Slashdot Mirror
Windows Is 'Insecure By Design,' Says Washington Post
Circuit Breaker writes "A Washington Post article says Microsoft Windows is insecure by design. Quote: 'Between the Blaster worm and the Sobig virus, it's been a long two weeks for Windows users. But nobody with a Mac or a Linux PC has had to lose a moment of sleep over these outbreaks -- just like in earlier "malware" epidemics. This is not a coincidence.'"
A few years ago there were a few rants because Linux (redhat) wasn't secure out of the box. It shipped with a few packages that had a few exploits- yet the fault fell on the user for not updating their package. ...
My grandmother hasn't updated anything on her computer- she's 81 and more concerned with knitting and talking to her grandchildren. I just walked her thru an update.
Can you imagine if I had to tell her how to do that on linux ?? (without a subscription mind you) - Yeah grandma, type wget -?
Windows Update did- and worked- and fixed it. But it's easier to bash MS for the people whom didn't patch their systems in a timely manner than to target the blame where it ought to be.
In the past 3 years, since my Grandmother got her computer, how many new Redhat versions have rolled out? How many of those versions would seamlessly install over the other one? I believe the answer is 3 versions and none, Bob.
Lay off the MS bashing- most of my software I have to use is closed source and several $K per seat- I'm not going to stop using MS until.... well, never. If they move to a different system then I move. I'm tied to the company that writes the code I need to do my job, as are many people in the engineering fields. Leverage one, move the other.
What happens when the next big thing comes along and all the CS grads are stuck with C# as their sole reference point?
:)
They starve?
I don't really know for sure, its just wishful thinking.
And if 90% of the users used Apples, 90% of the virus would target Apples. I run Windows XP here at home and at work and I haven't even seen a sniff of either virus. Windows is everywhere. It is exploitable. Get over it. Here's an idea. Convince Apple to stop selling proprietary and overpriced systems and then you can start venting at them. Or convince all Linux users to adopt the same exact desktop so that it has a chance of being installed on the desktops of non-techies. You know, the people that took days to get used to Win98 after upgrading from 95. That way you can bitch about all the insecurities in Linux. I don't care what OS it is. As soon as you put it infront of stupid people, and millions of stupid people at that, it will get exploited.
But nobody with a Mac or a Linux PC has had to lose a moment of sleep over these outbreaks
Yet.
You Linux guys can't see beyond the end of your pocket protectors. Go ahead. Set up your families with Linux boxes.
Let me know how it goes.
Curious, though. Are you gonna send them to Circuit City or what.
Zo, got her Mac.