Advertisement

'Crackers' Infiltrate State-of-the-Art MIT Computer System

"Our system administrators stay cur- rent with information about security holes that are discovered for our types of systems, and take all necessary steps to close those holes," he said.

He said that the recent authentication checks and forced password changes on Unix were aimed at increasing security.

FAS Computer Services is also considering other methods of increasing the current system's security, according to Osterberg.

"We continue to explore numerous ways to improve the security of the networks and systems on campus," he said. "We are also exploring the possibility of providing SSH [secure cell] clients to users."

SSH is an encryption program similar to MIT's Kerberos.

However, Osterberg said providing SSH to Harvard computer users would involve a "very heavy financial burden."

Advertisement

"As with everything else, we are constantly looking to balance security with usability and convenience for our user community," he said

Advertisement