Putty.org Distances Itself from PuTTY Software, Now Promoting Pandemic Misinformation
In the realm of open-source software, one name that consistently stands out is PuTTY, a popular SSH client for Windows, developed by Simon Tatham. Known for its reliability and community-driven development, PuTTY is widely used for secure remote access. However, another name, PUTTY.ORG, has caused some confusion among users and developers due to its association with the PuTTY software.
Contrary to popular belief, PUTTY.ORG is not owned by the PuTTY project or its developers. Instead, it is owned and managed by Bitvise, a company that provides proprietary SSH software for Windows. Initially, Bitvise used PUTTY.ORG to provide links to both the FOSS PuTTY client and its own SSH software products.
The current controversy surrounding PUTTY.ORG stems from its continued association with PuTTY, despite not being affiliated with the project. Many users and developers have expressed confusion and frustration, as the domain's presence can mislead individuals into visiting Bitvise's website instead of the official PuTTY site.
Critics argue that Bitvise's ownership of PUTTY.ORG is a form of "borrowing" PuTTY's reputation to promote their own products, which some see as unethical. This criticism is compounded by the perception that Bitvise is using the domain to gain visibility by relying on the goodwill associated with the FOSS PuTTY software.
Recently, PUTTY.ORG has replaced its content with anti-vaccination propaganda, a move that has been criticised by Simon Tatham, the developer of PuTTY, who considers it shockingly unprofessional. Tatham recommends not to use PUTTY.ORG, stating that it isn't the right place to go.
It is essential to clarify that the official PuTTY homepage can be found at https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/. To avoid confusion, it is advisable to check who owns a domain before linking to it.
In response to criticism, Denis bider, co-founder of Bitvise, has stated that the changes to PUTTY.ORG were a response to criticism from "commmunists."
The situation surrounding PUTTY and PUTTY.ORG serves as a reminder to be vigilant about the sources we trust and to support open-source projects that uphold ethical standards.
- The misleading ownership of PUTTY.ORG, previously used to provide links to both open-source PuTTY client and proprietary SSH software by Bitvise, has stirred controversy, causing confusion among users and developers.
- Critics accuse Bitvise of exploiting PuTTY's reputation to promote their proprietary software, an action deemed unethical due to such tactics relying on the goodwill associated with the open-source PuTTY project.
- To avoid confusion and support open-source projects upholding ethical standards, the official PuTTY homepage, https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/, should be visited rather than PUTTY.ORG.
