Slashdot Mirror
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.'"
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.
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.