Comments on: Microsoft looks for 'protection' money

After spending billions to secure its software, Microsoft sees security products as a selling point.

[t8]

Microsoft should ban Microsoft...

Microsoft should ban Microsoft software if they are serious about security. That also includes banning their own antirus software.

It will certainly be embarring when the first viruses start exploiting their antivirus program :)

[Maelstorm]

They're not the only ones...

Symantec, Mcafee, and even Trend Micro have had security issues with their software, and they are supposed to be the experts in the field. Just goes to show you that no software is completely fullproof.

[t8]

Microsoft should ban Microsoft...

Microsoft should ban Microsoft software if they are serious about security. That also includes banning their own antirus software.

It will certainly be embarring when the first viruses start exploiting their antivirus program ;)

[DHeckeler]

Should've bought a Mac

Why does this surprise anyone? Buy a Mac and never have to worry about these issues again. I have no sympathy for people who can't seem to learn after being told time and time again. Wake up.

[mxrss]

RE: Should Have Bought a Mac

Are you kidding?

You asume that all problems can be fixed with one opperating system. Ha, security in any OS will be wayward, MS, LINUX or Macintosh. Last i heard MAC's are now what MS was back in 1995. While mac is gaining adoption it will also suffer its bouts of security headaches. Besides why pay for the OS its built on BSD which is free and probably built more secure and stable.

Not to mention if you want to talk about unable to write software for look at the mac that is far more propriatary then microsoft, IBM and Novell combined. Have to buy a license to write and sell a piece of hardware.

Stop spreading FUD seriously your lack of fact in the arguement just shows that your a zealot.

EVERY OS HAS ITS PROBLEMS!

- Mike

run a linux -- get a threee button mouse!

Its neat you can scrool up and down and make menus anywere you want!

[Earl Benser]

Get a Mac -get a five button mouse ....

... two more than Linux.... and real software too!

[mxrss]

Suppose This

Suppose,

your computer came secure from boot up to boot down great for you. Right, Its hard to be a general purpose OS because you got JOE dipstick who thinks running as administrator with no AV and no idea what deleteyourfiles.exe does. The problem does not only lie with windows, but also with computer users at large.

What is linux?

Linux is a geeks tool, while anybody can use it - it is for now a geeks tool. MS has to make a OS that people can use, because if they made it to secure dumb ***es would complain and so great i can not use it. MS has this Damned if you do, damned if you dont. And i think the secuirty features in Vista are good however i think joe sixpack is going to hate it. Remember not everyone is a geek, and when security comes in the way of usability the consumer at large losses. Besides if you know how to run any OS it is secure. But it takes knowlege, If you setup your computer right with any OS you do not have to worry about this problem. But as long as people run with root we will always have these problems, as long as system cracks who think thier admins we will always have these problems.

- Mike

[Mendz]

Microsoft has this habit...

... of making their efforts self-funding if not potentially self-funding. For example:

1. Since it cost so much to keep Microsoft products documented, Microsoft introduced subscription options to own updated copies of the documentations.
2. Since it costs so much to defend against copyrights and patent claims filed against them, Microsoft start piling up their own patents which, to over-simplify my point, are valuable when used for license rights and royalty claims.
3. Since it costs so much to secure Windows, might as well add some value to the effort and sell security as a product.

Looks like a good (business) habit to me...

;)

[omaryak]

Exactly.

Security should be something that comes standard with the OS. This is like a car company charging extra for locks or seat belts.

[thedevilbegone]

Not exactly....

Do you pay for the security systems of the car or does it come fitted with the car? Answer that and you know it.

[VI Joker]

Not totally

Car companies do charge extra for an alarm systems if you are not comfortable or satisfied with just the locks\locking system they provide with the car. Also you can buy additionally equipment like the Club to increase the how secure your car is.

Like a car an OS should have secure "locks\locking system", but it does not will be enough to keep out those people you do not want to have access to your system. Also it does not mean it should be the only security you have. Most car theivies can bypass the locks on car with little, but combine the locks with a club and/or alarm system then it becomes something that criminals think tice about trying break into. Its the same concept with OSs

[FutureGuy]

For all the MacNux Zealots?

?did you guys actually read the article or just started bashing MS for the heck of it?

?Thompson noted that there were 100 attacks that posed a medium or high risk between 2002 and 2004, but only six such attacks last year.
"The broad adoption of firewalls and antivirus and intrusion detection software, and the progress quite frankly made by Microsoft in securing their operating platform, has made this possible," Symantec CEO ?

The is no doubt that MS had and still has issues with security which is magnified to a large degree by the fact that its software run over 90% of the pc in the world. But only a hardcore nutcase would fail the admire the fact that this massive company with an unthinkably large installation base brought down the number of medium to high attack from average of 50 to 6 in one year. With Vista I am confident that it would be ranked as one of the most secure OS around and at the same time be flexible enough to meet the needs of 90% of the world population.
For those accusing MS for charging of antivirus one must first understand that no matter how secure the OS is there will always some need for antivirus, nothing is ever perfect and there is always the question of what if. MS offered free firewall and spamware removal tools and I am sure it would have gladly offered a free antivirus software but it can?t because that would kill all antivirus companies in the world and trigger a potential round of anti-trust issues, those who can?t figure that simple fact are living in their own fantasy world.

