Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft Raises Security Game, Notes Shortcomings Elsewhere
LMCBoy writes "Steve Ballmer recently told an industry conference that Microsoft software is more secure than Linux. PJ at Groklaw has a nice, thorough analysis of this dubious claim. She points out that not only are there vastly more Microsoft exploits reported, but that the exploits tend to be much more severe, involving remote administrator access." In related news, mhesseltine writes "According to an article from the Washington Post, in an unusually ironic twist, Microsoft has started talking smack about their own products, instead of those of their competitors. Bill Gates said of Office 'it's too hard to find things in e-mail' and described some features of Word as 'clunky.'"
If they wanted an end to the violence they would stop the killing of women and kids and confine their attacks to military/state targets.
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5% of Palestinians support the suicide bombing of the Maxim restaurant in Haifa in which 23 people were killed.
78% of Palestinians believe the US roadmap for peace is dead, yet a vast majority ( 85%) want a mutual ceasefire, according to a new opinion poll released by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) in Ramallah.
If the two sides agree on a mutual cessation of violence, 59% (compared to 50% last June) would support taking measures by the PA to prevent attacks on Israelis.
The center, headed by Khlail Shkaki, conducted the poll between October 7th-14th October 2003 in the Palestinian areas It has a 3% margin of error.
The poll found that the popularity of PA Chairman Yasser Arafat has shapely increased from 35% last June to 50% in October, mainly due to Israeli threats against him, yet 82% believes the PA is corrupt.90% support internal and external calls for extensive political reforms. 89% of those polled thought Arafat's sudden increase in popularity was due to Israeli threats to kill or deport him. His popularity is at the highest in five years.
However, over the past week, many Palestinian officials have expressed dissatisfaction with the way Arafat is dealing with his new Prime Minster Ahmed Qurei. Privately Palestinian officials said more and more people realize that Arafat does not want a reformed government with a prime minister and they are becoming impatient with the PA leader.
Imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti remains the second most popular Palestinian figure with 17%, supporting him, followed by radical Hamas leader Abdul Aziz Rantisi whom Israel tried to assassinate. Rantisi received 14% of support compared to 3% in June.
Sa'eb Erikat has the support of 9%, Ahmad Yasin and Haidar Abdul Shafi of 7% each, Farouq Qaddoumi and Hanan Ashrawi received 5% of support , PM Ahmad Qurei' 4,) Mohammad Dahlan 2%, and former PM Mahmoud Abbas 1%.
According to the poll, majority (61% ) support the appointment of Ahmad Qurai (Abu Ala') as prime minister . Only 27% oppose it.
62% believe Qurei and his government will be able to return to negotiations with Israel, but only 33% believe they will be able to control the security situation and enforce a ceasefire.
78% believe that current Israeli measures, including the building of the separation fence reduce the chances for the establishment of a Palestinian state. 39% believe that armed confrontations and terror will not stop and negotiations will not resume soon.
This is an increase from 24% who believed so last June. At the same time the number of those who believe that the current armed violence has helped the Palestinians achieve national rights in ways that negotiations could not, dropped from 65% in June to 59%.
Attitudes towards the US administration and its Middle East policy are very negative.
97% believe the current US policy toward the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is biased in favor of Israel.
96% believe that the US is not sincere when it says it works toward the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
92% believe that the US is not sincere when it says it wants political reforms and clean government in the PA.
78% believe the US is not serious when it declares its opposition to the Israeli decision to expel or assassinate Arafat.
First. Thanks. You have effectively done your part to stop the slashdot effect by not reading the article. Thanks.
First off, since you're talking about Microsoft and Linux, I'll assume you're talking about the first story. This "sentence by Bill Gates" was by Steve Ballmer. I can tell you've been paying attention.
Second, this time Microsoft started talking about Linux first. Does that mean we have to start using M$ in every sentence? No. However, it would be nice to hear how Microsoft's research compares to the research done by others here though.
Stop the Slashdot effect! Don't read the articles!