ls-R file writeable by all users?

[Norbert Preining <preining@logic.at>]

Dear tetex Masters!

Could you explain me why the files
	/var/lib/texmf/ls-R{,-LOCAL,-TEXMFMAIN}
and
	/var/cache/fonts/ls-R
are 
	-rw-rw-r--  root users
??

For the cache/fonts file I see that this makes sense, but for the rest?
What about a user just emptying the ls-R file just for fun?

Best wishes

Norbert

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Dr. Norbert Preining <preining AT logic DOT at>             Università di Siena
sip:preining@at43.tuwien.ac.at                             +43 (0) 59966-690018
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