Indian President Advises Open Source Approach

geo_2677 writes "The Indian President Dr. A Kalam has advised defense scientists to go for open-source software for software security, rather than be stuck with insecure proprietary software. Being a scientist himself, he surely knows what's good for his country." Speaking at the Indian Navy's Weapons and Electronic System Engineering Establishment, Kalam argued: "Open source codes can easily introduce the users to build security algorithms in the system without the dependence of proprietary platforms", though continues: "We should take maximum care to ensure that our solution is unique to protect our own defence security solutions implemented on open platforms." We previously reported on Richard Stallman's meeting with Dr. Kalam earlier this year.

Huh?

[Chess_the_cat]

Being a scientist himself, he surely knows what's good for his country.

Please explain.

Security by obscurity?

[delibes]

"We should take maximum care to ensure that our solution is unique to protect our own defence security solutions implemented on open platforms."

Uh oh. Somebody needs to get a visit from Bruce Schneier next! I suspect that his proposed unique solution would be better off if it was Open Sourced for peer review.

For a moment there ...

[Anonymous Coward]

I thought that said Indianan predident. I was about to start planning my campaign for Viceroy of Georgia.

Arrgh! This means that Pakistan will want Windows

[Anonymous Coward]

At the very least, he should have publicly decried open source as an anti-Hindu plot. Pakistan would jump on the bandwagon immediately.

Obligatory Simpson's Reference

[brysnot]

Bill Gates: I am here to let you know that we are prepared to slash prices to keep you as a customer.
President Dr. A Kalam: Thank you! Come again!
Bill Gates: But you haven't bought anything?
President Dr. A Kalam: Thank you! Come again!

Tech Support

[Apocalypse111]

At least the tech support will be a local call for them...

Condensed water?

[PsiPsiStar]

Okay, I just have to ask... what is condensed water? Is it like condensed milk; Water with most of the water taken out?

Re:Condensed water?

[Otter]

Sort of -- it's water with most of the air taken out.

Re:Could someone explain...

[kyknos.org]

"AFAIK, Prime Ministers have always been used in Monarchies instead of democracies. So I'm a bit confused here..." :-/ ---- huh??? I am from czech REPUBLIC (not monarchy) and WE have prime minister. well we do not have just now because the government resigned this week but we usually have.

Re:Condensed water?

[Fearless Freep]

Water with most of the water taken out?

That's de-hydrated water

It stores and ships easier that way

Re:Now if only...

[PsiPsiStar]

Contribute a million dollars to his campaign fund and he'll give Richard Stallman a lapdance, if you ask him to.

Re:Pakistan connection

[Anonymous Coward]

If Pakistan wanted to perform a "first strike" operation, all they would need to do is submit a kernel patch and that would cause all of the Indian weapons to recompile their Linux kernel. Especially if they are running Gentoo, they could be busy for weeks.

Re:Condensed water?

[Matt Perry]

It's water formed from condensation.

Re:Marlon Brando dead at 80

[Anonymous Coward]

I guess God made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

Re:Now if only...

[chris_mahan]

I though the lapdances were $10,000... Dangit!