Comments on: Security gripes? Microsoft feels your pain

Software giant plans subscription service offering antivirus help, automatic computer checkups.

[Jonathan]

Huh....so if I'm understanding correctly.

Microsoft wants me to pay for securing a product that they themselves make? Hmmm...I fully expect Billy boy to come out at CES next year in a pinstripe suit and straw hat selling Uncle Bill's magic elixir that will cure you of that awful indigestion that you got from the snacks Microsoft was handing out in their booth. If MS wasn?t an above the board company I?d swear they have the best racket since bootlegging in the 1920?s. The mob must stand in complete awe of Microsoft. They have a racket that is as slimy but can skate by the US Government without nary a scratch. Bravo sir. Bravo.

[System Tyrant]

And...

people will do it thinking what a good deal they are getting.

People demand so very little and in return they get so very little, but pay quite a bit for the privilage. In the end we have and still allow companies to tell us what we will get. It's not about free and open source. It's about getting companies to take responsablity and provide the products and services that consumers demand. Not just accepting what they give us as good enough.

[BazNZ]

Hmmm...

So if my house is ever burgled (cracked) maybe I should hold the builder of the house responsible since they didn't make my house secure enough.

[Mister L]

As long as....

...you remember to hold the builder liable for that annoying problem he left your house with...you know..the one where if a burglar knocks on the door the right way a key to all the locks falls into his hands, and the house recognizes him as the owner.

[catchall]

As long as

You can no longer hold the builder accountable when the builder offers a free fix for the locks, but you never bother to get them.
Most just like to bash MS for security flaws(yet ignore Apple's 20 latest fixes or FireFox's), but it is a 2 way street. Many of the worse virus/worm outbreaks have occurred after the patch was available to the public.

[br77575]

Microsoft feels your pain

Some of you may be willing to pay Microsoft to feel your pain, but I prefer keeping them away from my posterior. This new service will allow Microsoft to add more bloated eye candy to future operating systems with security holes large enough to drive a bus through, then charge OneCare subscribers even more to automatically patch them. Waiting on hold for the free privilege of getting a real live support person will also help ease your pain.

[Steven N]

Meeting at Microsoft...

Suit #1: revenue is falling

Suit #2: It's because darn customers don't like our Swiss cheese. And our patches are for free.

Suit #1: let's charge for them, and make it look like a service to the customer.

....

Suit #1: revenue is falling...

Suit #2: and the patchin' program is not making money. Darn customers are not convinced.

Suit #1: lets make some more holes...

Farfetched? Not for me...

Oh, and another thing. It is not enough they destroyed the software market with their monopoly. Now they are also going after the people that are making money by fixing their mess (guess there is always something good at everything)

What crap !

First they sell you a crappy OS, then they sell you a maintainance plan ! Switch to Linux, people - dont you see what Microsoft is doing to you ?

[pcLoadLetter]

Too funny

Only MS would have the audacity to charge for their failures.

Given Microsofts track record, these add-ons will be full of bugs and security holes themselves.

Only a moron would pay MS for this, when they can not only get 3rd party apps for free, but they work well.

[catchall]

Kind of the point

The third party apps you mention have been out for quite a while, and work very well. Yet people don't use them and/or they don't maintain them. With AVG, ZoneAlarm, WinPatrol, and Spybot, I have not had a virus/malware infection since the days of booting off floppies to get games working. They are free, easy to use, and many average users just can't be bothered.
I think it is silly to pay for stuff that is free. Others may not.

[PCChapman]

Protection Racket

The 20's in Chicago is the correct analogy here!!
Poor retail shop owners would rent a storefront and about
the second week in business they would get a visit from the
"Insurance Company".
" You have a nice store here, it would be a pity if anything
happened."
"Happened, what could happen?"
"Well, a fire, a window broken, broken pipes, who knows?"
"So, are you the ones who will pay us if this happens?"
"You don't understand. You pay upfront so that it won't
happen."
"Upfront? What kind of insurance is this?"
"This an old building and we need to keep a constant eye
open for bad things so you don't have trouble."
"What if I don't want this insurance?"
"Well, have a nice day."