Slashdot Mirror
Gates on Winsecurity
xandroid writes "Just a couple days after talking about free hardware, Bill Gates has sent an email to customers saying that Microsoft will continue to focus on security, titled 'A Microsoft Progress Report: Security' (MSNBC story, PC Magazine story, Google News' related stories). The email mentions that fast-spreading and destructive viruses and worms are 'threatening the potential of technology to advance business productivity, commerce and communication', but says that to counter the threats, Microsoft will make 'major investments in customer education and partnerships that will help make the computing environment safer and more secure'. He also talks about the XP Service Pack 2, and says that Microsoft is 'working with microprocessor companies, including Intel and AMD, to help Windows...support hardware-enforced data execute protection (also known as NX, or no execute)'." Reader Zephyr_in writes "Macworld reports that the beta-release of Longhorn is likely to be postponed to early 2005 because Microsoft is concentrating first on a security-focused update (SP2) to Windows XP. Earlier this week Gates said Longhorn is 'not a date-driven release.' and said the speculation that the operating system will come out in 2006 is 'probably valid.'"
Windows Longhorn: We'll release it "When It's Done".
char sig[120] = "\0"
Seriously, with approximately sixty billion dollars in the bank, exactly what prevents M$ from producing a secure OS ?
.. what are all the MSCE's going to do with their time ?
But if Windows becomes secure
Perhaps Microsoft needs to release an upgraded version of Solitaire with SP2.
Funtage Factor: Purple
Sure, it was easier to write an assembler program adding it's own code to a software, while keeping the infected program executable, than scripting 15 lines of VB Script.
Oh, those poor and innocent individual users. What a wonderful way to make them think they are only victims, and never responsible of the spread of a virus, even if they don't make any effort to secure their system.
Of course, the idea that a malicious program shouldn't be able to do much damage, because it has very restrictive rights is a strong innovation.
Wonderful ! Microsoft OSs will (at last) have memory protection ! Let me remember, how old is Unix ? Nearly 40, isn't it ?
Could someone explain me how Microsoft can be seen innovative by so many people ? And how they can so proudly try to make us believe they always were (and will be) on the right way ?
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Do not tempt the gods that way. You're just asking for something.
Is it fascism yet?
... that "Winsecurity" is so far removed from actual "security" that it deserves its own word.
On my W2K computer at work.
It took me quite a while to convince myself that it was not spam and safe to open. This, I think, shows that Microsoft has a long long way to go.
Life is like a web application. Sometime you need cookies just to get by.
W-insecurity!!! Oh Snap!
Bill Gates is a great business man, however he does not always understand the technology picture.
640K should be enough for anyone.
L053R
I for one will be boycotting whichever of Intel or AMD try supporting this first.
When they both start supporting it, let me know. I have a nice ATX footprint PentiumPro motherboard to sell you.
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OS X is able to do so much automatically because hardware parameters are generally known when using Apple or Apple-trusted hardware.
If only Microsoft controlled the hardware, we could breathe easy.
Are you sure? SOMETHING'S got your keyboard fucked up.
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"Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
I got the e-mail. For me, it was spam. I never asked for it. I didn't sign up for any Microsoft newsletter, and certainly not in any way that was verified via a reasonable opt-out system. Thus, I found the passage about spam particularly ironic. Here was some long-winded spam that trumpeted how the next version of Windows would have spam-protection tools. Naturally, I fired off an abuse complaint. So far, I've received no response to that.
I don't think we're going to slashdot Microsoft.
;)
This sounds like a challange
> I still fail to understand why Microsoft didn't wake up after Melissa.
Actually they did. They released an Outlook patch which prohibits users from running executables. Now be a good computer janitor and go and apply it.
I think you underestimate users. People will double click, unzip and spend however long it takes to run any attachment they get. Even if their e-mail program or ISP or whoever says something like "The attachment is a virus... do not open it." They will still open it.
Tell someone there are 100 billion suns in the Galaxy, and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it, and he has to touch it to make sure.
Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens.
Mr. Gates would like to see free hardware.
Hardware companies would like to see free software.
...Microsoft has managed to "persuade" a large number of their customers into paying for upgrades that might or might not materialize within the subscription period.
Since revenue will now roll in whether or not software rolls out, Microsoft can take their sweet time prepping Longhorn. All they'll have to worry about is the bad press from constantly-slipping ship dates, but I'm sure the sites with an obvious pro-Microsoft bias (C|Net/ZDNet, I'm looking in YOUR direction!) will report it as "Microsoft striving for Longhorn perfection before shipping," or some such nonsense.
Meanwhile, I'll probably be zipping along on Mac OS X 10.6 by then and snickering at the fools who are waiting once more for the "most secure Windows ever, and this time, we mean it!"