[Earl Benser]

You're probably right.....

... although I wouldn't trust any report coming from Symantec.
good or bad. Microsoft has done a very good job of patching the
holes - which, by the way, are NOT the result of MS's sales volume,
but rather the result of errors within the OS itself. The facade about
Mac's not getting hit because they are too small a target is a bit
more than incorrect, it is also an exposed bias.

[mxrss]

use WINE then

Jez.

Software emulation depends on the distro if you Unbuntu its pretty much, has most the drivers that are necessary to run < 3 mouse. I disagree with you there, OO is not a joke I have been using it instead of office in a bussiness envirorment on a terminal server and do notice a few things.

1) More stable the office, Office (mainly outlook) causes problems with my PerfMon Counters.
2) Its eaiser to deploy
3) database support for major providers is there.
4) supports most .doc formats (though if it has a lot of tables it tends to not read as well and will butcher the document.
5) Calc is better then lotus.

Mac and win for desktops but Linux for servers.


-Mike

[wakizaki]

I use Slackware as a Desktop :P

I have been using Slackware for about more than 1 year now. I don't have to pay for any software or service just to make it secure as possible. It sounds absurd to pay for securing your system...

[microsoft slayer]

Yes another scam by microsoft

first, they develope an in-secure crappy O/S. And now, they'll try to patch windows with this so called security product. give me a break already!

[Jim Hubbard]

What if Windows was a car......

Could they get away with building a car with known flaws that cause crashes AND sell add-on fixes for the known flaws?

You wouldn't have to buy the crash prevention modules. You could crash and burn. The choice would be yours.....right?

Just how long would it be before a pack of government hounds jumped on that car production line and shut it down, and why aren't they jumping on this one?

[Jim Hubbard]

What if Windows was a car......

Could Microsoft get away with building a car with known flaws that cause crashes AND sell add-on fixes for the known flaws?

You wouldn't have to buy the crash prevention modules. You could crash and burn. The choice would be yours.....right?

Just how long would it be before a pack of government hounds jumped on that car production line and shut it down, and why aren't they jumping on this one?


OK....Ok.... the car analogy may be a little off. So, what if Microsoft developed banking software that was easily penetrated? Would the FDIC insure banks that used it? If so, why?

Banks already use Windows (which has a new flaw about every week it seems). And, the product is known to be buggy and to allow hackers to take over PCs (even inside financial institutions) via simple buffer overflows.

So, why isn't the FDIC demanding a more stable platform? Is it because the taxpayers will ultimately foot the bill anyway? Is it because the FDIC lacks understanding of the dangers inherent in Microsoft Windows?

With all of the whislte-blowing and poloticians looking for a cause.....you gotta wonder just why none of them has picked up on the fact that Microsoft (instead of patching the OS) is basically charging users twice here.

Once for an OS that WON'T protect them from KNOWN flaws. And again for that very protection.

Is this legal? Should it be?

[Pop4]

I have stopped relying on Anigen and now use Defender exclusively.

I have been getting Ripped with Microsoft all President Day weekend. And let me tell you, these boys and ladies can punish you with their misbehavior. Do realize, these New beta Programs have their Pilots running with 60 minute around the hour support to give up just enough to secure the weekly Tacumsu eng. for Anigen Live; more useful everyday. You'll know when the calender girls come on for the annual photo shoot in Yellow ( maybe Lt. Blue)or even the trditional MS blanket of colors. Defender is awsome, and is a full throttle spyware protection.

[Iohagh]

Security Conundrum

The problem here is they brought the wrong security. MSN should be focusing on keeping data offline, a simple procedure, and just license whomever owns it. Duh. A clear home run but it seems common sense is becoming less common as conglomerates act like ancient money trusts and less like what made them rich in the first place: innovation and solving problems.

That's what I think. Ciao now.

[Iohagh]

Conundrum Unraveling

Hey, I went back in the records online and found that Microsoft was hit with a trust monopoly restraining order and fined millions for trying to take over bank security. So the US wants it to fix the problem without owning the solution since the problem is bank ID theft affecting US ISO Bins, meaning the prevailing US banking system.

At the same time, the US government contracted Lionheart the solution, software based, which cannot exist since all software has the problem of being on central servers that are sieves for data apparently.

Those companies that have solutions are outside the US Funding loop. So, whomever funds the solution, Microsoft must license it and cannot own it. Cool. Spread the wealth around to the little guys which sounds American to me.

Still, I am sick and tired of the same old players selling their played out stuff while ignoring the real patented offline solutions because they don't want to share the wealth. Sounds monopolistic to me.

That's what I think. Ciao now.