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> A virus is like a chemical weapon. A computer is like a country
> that harbors terrorists who use chemical weapons. Microsoft is
> like a country that not only harbors terrorists but feeds them and
> propagates them around the world.
I agree 100%. Virus writers are terrorists -- I don't think anyone
would disagree. Obviously they're not as evil as terrorists who kill
thousands of people, but their sole purpose is to wreak havoc and
destruction. They cause millions (probably billions?) of dollars of
damage and lost productivity every year.
Microsoft is egregiously derelict in their duties. Time and again
they release horrifically unsecure software that throws the gates
wide open for cyberterrorists. How many DOZENS (hundreds?) of gaping
security holes have been exposed in just the last year?
If an airport was sloppy in its security, and repeatedly left doors
open so hijackers could just walk onto a plane without ever being
checked (or without even needing a ticket!!), that airport would be
**forced** by the feds to shape up or else. Even if the hijackers
never took a single life, but just extorted ransom money, the
airport's security failures would be be utterly unacceptable.
Microsoft is NO DIFFERENT than that airport. They repeatedly leave
"doors" open in their software, allowing cyberterrorists to extort
untold billions of dollars from millions of computer users.
If your local electric or phone utility screws up and causes losses
through service interruptions, they are FINED by the utilities
commissions and FORCED to clean up their act. Microsoft is a de
facto monopoly utility in the computer world, and should be held to
the same standards. They should be FORCED to adopt proper software
testing and security processes, and they should be FINED heavily when
they screw up and cause these huge losses. Maybe that would motivate
them to do their job right, instead of dumping their testing and QA
responsibilities onto their customers.
Gary
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