Microsoft Says Recovery From Malware Becoming Impossible

An anonymous reader wrote to mention an eWeek Story about Microsoft's assertion that PCs may no longer be able to recover from the most aggressive Malware. From the article: "[Danseglio] cited a recent instance where an unnamed branch of the U.S. government struggled with malware infestations on more than 2,000 client machines. 'In that case, it was so severe that trying to recover was meaningless. They did not have an automated process to wipe and rebuild the systems, so it became a burden. They had to design a process real fast,'."

Comments

Sony

[From A Far Away Land]

Companies like Sony pushing rootkits onto unsuspecting customers is part of the trend toward stealth and aggressive rooting of machines. Once a serious worm that can spread quickly and hide deeply gets around, people will realize how serious an issue rootkits are.

Re:It's time....

[trolleymusic]

I'm a Mac user, and although I love OS X with all of my bits, I do think that if the same % population used it as currently uses windows, then there would be more serious problems with it.

I'm sure it's much harder to get malware running on OS X, but if it becomes the platform most of your potential audience are using then malware developers will just try harder to make nasties for Mac.

So, in this respect, sometimes I'm glad for Windows + IE - simply because I don't have to use it :D

Translation

[metamatic]

"Everyone needs to buy a copy of Windows Vista, which will solve the malware problem."

Thin Clients

[Citizen of Earth]

the U.S. government struggled with malware infestations on more than 2,000 client machines. 'In that case, it was so severe that trying to recover was meaningless.

Whereas, if they had been using thin clients with no local storage, the only recovery action would have been on the server. And if they had been running non-Windows on the server, they wouldn't have had these infestations in the first place. A full-blown Windows PC on every desktop in an enterprise is just an expensive welfare program for MCSE types.

It's not common sense. It's wrong.

[Futurepower(R)]

"A Mac-user with common sense!"

It's not common sense. It's wrong.

Microsoft is in a unique position. Because it has a virtual monopoly, Microsoft makes more money when its software has a lot of security vulnerabilities. For those who are ruled by money, morality has no force; "Maximizing Shareholder Value" is the way they live their lives.

Microsoft makes more money if it pressures its programmers to work too fast, so that they are sloppy, and then releases buggy software. Many people are fascinated by computers, and easily accept the world that Microsoft has created for them.

Here's a story about a Microsoft VP saying, "Oh, the next Windows operating system will be secure": "Safety and security is the overriding feature that most people will want to have Windows Vista for" .

So, Microsoft is once again telling us "The next version of Windows will be the good one." Before, Microsoft said Windows XP was "Built to be Dependable".

However, Vista will NOT include virus protection. Jim Allchin, co-president of Microsoft's platform products and services division told CRN, an industry magazine this:

CRN: In terms of security, how do you compare security in Vista vs. security in Windows XP SP2?

Allchin: SP2 was a very good system but compared to Vista, it's night and day.

CRN: Is there going to be antivirus in Vista?

Allchin: No, there is not.

CRN: Why?

Allchin: It's a complicated answer as to why not.

CRN: Was the decision based on technical concerns?

Allchin: It wasn't technical.

CRN: Will Vista resolve security problems once and for all?

Allchin: I'm not going to claim perfection or near perfection, but I think we're unrivaled in the work we've done. I believe security will be a huge problem for the industry for years and years and years but this will change the landscape in a fairly dramatic way.

Once again, Microsoft is taking advantage of the fact that most of its customers have little technical knowledge. Mr. Allchin said that "security will be a huge problem for the industry for years and years and years".

Microsoft charges for OneCare Live. That's another way to make money. Make sloppy software, and then sell protection against the sloppiness.

Note the emphasis on "beta testing" in Mr. Allchin's statements in the CRN interview. Someone said that Microsoft's motto is "The whole world is our beta tester."

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Before, Saddam got Iraq oil profits and paid part to kill Iraqis. Now a few Americans get Iraq oil profits, and American citizens pay to kill Iraqis. Improvement?