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5,198 Software Flaws Found in 2005

Posted by Zonk on from the better-to-find-them-than-not dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Security researchers uncovered nearly 5,200 software vulnerabilities in 2005, almost 40 percent more than the number discovered in 2004, according to Washingtonpost.com. From the article: 'According to US-CERT...researchers found 812 flaws in the Windows operating system, 2,328 problems in various versions of the Unix/Linux operating systems (Mac included). An additional 2,058 flaws affected multiple operating systems.'"

3 of 257 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Axe Grinding by TrappedByMyself · · Score: 0, Troll

    Please describe your emotions as
    1) You saw the initial numbers
    "It can't be true, it just can't be true"
    2) You realized there were many redundancies on the *nix side
    "YES YES, I knew it!"
    3) You started filtering, and the *nix number was dropping alot
    "Ha Ha, Woooo!!!"
    4) *nix, in the end, still had a higher number than Windows.
    "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

    --

    Help me take back Slashdot. When did 'News for Nerds' become 'FUD and Conspiracy Theories for Extremist Nutjobs'?
  2. a nugget of wisdom by User+956 · · Score: 0, Troll

    If you are using numbers like these to make an argument that MS products are "more secure",

    I've got a nugget of wisdom for you: Whichever OS is the most popular is going to end up being the least secure. It doesn't matter who makes it.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  3. Re:The state of security by fimbulvetr · · Score: 1, Troll

    DJB writes his software exactly like he wants. No features, no options, etc. Qmail needs special patches that he hasn't blessed to read from ldap. Djbdns won't even listen on a different port unless you edit the code manually.

    Calling his code secure is like buying a 1929 Model A and saying the wiring is reliable. There is nothing outside of the coil/spark plugs. The power windows/locks/brakes/steering/fuel pump never fail, because it's impossible for them to.

    Plus it's always nice when you get to deny that flaws exist in your software and your rabid fan guild protect you to the death.

    A better example of a secure code writer is W. Venema or even Torvalds.