Some of the items in the article were a little misleading regarding our support of the beta release of Google’s Chrome browser. It is important to remember that Chrome is a beta release- meaning Google is still developing it and it’s up to early adopters to provide real-world testing.

Betas, as a general rule, are not supported by OIT. There are too many unknowns- like the possibility of security issues and bugs. If it was a final production version (a gold release), and was compatible with the security measures and web-based applications used by the University, OIT would support its use.

The first paragraph in the article states:

West Virginia University’s Office of Information Technology is blocking the download of Google’s new Web browser, Chrome.

OIT is blocking Google Desktop, not Chrome.  OIT has blocked Google Desktop since 2006 because it is a security risk.  Unfortunately, Google hosts the Chrome download in the the same location as Google Desktop.  Since you can’t download Chome without using the same installer as Google Desktop, it is, by default, blocked.

The most notable security feature found has to do with the automatic download feature that comes default on the browser, which downloads any files a Web page attempts to give a user’s computer without prompting.

Actually, a “security feature” would hopefully stop “automatic” downloads of files without prompting…so I am not sure what that sentence means. If, however, Chrome downloads all files without prompting, this would be a huge security “flaw” not a “feature.”

OIT could not confirm which security flaw was disallowing it from the WVU network, which allows Mozilla’s Firefox, a similar browser, on its network.

Actually we can confirm that there is no known security flaw inherent to Chrome preventing it from being used on campus.  We are not “disallowing” Chrome from our network.  We’re blocking the download application for the browser. This is due entirely to the fact that it is part of the Google Desktop install package.

Users who install Chrome at home (or on any other network for that matter), can certainly use it while on our network.  Comparing it to Mozilla’s Firefox is an inaccurate comparison. Yes they are similar due to the fact that they are both browsers – but so are Internet Explorer, Safari and Opera.  So of course we allow Firefox – just as we allow the other browsers (including Chrome provided the installation of it is not downloaded while on our network).

I do want to emphasize that due to the deadline constraints for this article in the DA we were not able to provide a detailed answer in time for the deadline.

I am pleased, however, that we do have this blog now in which to discuss this kind of thing.  We welcome your comments and look forward to discussing this and other issues with you.

P.S. – The assistant director of Network Operations is Steve Belcher not Steve Belch.

Related Links

• Daily Athenaeum, Sept. 5, 2008 -  WVU blocks Chrome

Note: Thanks to Steven Marra for contributing to this post.

I am personally unlikely to waiver from my support of open source platforms and tools, but I have to admit that this makes I more likely that I’ll give CF a look.  Here’s the post from Campus Technology:

Adobe Makes ColdFusion 8 Free for Students, Educators
9/3/2008
By David Nagel

Adobe has made its ColdFusion 8 Web development platform free for educators and students. The offer is available for all public and private accredited K-12 schools and colleges and universities.

ColdFusion 8 for Education is a full version of Adobe’s development and server platform. This free edition is meant to be used only for instructional purposes and not in production environments.

According to Adobe, “Academic institutions are experiencing increasing demands for students to develop ColdFusion skills earlier in their education to meet the high workforce demand for rich Internet application developers. Through this free offering, faculty can now easily integrate ColdFusion into their curriculum and enable students to advance their Web application learning more quickly and easily.”

ColdFusion 8 for Education is available now. Registration and proof of eligibility for students, faculty, and staff are required. Eligibility includes accredited schools, colleges, and universities in the United States and its territories, academic administration centers and boards of education, research institutions recognized by the United States Department of Education, and some home schools. Further information about eligibility can be found here.

Multiple licenses (up to 30) can be requested through a single registration, and multiple registrations can be used to request more than 30 licenses. Installation support is provided free, but additional support (technical support or developer support) requires registration in a fee-based program. ColdFusion 8 for Education can be accessed here.