Microsoft = bullet-riddled software

I was catching up on Neowin news, and I saw an entry entitled “Microsoft software 'riddled with vulnerabilities'”. I was shocked, nay dumbfounded, to see so many pro-Microsoft comments. Especially along the lines of my rant before I left for the weekend. A few quotes:

the only thing the blaster worm highlighted was that 90% of computer users have absolutely no idea how to use them
exactly. if everyone patched their systems like microsoft and even the freaking government told them, none of this would've happened.
And the point that every one has missed (because so many people would need to eat humble pie I guess) that personal firewalls are next to useless in 90% of cases, as users (even supposedly educated neowin members) dont have a clue how to configure them correctly.

The number of "I'm too l33t for antivirus software" people who were infected on neowin was comical, it really made me grin. They mouth off a lot, but obviously can't even configure their personal firewall.
Amen! So what do we do to educate the users? Or did Blaster do that for us? Hey Scoble, can you make sure this is addressed at the PDC?

1 Comment

  • Thought I'd comment here instead of the old thread. :) And thanks for understanding the tone and intent of my last critical comment.



    I'm not sure why, but the term 'educate the users' makes me uncomfortable. Guess it's because I think that genie left the bottle a long time ago.



    Should we force a user to show their knowledge of firewalls and bug fixes and computer maintenance before allowing one to get an account with an ISP? Maybe we should force so-called professionals who work in profit-making enterprises to be more diligent in stopping traffic on various server ports and filter out email at the server?



    Somehow I think the reality is - we simply cannot do either.



    Okay, how about 'pure education'... my 82 year-old mom asked me something the other day. Seems I switched from IE to Outlook by clicking on the taskbar button. Her question: "How did you do that?" This from someone who got the computer as an XMAS gift back in December 2000! Now, how do you 'educate' her?



    This is a very tough issue. In no way do I feel MS bears the brunt of the responsibility. But they do share in it. Oh, and they've gotten much better in improving things too. The fix for MSBLASTER did not require a reboot. I remember when such things were commonplace. My only wishes on MS are that (1) they change certain default settings in ALL installs of ALL products, (2) they release their software firewall they have for XP to all other OS versions for free, and (3) they redouble their efforts to release XP SP2 on a more timely basis than end of Q2 2004. None of these are that difficult to employ - surely not with a workforce of 55,000 and a focus on security.



    The user is a constant. The user is also a cost of doing business. Just because auto makers put seat belts in my auto and my local goverment fines me $125 if they catch me not wearing it doesn't mean I actually use the damn thing. If the government wants me to be more safe from harm, they need to work with the auto makers to employ airbags, passive restraints, well-designed bumpers and suspensions that track well in various conditions. It's just the reality of things.

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