My experience with a Sysadmin

I don't like to talk about my personal relations with my colleagues, but here I have to deal with a very *stubborn* Sysadmin, who don't take seriously the recent threats coming from MSBlast or Sobig.

I really don't understand this attitude, so because we are a small group, I decided to pass over him and do the different patches myself.

So now things seems to be better, but what an experience to deal with that.

I probably have to take some advice on 'How to deal with the Sysadmin without being rude' ;-)

I also heard many times that virus are only for Windows, and we are all morons to not jumping on the Linux wagon.

Well I think that people who develops such pesty things are only attracted by the mass effect.

Indeed if Linux take 95 % of the market, you will see much more issues than now !

 

3 Comments

  • Why don't you ask him why?



    Seriously.



    It might be that he's lazy and incompetent. Or, he might have a legitimate excuse.



    Just be non-confrontational about it and be like, "Hey [name], do you have a minute? OK, I read about these two new worm -- MSBlast and Sobig -- and saw our system wasn't patched yet. So I went ahead and did it because I'm concerned about our vulnerability to attacks. Can you explain why weren't patched more quickly?"



    If he brushes you off as paranoid, then maybe you should schedule a meeting with his supervisor.



    Joe



    P.S. I agree with you on the "mass effect" motivation, but it's impossible to prove. Whether or not a huge Linux user-base would be equally vulnerable is almost entirely speculation.

  • To be honest, Joe he used more the F.. word in a minute that I do in my entire life ;-)

    I show him the results produced by the test tool provided by MS to see which computers on a network are not patched, and his answer was: 'Oh this tool is not reliable, MS reckon that a PC can look unpatch when it's really done'. Moron ;-)

    Anyway for the Linux idea, maybe I should add also the Internet success is also responsible.

    Very tempting for some hackers to create some new exploits like a worm. But I definitely think that the success of an OS determine the will of some hackers to crack it. And of course Linux has also some good nasty virus, but nobody really make a publicity about this

  • A very difficult position you find yourself in, I'm sure. I agree with Joe, that if his actions or inactions might directly impact the success of your projects, then you have cause for concern, and you should notify your boss that you see the potential for this placing your project at risk.

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