Infected Windows PCs Now Source Of 80% Of Spam

twitter writes "The Register is reporting a study by Sandvine.com that blames Microsoft Zombies for 80% of all spam. The study goes on to claim that 90% filtering is not effective given the unprecedented volume and that sophisticated trojans are able to drop spam directly on end user's computers despite current efforts. Just another cost of supporting Microsoft, I suppose."

Comments

Believe it or not

[aussie_a]

geeks can be Microsoft supporters. But the masses here at slashdot seem to want them to begone and have to constantly make a hostile environment for them.

Re:That does it!

[Sun Nori]

If Microsoft can sue Spammers for spamming, can we sue Microsoft of allowing Spammers to spam?

Nice try, bud.

[twitter]

Microsoft creates massive problems with poor design and Atrax blames the user and administrators. Administrators who don't have a free software migration strategy should feel some guilt at this point, but it's hard to blame people who trust their vendor. Two years ago, when email nasties first started costing businesses billions of dollars, Microsoft promissed security would be their top priority. Nothing has changed and we should give credit where credit is due.

In anycase, how do you properly configure and protect a Windoze box from itself? Because the vectors are born in services that the user demands, email and web browsing, you can't keep them from getting through. What bandaids to Microsoft's design flaws do you use to keep your machines "clean"? Can you really justify that kind of expense and effort for home users? You have to clean up after them periodically anyway, don't you? When it's all said and done, it's easier for the home user do dual boot something like Mepis and blind that M$ junk by removing network drivers.

Witness the high school Linux zealot

[Overly Critical Guy]

Clearly, you're venting your frustrations over the fact that Microsoft Windows is currently used way, way more than your religion, er operating system known as Linux. Zealots like you turn everything into a penis size debate.

Yes! Because I love it when a patch screws up my system and forces a reinstall!

Cite a single example.

Having automatic update/apply turned on lets me blame MS instead of myself for installing their craptacular patches that eat my registry!

Cite a single example of a patch that will "eat my registry." Oh, I forgot, you're just spewing FUD! That's a term we like around here.

Woohoo!! Go automatic patching!!

First you were bitching because you didn't have time to scan Windows Update, then when your ass was called on your ignorance due to Automatic Updates (which prompts you when you first run XP), now all the sudden patches are magical entities that "eat your registry" and do other vague claims that are never specified.

I've had plenty of Linux "updates" fuck things up. Hell, I've had GNOME crash enough times for me to have to reformat twice. Grow the hell up and spend some time away from Slashdot--it's turned you into a raving, frothing fanboy zealot who lashes out in any way possible to defend the penis size of his religion/operating system.