Media Coverage
English press coverage
March, 2000
Linux
is a security risk, I don't think so!,
Security Portal, March 29, 2000
Columnist Kurt Seifried uses OpenBSD's code audit as an example to
refute a FUD piece on a major computer industry website that claims
that Linux is a security risk because the bad guys can find the holes
simply by reading the source code.
Getting to know OpenBSD,
Boardwatch Magazine, March 2000
UNIX columnist Jeffrey Carl continues his survey of the freenix alternatives
for ISPs with an interview with Louis Bertrand. The author also discusses
the relative merits of OpenBSD and how ISPs might want to use it for a
competitive advantage. The article is only in the paper publication for now,
and will be published online later.
February, 2000
All
About SSH - Part II: OpenSSH, Security Portal, February 28, 2000
Seán Boran wraps up his look at SSH with an article devoted to OpenSSH
running on OpenBSD and other OSes, mentioning problems porting OpenSSH to
platforms without good crypto support.
Firewalling with IPF, Security Portal, February 16, 2000
Kurt Seifried, author of the Linux Administrators Security Guide, explains
how to set up packet filtering with ipf. His examples are based on OpenBSD 2.6
even though his article isn't aimed at any specific OS.
OpenBSD 2.6 - new features,
Security Portal, February 9, 2000
Kurt Seifried reviews OpenBSD 2.6 and finds new features like OpenSSH, Apache
DSOs, and new device drivers. He also finds comfort in an old friend, the
"secure by default" installation.
Three
Unixlike systems may be better than Linux, ComputerWorld, February 7, 2000
We really like Simson when he writes "But if you're trying to get the
most for your money or if you want a higher level of security, take a look at
the BSDs. The rewards can be considerable." But he misses the point
about strong crypto because of the fuss over 128-bit browsers. The RSA patent
has been a more effective muzzle on innovation than the export prohibitions.
Also note OpenBSD and FreeBSD also integrate IPv6 in their current codebase.
Securing Linux,
Information Security, February 2000
Pete Loshin surveys the state of the industry in Linux and UNIX-like
security. He highlights an emerging problem, novice Linux users
who may unknowingly leave installation holes, or inadvertently create some.
The OpenBSD sidebar explains the goals and purpose of OpenBSD, and highlights
its reputation among security experts.
FreeBSD,
OpenBSD and SuSE 6.2 Eval Review, OS Opinion, February 2000
Can't decide? Let's try a bunch. Veteran computer jockey Keith Rankin
compares a Linux distro and two of the BSDs. Long and quite detailed.
January, 2000
Opening up, government style, ZDNet, January 24, 2000
Linux columnist Evan Leibovitch notes a small victory for open source
when the US government recognised it as being for "the
Public Good" in the recently relaxed cryptography export rules.
He quotes Theo mentioning that the RSA patent has had a far greater
chilling effect on US-based cryptography than the export prohibitions.
"Info.sec.radio" radio show. 11:00AM, Monday, January 10, 2000
CJSW 90.9 FM campus radio in Calgary in
association with SecurityFocus
In the inaugural show of Info.sec.radio, Dean Turner of
Security Focus interviews Theo de Raadt about OpenBSD, security,
and cryptography.
Mudge, the halo and the 2.4 sticker, MSNBC, January 6, 2000.
The beastie sticker from OpenBSD 2.4 was spotted on Mudge's laptop cover
in a file photo for this story about L0pht joining with corporate heavyweights.
Giving
Back, Sm@rt Reseller Online, January 4, 2000
Linux columnist Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols writes mostly about VA Linux
creating a source repository for open source projects, but there's an
interesting quote: "Whether an open-source program runs on OpenBSD,
Palm or even Windows, so long as it's an open-source program it's game
for SourceForge." OpenBSD, soon to be a household word!
A
report from LISA, SunWorld, January 2000
Columnist Peter Galvin gives a recap of LISA '99, mentioning among others
Bob Beck's paper about securing public
access Ethernet jacks on a university campus.
Canadian open source projects, The Computer Paper, January 2000
OpenBSD is featured in a year-end review of Canadian Open Source projects
in The Computer Paper.
Linux columnist Gene Wilburn gets it right. Unfortunately, the article isn't on
the Computer Paper's site, but it is available at the author's site.
A Home-Grown Operating System?, Alberta Venture Magazine,
January/February, 2000
Grace Casselman interviews Theo about the development process of OpenBSD.
December, 1999
OpenSource
projects - what I learned from Bastille (and others), Security
Portal, December 23, 1999
Kurt Seifried
(seifried@seifried.org), security
analyst and author of the Linux Administrators Security Guide, discusses
the effort needed to create a Linux distribution. He mentions OpenBSD's
code audit as a reference point for securing the OS.
