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Microsoft To Get Malware Bailout In Germany
hweimer writes "The German government plans on paying to set up a call center to help Windows users with malware infections. I think this has the effect of being a malware bailout for Microsoft, discouraging them and other software companies from writing better code and giving users little incentive to switch to more secure alternatives. How much government money is needed to run the call center is also not revealed." The call center, running in cooperation with ISPs (but not manufacturers), is envisioned to have a staff of about 40.
as we don't care so much about how to properly feed, exercise and clean ponies
On the contrary, I've had an inexplicable interest, some might even say obsession, with ponies since April 1, 2006.
"Hi, I'm calling about malware on my PC"?
"Buy a Mac". <click>
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
and my income is based on "that is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard." yep I work in a call center
If you're a genuine "OMG, Ponies!!!" fan, you may be interested in this
I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
My income is based on government make work projects you insensitive clod!
So do you work for DOT and vote Democrat or for a defense contractor and vote Republican? ;)
I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
Does that mean users of Apple computers are far smarter than users of Windows computers?
Well duh. They picked Apple, didn't they?
Step 1: Back up your data. Step 2: Install SUSE Linux. Step 3: Profit? Step 4: Laugh at Microsoft. [schadenfreude here]
schadenfreude
I got this part:
schadenfreude
The thing is, as we don't care so much about how to properly feed, exercise and clean ponies, normal people don't care so much about computer security. They just want to do their thing.
So... are you suggesting that you just want to.... "do your thing" with a pony?
Apparently wizard is not a legitimate career path, so I chose programmer instead.
In fact it states that this new service is for all users with all operating systems. So while indeed 99% of all users run Microsoft, niche systems like Linux and Mac will be helped too.
I like the way you think.
It's very different from the support centers that I call with hardware problems - like when an update bricked my router - that suggested I:
a) re-install Linux to fix the problem,
alternately, b) don't use a Mac, because they don't do REAL networking,
c) if I were only using Windows, I wouldn't be having this problem,
and my favorite -
d) I must be lying because no one has three operating systems in their house - and if I do, then maybe that's what bricked my router.
But - as I said, I like the way you think, and I wish them many good lucks with this endeavor.
Pathological kinda promises Path + Logical - but instead, you get stuck with pathetic.