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Gates: 'You don't need perfect code' for Security
securitas writes "ITBusiness has an interview from the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference where Bill Gates says 'You don't need perfect code to avoid security problems.' Instead he suggests that users acquire and properly configure firewalls and make sure that they keep their software patches up-to-date. Considering that Microsoft says it is focused on security, the comments from the Chief Software Architect aren't inspiring, especially beacuse the underlying attitude seems to contradict the idea of well-written, secure code. What kind of message does that send to the developers who work for Gates?"
For example, if you introduce a bug that breaks the TCPIP stack, that's going to really secure things nicely.
By that logic, Microsoft software should be the securest software around.
"Rarely is the question asked: is our children learning?"
What kind of message does that send to the developers who work for Gates?
That it's time to get more G5's because 18 isn't enough...
Business \Busi"ness\, n.;
A scam in which all people involved perceive as beneficial...
BillG: "You don't need secure code".
(aside to Ballmer - "The Force gives power over weak minds")
Ballmer: "Um yes, the Force gives power over weak minds."
BillG: "Steve, stop that!"
Ballmer: "Um... Steve, stop that!"
I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
Bilbo Baggins was very thankful that the dragon Smaug was protected in this very manner. I can just imagine Dragon MicroSmaug with a missing scale flying overhead...
From excellent karma to terible karma with a single +5 funny post...
Just like GWB said more people dead in Iraq proves that the American occupation of Iraq is working.
Gates is saying the more attacks and flaws that are exploited proves Windows success.
Do you believe either one?
You string together many lines of defense and hope for the best. Really, what gates said makes a lot of sense to me.
thats hilarious .. you dont need good code to be sure .. you only need somebody else's good code to run a firewall.
oh lordy.
"Old man yells at systemd"
Don't worry, Windows is making strides in stability every day because of it's open design and collaborative development process. One day, it will be a suitable desktop operating system. Maybe it will even be enterprise ready. But that's still a ways off.
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Does the same speech writer work for both Bill Gates and George Bush?? The both seem to be making some pretty preponderously dumb speeches lately.
my windows has the worst code, but i keep the power off constantly on that box. it's the most secure operating sys^H^H^H mode indeed
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When a program doesn't meet your standards, there's only one thing to do--lower your standards!
Chris Mattern
"I mean, people act like some other systems don't have vulnerabilities; actually all the forms of Unix as well as Linux have had more vulnerabilities per line of code."
;)
You know, I can think of at least two ways to take this.
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Gates said:
I mean, people act like some other systems don't have vulnerabilities; actually all the forms of Unix as well as Linux have had more vulnerabilities per line of code.
Now, that is the best justification for MS code bloat I have ever heard. It reduces your security vulnerability density!
Shouldn't you have layers of protection, instead of an outer layer of protection and a soft underbelly?
Having a layer of protection and a soft underbelly works for shellfish. Oh wait...
Chaos reigns within.
Reflect, repent, and reboot.
Order shall return.
Who is Bill Gates?
I would like to hear what a real security expert like Jeff Goldblum had to say, though. After all, he managed to interface a Mac with an Alien computer. I mean, he's no Sandra Bullock, but he's still a pretty good "hacker". (That's the correct term, right?)
indeed..
> It sounds to me like he's saying microsoft doesn't need perfect code because people can just install firewalls. What if the code in the firewalls in turn isn't perfect though?
More to the point, what if the firewall RUNS ON WINDOWS??
It sounds to me like Bill Gates has just become a strong advocate of Linux/*BSD/UNIX based firewalls. Tee hee hee....
You're using BASIC.