[mdlug] The new "surface" computer

[G Balaji]

On 7/18/07, Robert Adkins <radkins at impelind.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > All true. I agree.
> >
> > If the NTFS driver is not ADS-aware, then, yes the benefits of ADS washes away.
> > But, similarly, it is true of almost all non-encrypted file systems -
> > if the file system is not running, then there is no security for its'
> > files - the intruder can load his own file system manager, disregard
> > security flags, and steal information.
> >
> > ADS was intended to be used as a small, but important, measure in
> > ensuring overall security of an operating system - but this works only
> > if all other measures are in place and are effective.
> >
> > If not in the original design decisions, at least from the (harsh)
> > lessons learnt, ADS should have been severely restricted - if nothing
> > else, at least in the max size an ADS stream can grow up to.
> >
> > -B.
> >
>
>     I've been doing a little more reading and remembering about some
> File System things.
>
>     Alternative Data Streams is not the same as Metadata.
>
>     Metadata is part of the normal file and can be used to input things
> that the OS can use to determine what kind of file it is looking at.
> This is what Apple did for years with the Mac, even if it had something
> similar to ADS, as I understand it, this isn't what the Metadata is.
>
>     Metadata is like a "header" in a file. In a way this metadata is
> similar to what you see in the first few lines of virtually every single
> Binary format CAD/CAM file. In the first few lines there is plain text
> information telling you the CAD System the file was generated from, what
> version, sometimes this information is more in depth and includes the
> part name/program name for the part the CAD File represents; when I say
> "Program Name" I am saying like the "Code Name" for some new automobile.
>
>     Anyway, what got me thinking about this is some stuff I was reading
> regarding a need for people to start using the metadata features of file
> systems (I believe even FAT32 can do this) to get away from the finite
> combination of the three letter extension. This was talked up regarding
> the metadata capabilities of Linux and certain Desktop Environments.
> It's been a while since I read this stuff so my memory could be slightly
> off.
>
>     -Rob
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True, ADS and meta-data are dis-similar. But, ADS _can_ be used to
store meta-data. And meta-data is not used to store the kind and range
of data an ADS can store.

On the other hand, meta-data is application-specific. The Portable
Network Graphics standard defines allowable meta-data in its file
structure specification. The Java Virtual Machine Specification
defines allowable meta-data in its specification.

But a PNG viewer cannot make sense of a Java class file, and a Java
class decompiler cannot make sense of a PNG file.

And, if the operating system is not made aware of the application to
which a file (extension *) is to be associated with, it has no use for
the meta-data embedded in the files.

* - Although file name extensions are commonly used as "the way" to
determine application affinity, this is another way on the Internet.