if they knew of
> > (1), and perhaps (2),and (3), but used it anyway?
> 
> I think if you want a meaningful response to any of these questions,
> particularly this one, you'll have to provide some specifics.
> Generalizations about "trust" "anonymous" "software" are all way too
> vague, and certainly will leave doubt as to whether employee
> termination would be justified.
> 
> Did the person violate some policy?  Was the policy clear?

I don't know of any specific policy against foolishly installing
malware. Come to think of it, I've never seen an IT policy against
/intentionally/ installing malware.  But "good judgment" is a
requirement of admins, vague though it is.

> Did the person's actions cause some sort of harm?

Might malware not be harmful?  Is a virus that doesn't crash my system
or destroy my data, but merely uses it once in a while to attack someone
else and/or read my confidential data, not a harm?

> Was this a one-time thing, or something that happened repeatedly,with
> communication about it each time?

This is also a good point I hadn't considered. Others made similar
points on the seniority of the admin. If the admin is really junior, one
sort of expects the occasional stupid mistake.  But if the admin is
really senior, people react differently. Which makes sense; the more
senior one is, the better judgment one should have and should exercise.

		--Dean



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