November, 1999
Buddying
up to BSD: Part Three - Regrouping, Linux.com, November 15, 1999
Reviewer Matt Michie responds to critics of his previous OpenBSD
article in an opinion piece that discusses OpenBSD and Linux advocacy.
OpenBSD comes close to security nirvana with a system that is
'secure by default', InfoWorld, November 8, 1999
Security Watch columnists Stuart McClure and Joel Scambray say good things
about OpenBSD's security stance. "As you've come to expect from us,
our faith in vendors' attention to security is waning, but OpenBSD
gives us hope. OpenBSD is a group that has done it
right -- or at least strives to".
Buddying
up to BSD: Part Two - OpenBSD, Linux.com, November 8, 1999
Reviewer Matt Michie narrates his experience with an FTP installation
of OpenBSD 2.5 on an aging P-133. Despite trouble with the installation he
recommends it to experienced Linux users who wish to broaden their horizons.
Then the reader feedback flames him for his trouble.
UK Royal Family webmaster prefers OpenBSD,
Slashdot, November 4, 1999
Mick Morgan, of the UK's Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency,
answers Slashdot readers and talks about the design of a high profile
web site like the Royal Family's. In hindsight, he would have chosen
OpenBSD for its security aspects.
Turning on the Zedz, ZDNet, November 2, 1999
Linux columnist Evan Leibovitch tries to make sense of the byzantine
US crypto laws and offers some alternative crypto software and
resources including OpenBSD and OpenSSH.
Freenix
flavors or, three demons and a penguin, Boardwatch Magazine, November, 1999
Boardwatch Magazine's UNIX columnist Jeffrey Carl surveys the freenix choices
for ISPs. We debate his conclusion that security and functionality are
mutually exclusive choices. If that were the case, security conscious users
would unplug from the Net and just send faxes.
October, 1999
OpenBSD - a secure alternative,
Security Portal, October 27 1999
Kurt Seifried
(seifried@seifried.org), security
analyst and author of the Linux Administrators Security Guide,
discusses setting up an OpenBSD firewall.
Interview with The Cult of the Dead Cow,
Slashdot, October 22, 1999
In between cheeky and rude answers to slashdot reader questions, cDc'ers
mention OpenBSD's security model and code audit.
The existence of OpenSSH-1.0 has been confirmed,
Linux Weekly News, October 14, 1999
Linux Weekly News was the first non-BSD news agency to report the existence of
OpenSSH, which will ship with OpenBSD 2.6.
Easing on Software Exports Has Limits,
New York Times, October 11, 1999
Peter Wayner takes a closer look at some consequences of the US government's
restrictions on the export of strong cryptographic software, and finds no
small amount of irony. OpenBSD is prominently featured, along with a picture
of Theo de Raadt brandishing CD-ROMs. (No charge registration required to
read the NY Times on the web).
NSTI announces commercial support services for OpenBSD,
Yahoo News, Oct. 6, 1999
Network Security Technologies press release on the PR Newswire. NSTI
already uses OpenBSD in their Network Ops Center.
I've been hacked!
How OpenBSD saved our project, Daemon News, October 1999
Overworked system administrator John Horn tells us about his adventures with
a publicly-accessible Lynx server.
September, 1999
Calgarian heads team ensuring OpenBSD security,
Calgary Herald, Sept. 30, 1999
Technology reporter Matthew McClearn interviewed system administrators and
security specialists in Calgary and Edmonton who choose OpenBSD for its
stability and proactive security audit. He also gives some project history.
Small town in Kentucky has Internet connectivity unlike the rest of
America, MSNBC, Sept. 29, 1999
Jethro reports on the mailing lists that MSNBC aired a segment about a small
town in Kentucky with high-speed Internet connectivity. During an interview
with the town's teenage security guru, you could read the prompt on his
terminal:
Connected to spanweb.glasgow-ky.com.
Escape character is '^]'.
OpenBSD/mac68k (spanweb.glasgow-ky.com) (ttyp0)
Hack this! Microsoft and its critics dispute software-security issues, but users make the final call, Infoworld, Sept. 27, 1999
Microsoft: Bad security, or bad press?, CNN, Sept. 28, 1999
A scathing look at the Microsoft "Insecure by Default" scheme quotes the
CDC as saying that "The most secure platform 'out of the box' is OpenBSD,
because security is a focus on the project". Contrast the Microsoft scheme
with ours.
