On Thu, 27 May 2004 10:34:26 -0400, Norman <user@node.domain> wrote:

On Sun, 23 May 2004 13:13:41 GMT, "Mike Bader" <mdbader@flash.net> wrote:

http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/boinc_transition_plan.html

Why is SETI@home switching to BOINC?
Several reasons:
BOINC transparently and securely downloads new application versions. This
lets us upgrade and extend SETI@home without requiring you to download and
install new software. It will make it easy for us to integrate new
algorithms, such as analyzing our 8 bit/sample reobservation data, or
looking for other types of radio signals such as short pulses from
evaporating black holes.

Maybe I'm paranoid, maybe I have too much experience with Microsoft and sloppy
programmers, but this auto-updating really bothers me. It never fails. You
install new software, and something goes wrong. Especially if you're on the
leading edge ("they're selling that stuff already?"), or the trailing edge
("people still use those antiques?").

Of course, other issues would be whether or not the client could be "tricked"
into downloading a fake update or higher security installations not allowing
software that updates itself.

I trust Seti@home more than I trust Microsoft, but I'm still not sure if that's
enough for me to install Boinc.

- ---
Norman
Please reply via group. E-mail ID does not exist.

This has been addressed already by the Boinc team, they will let you
turn off, it is on by default, the autoupdate feature but after a
period of time after an update has been sent out, which is yet to be
determined, your computer will stop getting units to process. They are
talking a week MAX! However this is under discussion by the engineers.
You and I can no longer have input into the decision, they have heard
it all and are trying to resolve the Science versus the security.
Seems lots of people also run this in a business environment and WILL
NOT let others upgrade their machines.
An email will be sent to those that do not upgrade, probably within a
couple of days. Lots more work for the Berkeley people, returned
emails etc. but they are trying!