Re: Adding current directory to path

["M. Neidorff" <neidorff cybernex net>]

At 11:52 AM 5/31/99 -0400, you wrote:

>Can someone please tell me if there is a 'simple' way to add the current 
>working
>directory to the path.  I've been able to do it using functions etc but am
>wondering if there is an easier way.  i.e. Can I just add the "." character to
>the path?

Yes you can, but you REALLY, REALLY don't want to do that!  It opens a
major security hole in your system if you are ever on the Internet or if
you are in a multi-user situation.  (Classic example:  college hacker
plants a program called "su" in a directory.   It looks and acts like the
real su program, but it captures the login and password of the person who
uses it.  Hacker calls a sysop over to a terminal to complain that it isn't
working properly.  Sysop su's to root (instead of /sbin/su)and hacker has a
copy of the root password.)  Instead, move the program that you want to run
to a directory like /usr/bin that is in the path.  


Mark
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