|
PureBytes Links
Trading Reference Links
|
http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2813470,00.html
On the heels of the most recent compromise in security that targeted
Microsoft technologies (one of many security lapses), and the omnipresent
threat from cyberterrorists (see story
http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2812815,00.html)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary Fritz" <fritz@xxxxxxxx>
To: <omega-list@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2001 9:39 AM
Subject: Re: Virus emanation handled quickly by Mark Brown
> > 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
>
|