Ramblings

Bloviating: to you, from me. Chide me if you will. algot@runeman.org

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Thu, 25 Feb 2010

Too Little, Too Late?

BBC Headline: "Microsoft Closes Spam Network"

Microsoft being given credit for using a court order to force the shutdown of Internet access for command and control computers that run a network of compromised computers that are responsible for masses of spam.

Microsoft is doing good work here.

However, isn't Microsoft's combination of computer domination and severe vulnerability a bigger issue?

Microsoft is getting the good headlines, in part, because its Windows operating system is rife with infestations of viruses, to the point that everyone using a Windows computer needs to install a program that block viruses, malware and the netbots mentioned in the BBC article. The anti-virus program business is booming. There are more than a dozen competitive products for sale to remove the threats to which Microsoft's system software is vulnerable. The vulnerability isn't new. Microsoft's gradual development of its operating system went from the venerable DOS, to Windows various versions. Initially a single-user operating system, Microsoft's improvements through the versions of Windows have not made the computers very secure.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8537741.stm

Antivirus Software List: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_antivirus_software