Open source has roots in the Net, USA Today, Sept. 20, 1999
Nice high profile mention of OpenBSD by Will Rodger:
"Yet backers say the speed and transparency with which open source
programmers compete to discover and then fix problems separates their
operations from traditional software shops. OpenBSD -- still another
open source operating system -- is often called the most secure
operating system in the world."
Even better than Linux, Boston Globe, Sept 16, 1999
Technology writer Simson L. Garfinkel confesses he prefers the BSDs better
than Linux and explains why. He writes a nice paragraph or two about OpenBSD
and its security and cryptography goals. However, reading this, you'd think
all the developers were Canadian (hint: they're not). The article has moved
to the archives, free registration required.
Microsoft,
Linux to become duopoly?, ComputerWorld Australia, Sept 8, 1999.
Reporter Natasha David interviews lead developer Theo de Raadt, who notes that cross-UNIX
compatibility is losing ground in the rush for Linux applications. de Raadt
was a keynote speaker at the Australian Unix User Group (AUUG) meeting in
Melbourne.
GNU
launches free encryption tool, IDG News Service, September 08, 1999
GNU Privacy Guard runs fine on OpenBSD.
Maintaining
Patch Levels with Open Source BSDs, SysAdmin feature article, Sept. 1999
Michael Lucas explains the broad lines of the BSD development model and
how to keep *BSD systems up-to-date with CVS. The author takes most of the
examples from FreeBSD, but he takes the time to explain differences
between the three systems. (Most of this is technology was originally
invented by the earliest OpenBSD developers, as described in a
paper presented at Usenix).
My own private IRP, open source IT tutorial, Sept. 1999
Sean Sosik-Hamor descibes how he built up his own Internet resource provider
(IRP) and web hosting business out of available hardware and freenix
software. He chose OpenBSD exclusively for his DMZ and describes the FTP
installation.
India-based
Web site offers raft of free OSes,
ComputerWorld Australia, September 1999
OpenBSD is one of many free OSes offered at FreeOS,
an India-based alternative OS news and portal site.
August, 1999
A Secure and Open Society,
ComputerWorld Canada, Aug 27, 1999
The article starts off as a personal story about lead developer Theo de Raadt,
but if you read carefully, it does explain a lot about the origins and goals
of OpenBSD.
1999's Technically Excellent Canadians,
COMPUTERMAGS.COM, Aug 10, 1999
"CCW is very pleased to name our five Technically Excellent Canadians,
who are significantly impacting on technology both at home and
abroad. Thanks to our readers for your involvement and nominations."
The publisher of Canadian Computer Wholesaler (August 1999) and
The Computer Paper (September 1999) presented this award
to Theo de Raadt for his part in OpenBSD (the sub-article is half
way down the page).
July, 1999
The Net's stealth operating system, MSNBC, July 22, 1999
"The OpenBSD group, which did a line-by-line security audit of BSD
code, and now has what is widely regarded as the most secure OS
available."
June, 1999
IPsec Tech Tutorial,
Data Communications, June 1999
"IPsec may be an open standard, but that's no guarantee that different
vendors' gear will work together. To assess interoperability, we put an even
dozen products through their paces." OpenBSD 2.4 and commercial IPsec
implementations were tested by an independent lab for interoperability
and ease in setting up tunneling gateways.
A
glimpse at the USENIX Technical Conference, SunWorld, June 1999
In a review of this year's event subtitled "USENIX
and Unix -- then and now", writer Vicki Brown contrasts the first
conference in 1979 to the recent one in Montery, California. Although it
only mentions OpenBSD in the links section below the article, it's still
an interesting read.
May, 1999
Operating system designed to foil hackers,
National Post, May 25, 1999
The Post's technology reporter David Akin interviews Theo de Raadt for
in a story that ran on the front page of the business section.
OS Also-Rans: After Windows 98, Mac OS and Linux, what's left for your
Macintosh or Intel PC? Lots, St.Paul-Minneapolis Pioneer-Planet, May 17 1999
Despite the terrible title, staff writer Julio Ojeda-Zapata gives fair
treatment to the alternatives.
In Search of OpenBSD, DaemonNews, May 1999
Ejovi Nuwere in Japan: three days, three locations, one operating system.
Safe and friendly
read-only chroot jails for FTP and WWW, DaemonNews, May 1999
"Ruffy" explains how to set up safe and friendly read-only FTP and WWW services
with OpenBSD's ftpd as an example.
March, 1999
Why to BSD in a Linux world, March, 1999
Description of the OpenBSD development process, and arguments as to why
Linux probably cannot achieve the same level of security audit.
