Since PCs running Microsoft's finest has about 30 spyware infections per system on the average, I wonder how much real CPU power they are getting. Spyware usually eats up any idle time available on the system leaving the Grid software to fight for cpu cycles. They may have actually gotten more over all raw cpu power by making the Grid software available to Linux users first.
Dude, too much beer while blogging or just not very bright? Nobody said spyware and viruses are spam. Nobody said ISPs are web hosters. Nobody said firewalls would stop spam. Nobody said filters are the answer.
The point I was making was that the very weak Windows security model is a spyware/viruses enabler and, down the chain, spyware/viruses are spam enablers. Take away the major enablers and then conventional methods such as filtering would be orders of magnitudes more effective and practical.
"...You really don't understand much about this area do you?"
I have a degree in electrical engineering (U.S. defense systems electronics design for 11 years) and have been designing and consulting in the computer and network business for the last 12 years. Every box in my lab runs Linux except for a few Windows test boxes. What are you credentials?
"...Your confusing desktop architecture somehow with SMTP and network topologgy along with most of the other aspects of modern computing and laying it at MSFT's doorstep."
It is you and others with your same limited view that don't have a clue.
Yes the flourishing SPAM business IS mostly Microsoft's fault because of the ridiculous security model of Windows.
SPAM gets to you because a spammer emails it to you. It should be relatively simple to filter mail coming from the spammer sources at your email server. The main problem here is that there are millions of spyware/virus infected Windows boxes connected to the Internet spewing out the SPAM mail. The spammer hijacking software on these boxes have access to millions of legit email addresses read right out of the address books allowing them to send virually unfilterable mail to all the user's buddies and the buddies' buddies, and so on... The hijacking software is sent right along with the SPAM to infect almost every machine it crosses. Additionally, it should be easy to filter SPAM at the end point computer. But since most end point computers run Windows and therefore have little or no operating system protection available/turned-on, the anti-spyware and anti-virus software on these boxes, even though updated constantly, fail to stop the over-whelming volume of continually changing attacks coming in and quickly become circumvented for various obvious reasons and then allow anything, including SPAM and SMTP-SPAM-emitter daemons, to get in. The root reason this is happening is because of the pathetic security model of Windows.
Yes, there is always a way around anything, but if Windows were secured by just implementing what I listed, the SPAM, spyware, and virus problems would be reduced by orders of magnitude.
SPAM effectiveness and ease of propagation comes almost exclusively from the bogus security model of Microsoft Windows. There would be no reason for such measures taken by Lycos and others if it were not for this. The real question is why doesn't the U.S. government step in and make Microsoft do something real with the ridiculous secuirty model that is Microsoft Windows? If only the following Microsoft blunders were fixed, spammer's freedom to operate would be greatly limited:
1. Windows Administrator accounts only used for installing programs and maintenance - nothing else. Normal operation fgorced to use regular limited user accounts only. Windows should default to this and make this mode of operation mandatory. Duh, what a concept.
Service packs for NT/2000/XP should implement this. 95/98/ME users are SOL here.
2. Service pack to remove *all* Microsoft Internet browser and email program scripting language functions except for a few of the most basic functions that would only allow graphic manipulation and very limited file read/write access of specific areas on the hard drive.
3. Email read/write limited to plain text and/or plain html. No program execution from email message links or attachments at all.
4. Windows functionality/repair/upgrade/features etc. installation only allowed using administrator login and done using the old and forgotten way by first downloading the program, saving to a file, then running it. No automatic program executions here. And yes, Granny CAN do this too.
Any Windows operating system functions/features that Microsoft has stupidily embedded that will break because of these measures - be damned!
These steps would take easy infection Internet driven spyware and viruses out of the spamming loop which would wipe out much of the spammer's methods. This in turn would make filtering and controlling SPAM actually possible and even easy.
Or perhaps Microsoft is betting that at least one of the countries will leak the file formats/program code/etc and maybe work its way into openoffice or other open source programs. I'm sure this source code is being presented under the strictest of contractual circumstances. Are they intentionally trying to set the stage for later law suits against open source groups?
The problem with Nautilus and Gnome in general is that the developers are all so-o-o-o hung up on making everything in the code object oriented that they have succeeded in royally fucking up the program. Yes their designs are made up of beautifully designed objects exhibiting real world physical traits, but unfortunately the resulting code is bloated, inefficient, incredibly slow in execution, and mandates ridiculous human interfaces. The devs need to get a grip before Gnome becomes a has been. They need to quit worrying about form and elegance so much and start making function and performance top priority.
Don't fool yourselves. Nothing is going to happen to Microsoft - they have bought and paid for this new judge who will NOT bring them to justice. It is all just a big show for the public to give the appearance that the US government is willing to protect the people against big corporations. Too many favors, to much campaign money, and too much government back scratching since they got the real judge thrown off the case.
