So China is down to 80%, according to the BSA. Not that I trust their figures, but anyway...according to the same article,
there are seven countries where the software piracy rate is still over 90%, including Georgia, Bangladesh, Armenia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, and Moldova.
Now we look at the list of countries MS is providing free software to, according to the article:
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — as well as China, Malaysia and Vietnam.
At least a couple of countries appear in both lists. So a good portion of these countries are over 90% piracy. Maybe not all of them, but a significant amount.
What more do you want them to do? Pay the nonprofits to use their software?
Well, with their warchest, it would certainly be affordable for them.:-/
But seriously...if they're that concerned about human rights in these countries, how about sending financial aid to the organizations that are fighting for those rights? MS could even cover it as "paying the costs of software audits for non-profit customers where non-compliance is not noted" if they didn't want the oppressive government to take too dim a view of the company.
That would be a wonderful thing for them to do. But instead, they take an action that, while commendable, as I noted, basically amounts to: We'll let you run the software for free that you weren't going to pay for, anyway.
Just because it doesn't cost them anything doesn't mean it isn't still worth something.
True. But it's probably worth more to Microsoft than it is to the recipients of these donations.
They'll be able to get software updates and security patches, which will cut down on the amount of out-of-date, exploitable software out there to become part of spam bots, which is good for everyone.
I have never quite understood this "can't get security patches on pirated software" statement. I've seen dozens of pirated Windows installations, and almost every one of them was capable of running the Windows Update website and installing patches. Every single one was running automatic updates, which installs all critical security patches.
Pirated Windows can always get security updates, with one single exception that I know of: XP Pro Corporate with FCKGW-RHQQ2-blahblah, because SP1 won't install on that key. But changing the key to something that works is trivial.
Not the point. We're talking about infected Windows systems, here. Once it's already infected, it's too late to prevent infection by switching to Linux.
or sandboxing web bowers (or disabling ie),
Web browsers aren't the only way machines get infected. You'd have to sandbox everything, which, while possible, certainly isn't practical in a lot of cases.
super antivirus,
Pipe dream. Now how about something that actually exists?
having the tools to fix the problem on hand,
which hasn't got a lick to do with whether you have to delete a system file manually or not. In fact, I'd say that the tools (Knoppix, WinUBCD, et al) to fix the problem are the right tools specifically _because_ they allow you to delete a system file by hand.
and this on very hard to find setting that windows where it asks u if u want to allow each and every program access to u hd if it trys
So, another recommendation of something that doesn't exist. Great. Maybe your next computer will be secured by unicorns.
and I had no idea how to fix it other than a boot from CD reformat.
Read the registry from another computer, and check all the spots where programs autostart. Then check all the filesystem locations where programs start.
Remote control/administration tool, which can be used for all sorts of perfectly legitimate things, or be totally nefarious. It's also open source, modular, and the client control console will run on Linux.
Which does not change the fact that there is a criminal element to a wallet theft, whereas there is no such element to downloading "latest_crap_song.mp3".
Slashdot Mirror
It's also still available from limewire.com
I'll leave it up to you to figure out how to get it. :)
Wow.
I've got mod points, but I've already posted a bunch in this story....
That's impressively obnoxious. Well done.
Hard to imagine how one would tow an abstract object..
Hard to imagine how one would steal an idea, too, isn't it?
It's "n00bz".
Hand in your "overbearingly obnoxious script kiddie wannabe geek" card on your way out.
Yeah. Tag this story "irony".
But I think what China is really saying here is this:
There's nothing wrong with locked down, as long as we hold the keys.
In this case, Steve Jobs & Co. hold the keys, therefore it sucks.
Actually, if you read the article, you'll see that State Farm sent him a thank you letter.
I'm sure they did. Probably sounded something like this:
"Thank you for giving us a reason to raise your insurance rates for the next 6 years." :)
Now, seriously, though... Props to State Farm for doing the right thing, here.
http://www.goehner.com/piracyru.htm
First paragraph:
In Russia alone, with an estimated 94% software piracy rate...
Ok...so I was off by one percentage point.
http://www.chinatechnews.com/2009/05/14/9758-bsa-software-piracy-rate-down-to-80-in-china
So China is down to 80%, according to the BSA. Not that I trust their figures, but anyway...according to the same article,
there are seven countries where the software piracy rate is still over 90%, including Georgia, Bangladesh, Armenia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, and Moldova.
Now we look at the list of countries MS is providing free software to, according to the article:
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — as well as China, Malaysia and Vietnam.
At least a couple of countries appear in both lists. So a good portion of these countries are over 90% piracy. Maybe not all of them, but a significant amount.
