Re: Web versions

On 08.03.2021 18:59, Jacob Bachmeyer wrote:
> Taylan Kammer wrote:
>> On 06.03.2021 22:30, Jacob Bachmeyer wrote:
>>   In times like that, I wish I had quick
>> access to some Unix-like environment with helpful tools like netcat and
>> nmap on the client's end.
>>
>> If I could just open a browser on the client's PC and visit a website
>> that boots up a GNU/Linux with useful tools like that, it would be
>> pretty amazing.
> 
> The problem is that to be able to implement tools like that, the browser
> would need to offer access to the local network at a level that would be
> a serious security risk.  While nmap and netcat/socat can be great for
> development and troubleshooting, they are also great for an intruder's
> recon efforts to prepare further intrusions.  8-|  Do you want ad
> companies routinely port-scanning your LAN?

Browsers already offer websites the ability to access your microphone,
camera, GPS location, and even *screen contents* (!).  Any sane browser
of course asks the user on a per-website basis whether the user would
like to allow this.

From a quick web search I found out that there's already a draft for a
filesystem API that allows write access and working with directories:

https://wicg.github.io/file-system-access/

I'm not really happy at *all* with the state of the WWW, but it mostly
has to do with the choices website developers make rather than what
browsers are capable of.

In principle I see little difference between trusting Debian's package
database so much that I never have second thoughts while running
"apt-get update && apt-get upgrade", and trusting a specific website so
much that I have no second thoughts about them changing the "source
code" of a browser-based application they host.

Preferably of course, such an application would be released under the
AGPL, with a clear indication of what version one is using, and a way
for the browser to checksum the whole application to rule out "sneaky"
changes that aren't reflected in the version number.

With the way the web continues to evolve I wouldn't be surprised if this
becomes a major way of rolling out arbitrary cross-platform software in
the future.  If that happens, I would definitely want to see GNU and the
larger free software community be a part of that future.


- Taylan