Slashdot Mirror
Since PCs running Microsoft's finest has about 30 spyware infections per system on the average, I wonder how much real CPU power they are getting. Spyware usually eats up any idle time available on the system leaving the Grid software to fight for cpu cycles. They may have actually gotten more over all raw cpu power by making the Grid software available to Linux users first.
Dude, too much beer while blogging or just not very bright? Nobody said spyware and viruses are spam. Nobody said ISPs are web hosters. Nobody said firewalls would stop spam. Nobody said filters are the answer.
The point I was making was that the very weak Windows security model is a spyware/viruses enabler and, down the chain, spyware/viruses are spam enablers. Take away the major enablers and then conventional methods such as filtering would be orders of magnitudes more effective and practical.
Don't be such a Dunce.
"...You really don't understand much about this area do you?"
I have a degree in electrical engineering (U.S. defense systems electronics design for 11 years) and have been designing and consulting in the computer and network business for the last 12 years. Every box in my lab runs Linux except for a few Windows test boxes. What are you credentials?
"...Your confusing desktop architecture somehow with SMTP and network topologgy along with most of the other aspects of modern computing and laying it at MSFT's doorstep."
It is you and others with your same limited view that don't have a clue.
Yes the flourishing SPAM business IS mostly Microsoft's fault because of the ridiculous security model of Windows.
SPAM gets to you because a spammer emails it to you. It should be relatively simple to filter mail coming from the spammer sources at your email server. The main problem here is that there are millions of spyware/virus infected Windows boxes connected to the Internet spewing out the SPAM mail. The spammer hijacking software on these boxes have access to millions of legit email addresses read right out of the address books allowing them to send virually unfilterable mail to all the user's buddies and the buddies' buddies, and so on... The hijacking software is sent right along with the SPAM to infect almost every machine it crosses. Additionally, it should be easy to filter SPAM at the end point computer. But since most end point computers run Windows and therefore have little or no operating system protection available/turned-on, the anti-spyware and anti-virus software on these boxes, even though updated constantly, fail to stop the over-whelming volume of continually changing attacks coming in and quickly become circumvented for various obvious reasons and then allow anything, including SPAM and SMTP-SPAM-emitter daemons, to get in. The root reason this is happening is because of the pathetic security model of Windows.
Yes, there is always a way around anything, but if Windows were secured by just implementing what I listed, the SPAM, spyware, and virus problems would be reduced by orders of magnitude.
SPAM effectiveness and ease of propagation comes almost exclusively from the bogus security model of Microsoft Windows. There would be no reason for such measures taken by Lycos and others if it were not for this. The real question is why doesn't the U.S. government step in and make Microsoft do something real with the ridiculous secuirty model that is Microsoft Windows? If only the following Microsoft blunders were fixed, spammer's freedom to operate would be greatly limited: 1. Windows Administrator accounts only used for installing programs and maintenance - nothing else. Normal operation fgorced to use regular limited user accounts only. Windows should default to this and make this mode of operation mandatory. Duh, what a concept. Service packs for NT/2000/XP should implement this. 95/98/ME users are SOL here. 2. Service pack to remove *all* Microsoft Internet browser and email program scripting language functions except for a few of the most basic functions that would only allow graphic manipulation and very limited file read/write access of specific areas on the hard drive. 3. Email read/write limited to plain text and/or plain html. No program execution from email message links or attachments at all. 4. Windows functionality/repair/upgrade/features etc. installation only allowed using administrator login and done using the old and forgotten way by first downloading the program, saving to a file, then running it. No automatic program executions here. And yes, Granny CAN do this too. Any Windows operating system functions/features that Microsoft has stupidily embedded that will break because of these measures - be damned! These steps would take easy infection Internet driven spyware and viruses out of the spamming loop which would wipe out much of the spammer's methods. This in turn would make filtering and controlling SPAM actually possible and even easy.
Or perhaps Microsoft is betting that at least one of the countries will leak the file formats/program code/etc and maybe work its way into openoffice or other open source programs. I'm sure this source code is being presented under the strictest of contractual circumstances. Are they intentionally trying to set the stage for later law suits against open source groups?
Just throw in a Knoppix CD and pray a lot!
When contemplating such an action one should keep in mind that anything that Microsoft does is pro-monopoly, screw the world encapsulated.
The problem with Nautilus and Gnome in general is that the developers are all so-o-o-o hung up on making everything in the code object oriented that they have succeeded in royally fucking up the program. Yes their designs are made up of beautifully designed objects exhibiting real world physical traits, but unfortunately the resulting code is bloated, inefficient, incredibly slow in execution, and mandates ridiculous human interfaces. The devs need to get a grip before Gnome becomes a has been. They need to quit worrying about form and elegance so much and start making function and performance top priority.
Don't fool yourselves. Nothing is going to happen to Microsoft - they have bought and paid for this new judge who will NOT bring them to justice. It is all just a big show for the public to give the appearance that the US government is willing to protect the people against big corporations. Too many favors, to much campaign money, and too much government back scratching since they got the real judge thrown off the case.
dito