non-superuser chown(2)s considered harmful

[Leslie Mikesell]

In article <1990Dec11.102225.10925 at kithrup.COM> sef at kithrup.COM (Sean Eric Fagan) writes:

>Ok. I create a file, for the sole purpose of giving to a friend of mine, who
>doesn't happen to be in my group.  Without making the file world-readable
>(which I don't want to do for various reasons), how do I let my friend read
>it?

Encrypt it and give him the key.  Or mail it.

>Not being able to do a chown() means that, when I find a file I like in a
>directory I own (it happens!), I have to copy it, remove it, and then rename
>it back.  Oh, boy.  Such ease.

It also means that you know who put there (you or root).

Les Mikesell
  les at chinet.chi.il.us