My 7.04 uses Add/Remove; Want to add CNR. Conflict or OK?

Asked by wenco-bro

Linspire/Freespire has a CNR download client for my 7.04. Is it ok to use 2 one click sources (Add/Remove & CNR) on the same distro or is this a no-no?

Conversely, my son's distro FreeSpire, uses CNR. Can/should Add/Remove be used as another means of installing/acquiring software?

We're both newbies, so pls be gentle.

Thanks.

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Rui Araújo
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Rui Araújo (rui-araujo) said :
#1

There is no problem installing CNR but I wouldn't do it as CNR is a very insecure way to install software as it doesn't ask for your password, meaning that it changes the files permissions.

My advice:keep the Add/Remove the main source of your software (Synaptic is a even better one...)

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wenco-bro (wenkoe) said :
#2

Pls further educate me. Why is not asking for my password an insecure way to install software? Why do you think CNR "overlooked" what appears to be an addition of a simple attribute to their method?

Also. please, just what do you mean by "not asking for my password" changes the files permissions?

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Best Rui Araújo (rui-araujo) said :
#3

Usually, when software is installed a root password is asked in order to gain superuser privileges, this concept comes form the roots of linux. But CNR, after its own installation, stops asking for a password when installing software (maybe to impersonate Windows as CNR is from Linspire, formerly know as Lindows).

This can only happen if some files permission are changed to belong to the user which shouldn't happen as they belong to the root.

Other than that, CNR is actually cool, but this problem is too serious for me to ignore.

Hope this helps....

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wenco-bro (wenkoe) said :
#4

Yes! Thanks. You've been very helpful. I guess I'm now ready for the next stage in using/learning Linux via Ubuntu by digging into its innards and gaining an appreciation for the security underpinnings of Unix as transcribed for PC desktops per Linus T.

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wenco-bro (wenkoe) said :
#5

Thanks Rui Araújo, that solved my question.