What more do you want them to do? Pay the nonprofits to use their software?
Well, with their warchest, it would certainly be affordable for them. :-/
But seriously...if they're that concerned about human rights in these countries, how about sending financial aid to the organizations that are fighting for those rights?
MS could even cover it as "paying the costs of software audits for non-profit customers where non-compliance is not noted" if they didn't want the oppressive government to take too dim a view of the company.
That would be a wonderful thing for them to do. But instead, they take an action that, while commendable, as I noted, basically amounts to: We'll let you run the software for free that you weren't going to pay for, anyway.
Just because it doesn't cost them anything doesn't mean it isn't still worth something.
True. But it's probably worth more to Microsoft than it is to the recipients of these donations.
They'll be able to get software updates and security patches, which will cut down on the amount of out-of-date, exploitable software out there to become part of spam bots, which is good for everyone.
I have never quite understood this "can't get security patches on pirated software" statement.
I've seen dozens of pirated Windows installations, and almost every one of them was capable of running the Windows Update website and installing patches.
Every single one was running automatic updates, which installs all critical security patches.
Pirated Windows can always get security updates, with one single exception that I know of:
XP Pro Corporate with FCKGW-RHQQ2-blahblah, because SP1 won't install on that key. But changing the key to something that works is trivial.
So basically, they're taking a bunch of organizations in countries that probably have a 95% or higher piracy rate, and giving them free licenses.
So it's costing Microsoft essentially squat, but potentially improves human rights in said countries.
Commendable, but not exactly as philanthropic as MS probably wants to come across as....
What has the Catholic church got to do with it?
It's simply an opportunity for the GP to take a jab at the Catholic church, which, as you point out, is irrelevant in this context.
Thus making the GP Offtopic at best, Flamebait at worst.
WTF? RLY?
LOL!
What the hell can I do so she'll stop calling me for tech support when her computer starts acting like Robin Williams on crack every other week?
Next time you show up to fix it, act like Robin Williams on crack.
How many computers total are in the US compared to other countries of the world?
If your site is under attack from a botnet, do you care much if a zombie is Canadian or in US?
Well, I much prefer the overly polite Canadian zombies, myself....
id recommend linux ^__^
Not the point. We're talking about infected Windows systems, here. Once it's already infected, it's too late to prevent infection by switching to Linux.
or sandboxing web bowers (or disabling ie),
Web browsers aren't the only way machines get infected. You'd have to sandbox everything, which, while possible, certainly isn't practical in a lot of cases.
super antivirus,
Pipe dream. Now how about something that actually exists?
having the tools to fix the problem on hand,
which hasn't got a lick to do with whether you have to delete a system file manually or not. In fact, I'd say that the tools (Knoppix, WinUBCD, et al) to fix the problem are the right tools specifically _because_ they allow you to delete a system file by hand.
and this on very hard to find setting that windows where it asks u if u want to allow each and every program access to u hd if it trys
So, another recommendation of something that doesn't exist. Great.
Maybe your next computer will be secured by unicorns.
What better way to misbehave than to claim FRIST on a /. story.
Especially when you're not FRIST, but THRID...
and then cry fowl,
DUCK!
*ducks* ;)
and pretty much any bug short of a rootkit follows the SOP bugs like Security Tool use.
Might want to check your methods, there.
Last several installs of SecurityTool I've seen included a rootkit.
Then what do you recommend for viruses that aren't yet detected by most antivirus software?
Just wait for definitions to come out?
No. You find and delete a system file by hand.
and I had no idea how to fix it other than a boot from CD reformat.
Read the registry from another computer, and check all the spots where programs autostart.
Then check all the filesystem locations where programs start.
Delete anything that looks nasty.
Problem solved.
While Live CDs are the best way to remove a lot of viruses, and the only way to remove some, you're just being a dork.
I know, I know....AC and all....
But, instead of doing this pointless crap to get FRSTSOYSPOSGSTTPTT, why don't you do something useful.
Like, maybe point the poster to something that could be exactly what they're looking for:
http://www.bo2k.com/software/index.html
BackOrifice 2000.
Remote control/administration tool, which can be used for all sorts of perfectly legitimate things, or be totally nefarious.
It's also open source, modular, and the client control console will run on Linux.
What more could he want?
Or the most pipes... ..oh...wait....
Hence, the D in DDOS.
So, obviously the poster sucks at making correct decisions, but doesn't realize it.
As well, the should have correlated the study's participants to whether their occupation is politician or not...
Which does not change the fact that there is a criminal element to a wallet theft, whereas there is no such element to downloading "latest_crap_song.mp3".