My local linux group has a main admin who has signed everyone up for something called unix tips, they come everyday and this one is called: Lock Down Telnet or FTP


UNIX GURU UNIVERSE
UNIX HOT TIP

Unix Tip 1879 - February 22, 2003
http://www.ugu.com/sui/ugu/show?tip.today


LOCK DOWN TELNET OR FTP

When inbound access isn't required into
a system deny users Telnet or FTP access
do the following:

vi /etc/inetd.conf

Comment the line starts with Telnet or
FTP. Save the file and exit.

Stop and start the inetd daemon now by
following commands:

/etc/rc.d/init.d/inet stop

/etc/rc.d/init.d/inet start

(Your flavor may be /etc/init.d)

Now on nobody can telnet or FTP to your
server from outside network.

This tip generously supported by: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
My question is, why run these services when passwords are not encrypted? The liability is too great.

Why?