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Windows Is 'Insecure By Design,' Says Washington Post

Posted by timothy on from the tradeoffs-are-everywhere dept.

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.'"

9 of 1,326 comments (clear)

  1. Unless... by Chemical+Serenity · · Score: 5, Funny
    ... you count the *nix administrators who had to scramble to put in antivirus software on the corporate mail server to stem the tide of 50k+ virus mails per day.

    On the plus side, if you work as a contractor, it's billable hours. :D GG SoBillable^H^H^H^H^H^H^HSoBig!

    --
    "People will pay big bucks for the luxury of ignorance."
  2. Quick linux security test. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    To test if your linux box is secure, press alt f2 to open up the run dialog, then type
    yes > /dev/mem
    .

    If nothing happens then you have a reasonably secure linux box.
  3. Linux users by jabbadabbadoo · · Score: 5, Funny
    "But nobody with a Mac or a Linux PC has had to lose a moment of sleep "

    Like a Linux PC owner sleeps anyway....

  4. Good idea by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 5, Funny

    Here's a modest proposal: Microsoft should use some of its $49 billion hoard to mail an update CD to anybody who wants one. At $3 a pop (a liberal estimate), it could ship a disc to every human being on Earth -- and still have $30 billion in the bank.

    Please Microsoft, use CD-RWs. I already have a wall covered with silver AOL CDs ...

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  5. Re:Ummm... by theCoder · · Score: 5, Funny

    "...you have it easy, you run Linux, stop complaining!"

    That's when you snap your suspenders, scratch your beard, and remember why you have that smug look on your face :)

    --
    "Save the whales, feed the hungry, free the mallocs" -- author unknown
  6. Re:Ummm... AGAIN, WHY NOT WINDOWS LINUX???? by croddy · · Score: 5, Funny

    oh yes. they could call it MSUX.

  7. Re:MS Bashing by cduffy · · Score: 5, Funny

    There're two issues:

    1. There's this bug users didn't patch for

    2. The system's default configuration made almost everyone vulnerable being attacked via the bug, even if the user isn't actually making use of the buggy service.

    On item [1], yes, there's a really strong argument that it's the user's fault. On item [2], though, it's pretty damn clearly the vendor's negligence.

  8. Re:Ummm... by Geek+of+Tech · · Score: 5, Funny
    And people wonder why techies are grumpy...

    Well, yeah, because you know we all make so much money...

    Yeah.....

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    Stop the Slashdot effect! Don't read the articles!
  9. Re:If you "trademark" your mail addy... by Geek+of+Tech · · Score: 5, Funny
    I am just trying to figure out how to strike a balance between limiting my exposure to liability in this networked world (because everyone is happy to sue these days) and still participating in society in normal ways.

    Uh, hate to tell you, but unless you're sueing somebody you're not participating in society in normal ways.

    --
    Stop the Slashdot effect! Don't read the articles!