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The Majority of PostgreSQL Servers on the Internet Are Insecure

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Re: The Majority of PostgreSQL Servers on the Internet Are Insecure

#2
That's a strange take on the subject of db servers and ssl usage. Most db servers shouldn't be accessible on internet, which skews the announced result a lot. And, obviously, clients and servers generally won't require ssl by default, because it would make no sense in most situations. (but at least the 'prefer' default setting is mentionned) Requiring a certificate to run the server isn't something that is likely to become the default setting for a while...

Re: The Majority of PostgreSQL Servers on the Internet Are Insecure

#3
post #2

That's a strange take on the subject of db servers and ssl usage. Most db servers shouldn't be accessible on internet, which skews the announced result a lot. And, obviously, clients and servers generally won't require ssl by default, because it would make no sense in most situations. (but at least the 'prefer' default setting is mentionned) Requiring a certificate to run the server isn't something that is likely to…

I think the announced results are specifically referring to servers available on the internet.

Re: The Majority of PostgreSQL Servers on the Internet Are Insecure

#4
post #2

That's a strange take on the subject of db servers and ssl usage. Most db servers shouldn't be accessible on internet, which skews the announced result a lot. And, obviously, clients and servers generally won't require ssl by default, because it would make no sense in most situations. (but at least the 'prefer' default setting is mentionned) Requiring a certificate to run the server isn't something that is likely to…

(co-author) - `prefer` is... not great. That'll silently fall back to an unencrypted connection without warning the user.

If you are the one using a programming library directly, you may know that `prefer` does this. If you are using a client that doesn't expose this to you, you may not know that you are using an unencrypted connection after you had set ssl on.

Re: The Majority of PostgreSQL Servers on the Internet Are Insecure

#5
post #3
post #2

That's a strange take on the subject of db servers and ssl usage. Most db servers shouldn't be accessible on internet, which skews the announced result a lot. And, obviously, clients and servers generally won't require ssl by default, because it would make no sense in most situations. (but at least the 'prefer' default setting is mentionned) Requiring a certificate to run the server isn't something that is likely to…

I think the announced results are specifically referring to servers available on the internet.

That's GP's point, that's already a 'smell' (in the strict 'hm, that seems suspiciously like it might not be right' sense).

Re: The Majority of PostgreSQL Servers on the Internet Are Insecure

#8
post #3
post #2

That's a strange take on the subject of db servers and ssl usage. Most db servers shouldn't be accessible on internet, which skews the announced result a lot. And, obviously, clients and servers generally won't require ssl by default, because it would make no sense in most situations. (but at least the 'prefer' default setting is mentionned) Requiring a certificate to run the server isn't something that is likely to…

I think the announced results are specifically referring to servers available on the internet.

[deleted]

Re: The Majority of PostgreSQL Servers on the Internet Are Insecure

#9
Unfortunately the clickbait headline does not convey the enormous streetlight-effect skew in the sample.

This article is essentially content marketing for a DBaaS company, for which the author appears to serve as CTO, to promote a alternative default configuration that favours their business model.

Re: The Majority of PostgreSQL Servers on the Internet Are Insecure

#10
post #6

* unsecure

Correct!

According to Google, "insecure" means:

1. not firmly fixed; liable to give way or break. 2. (of a person) not confident or assured; uncertain and anxious.

and "unsecure":

1. (especially of a computer system) not protected against attack or other criminal activity. 2. (of a loan) unsecured.

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