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Microsoft Apologizes for Serving Malware
dark_15 writes "Microsoft has apologized for serving malware via its websites and Windows Live Messenger software. APC reader Jackie Murphy reported the problem: 'With Microsoft launching Vista along with their Defender software to protect users from viruses and spyware, it seems therefore to be an oxymoron that they have started to putting paid changing banner advertisements for malware, on the popular MSN groups servers.'"
Even if this were true, how does proliferating malware on Windows hurt Google?
I hear there's rumors on the Slashdots
Too bad there's no flamebait moderation option for the twits who apply pointless tags.
You're giving them too much credit. This is a case of plain old stupidity.
Especially to those who always claim "You have to buy from a big company, that's better than free software where there is no company that you can hold responsible".
Here's what you get: "Whoopsie. Sorry, our bad"
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Maybe just malice.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Plus, their apology and recommendations aren't any less stupid. From TFA : Microsoft recommends customers follow our Protect your PC guidance at www.microsoft.com/protect.
Let's have a look at their guidance: Protect your computer in 4 steps :
Step 1. Keep your firewall turned on
A firewall is useless in this situation. The user manually downloaded and executed a piece of software.
Step 2. Keep your operating system up-to-date
See step 1.
Step 3. Use updated antivirus software
That's exactly what the user is trying to do. The message lets the user believe he needs to use this software as a protection against viruses, spyware and whatnot. Plus, it's on a Microsoft.com page. You gotta trust Microsoft.
Step 4. Use updated antispyware technology
See step 3.
After 3 days without programming, life becomes meaningless
- The Tao of Programming
really meant that 20% of dentists wanted you chewing the stuff that rots your teeth
If you polled system utilities firms, I'm not sure whether they WANT you to buy Vista,
or run an old rotten O/S that turned AV from a cottage industry to a major profit center.
Uhm...and why wouldn't they suggest that. Given that they are getting paid for the advertisement it stands to reason that every time a user get suckered in by it that MS makes money on the deal. Sure it makes them looks bad, but now they get to make their little apology speech, everything is A OK again, and they still got paid through the deal. People who like windows are few and far between these days, almost every average joe user I have dealt with despises them, but knows no other reasonable option. IT professionals are the only place that I have managed to find MS fanboys. I had a security "professional" tell me how MS ISA server is the best thing since sliced bread and everyone should be using it as their firewall and proxy solution (enterprise level). I was laughing so hard I could barely breath to ask about his opinion on Sidewinder SecureOS or Cisco Pix.
Microsoft can do whatever wrong they want, because the populace believes there is no other choice to do what they need. The first OS that manages to be simple enough the average user can buy software off the shelf, install it, run it, and really have no flaming hoops of death to jump through, people will start leaving in droves. Linux isn't there yet, but it may get there some day. OSX I think may get there first if they solve the problem of the fear of learning a new interface and fears of software issues. Either way, once there is a viable competitor, I suspect the dynamic will shift very quickly.
On a side note, can you imagine how far a virtual software store would go for the unfamiliar user would go for linux? Browse by needs like you would any other online vendor, pick what you want, and it installs click n run style through whatever you distro of choice's methods are (well at least major distros, getting all the fringe ones would make for a monumental undertaking, but fringe distros are typically for those in the know anyways). I have been using linux for years and I still find myself stumbling across amazing packages I didn't know existed.
The only change I can believe in is what I find in my couch cushions.
they've been serving up Windows Genuine Advantage for some time now.
The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.