function exec .. again

My host disabled the function exec some weeks ago, I read the documentation, the forum and faq and I know that I need exec function to run gallery 1, so i asked them to make this function available again and they did it.

Now they disabled again this function saing again that it's very unsafe to make exec available because exec and shell exec make everyone free to execute what they like,and this is very unsafe .... pratically they are sayng that software that requires exec function makes the server unsafe.

They olso say that a software like gallery don't really need to use the exec function, ....(is it really possible?)

I'd like to know the security problems with this function, if I understand well the problem is that in a shared hosting with exec enabled someone can install dangerous and malicious software? If this is correct the only way to have a secure environment and the exec function enabled is to have a private server and to know what script are running on the server?

Thanks
Alessio

Done I installed G2 and I made a theme to integrate G2 on my site http://www.web-design.pointnet.it/gallery/v/, I'm very happy with G2, I only can immagine how much did you work on this project.

But in some sites I must use G1, and this sites stopped working with exec function disabled.

Is there a way to make G1 working with GD or with exec function disabled.

Thanks

Hello there,
could you explain or post a link to a tutorial how to use this "GD" because my provider also disabled the exec() function.
Thx

Thank you for your fast answer. My provider already compiled a PHP with GD included, so i just deactivated ImageMagick and NETBPM in the site-administration and activated GD as image processing tool.

Greets
Hetti