Alternative
OSes face a Sisyphean struggle to get into the PC mainstream, Infoworld, March 8, 1999
Guest columnist Brett Arquette points out that Linux isn't the only alternative
PC OS out there, then describes why hardware drivers and end user support is
crucial to popularising an OS. He mentions OpenBSD and adds a link to this
site.
February, 1999
NFR Performance Testing, report written by
Anzen. February, 1999
This report compares the network monitoring performance of the
NFR (Network Flight Recorder) package at
handling flat-out 100Mbit ethernet monitoring, running on OpenBSD, BSDI,
Linux, and Solaris. OpenBSD comes out as a clear winner just for raw
performance; even before you consider the superior security of OpenBSD
which you probably would want for a network-monitoring station.
DaemonNews: Serving NT filesystems from an OpenBSD server
February, 1999
A system administrator debunks the myth that you must use NT as a file server
when you run Windows clients. Squeezing performance out of vintage hardware and
adding in some scripts to automate the setup of new projects won management
over to OpenBSD.
Security Watch, end of year Golden Guardian awards.
February, 1999
"Finally, we'd be remiss in ignoring OpenBSD in any discussion of top
open-source security products. It registered high in our e-mail
survey, and we promise to take a more active look at it in future
columns."
January, 1999
Open-Source
Software: Power to the People, Data Communications, January 4, 1999
Columnist Lee Bruno marvels that free software is serving alongside name-brand
software. Page three mentions OpenBSD in the roundup.
The
return of BSD, SunWorld, January 1999
BSD veteran Greg Lehey notes the strong loyalty of SunOS 4 users and surveys the
BSD-derived OSes available on SPARC and PC hardware. The article also comes with
a long list of useful links (some are stale).
November, 1998
OpenBSD and IPSec, leading the pack, November, 1998
A two-part article by Ejovi Nuwere focusing on OpenBSD's IPSec Development.
Part one is an introduction to OpenBSD's Photurisd and its current
Implementation, including a brief interview with
Photurisd creator Neils Provos.
August, 1998
Beyond HOPE coverage, Wired Magazine, Aug 11, 1997
Completely bogus (but quite amusing) description of what
OpenBSD is.
July, 1998
Security Watch: Monthly Editorial.
July, 1998
Points at our security page
calling it "OpenBSD's mantra".
Wired Magazine, June 1998, page 96 (paper edition only)
A half-page description of what OpenBSD is, with a strange picture
of project founder Theo de Raadt (Wired loves Photoshop).
June, 1998
WebServer Online, reprinted in
Server/Workstation Expert (formerly
SunExpert Magazine), June 1998, page 81
A glowing four-page description of OpenBSD emphasizing its use
as a server and an OS that ships with security in the box
(the SunExpert version is in PDF but includes their own
graphic - a cross between Superman and the BSD Daemon, which
the WebServer version in HTML does not).
May, 1998
Usenix coverage, Wired Magazine, May 1, 1998
Mention of OpenBSD with regards to our involvement in the
Freenix track held at Usenix in New Orleans.
Swedish press coverage (in Swedish)
November, 1998
Datateknik, Nov 20, 1998
An article on the swedish IPSec interop event
mentions OpenBSD as one of the successful participants, and has a
mini-interview with OpenBSD developer Niklas Hallqvist.
Datateknik, Nov 13, 1998 and
Datateknik, Nov 14, 1998
Two published letters talking about OpenBSD's role in MacOS X. The first
one has some misconceptions which are corrected by the second which
explains the licensing issues and points to our
copyright policy page.
Japan press coverage (in Japanese)
September, 1999
BSD Magazine,
Sept. 28, 1999
ASCII Corporation is launching a Japanese language magazine that covers the
freenix BSDs, BSD/OS and related subjects. The magazine will also be
translating and reprinting articles from
Daemon News, the BSD ezine.
Germany press coverage (in German)
February, 2000
Open Source Software in der Bundesverwaltung, Bundesministerium des Innern,
Februar 2000
A paper on open source software in the German federal government,
published by the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The paper, which
gave reference to OpenBSD among many other OSes and applications, was
posted then retracted on "orders from above" in the ministry.
December, 1999
OpenBSD 2.6 ist da, heise online newsticker, December 2, 1999
Brief summary of the OpenBSD 2.6 press release.
Russian press coverage (in Russian)
January, 2000
Byte Magazine, Russia,
January 2000 issue
Interview with Theo de Raadt about history and feature of OpenBSD project.
July, 1999
Byte Magazine, Russia,
July/August 1999 issue.
A review of OpenBSD 2.5 and OpenBSD project goals.
www@openbsd.org
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