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Frustration Over Microsoft’s Security Problems Grow | |
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| Time: 10:13 EST/15:13 GMT | News Source: E-Mail | Posted By: Byron Hinson | ||
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Many I.T. people are simply fed-up with the constant stream of never ending security problems using Microsoft's Windows products, adding myself to an ever-growing list of frustrated computer professionals. Upon returning from a ten-day vacation, and a single security patch behind, seven out of eleven servers attached to a remote DSL network were taken over by intruders. Granted I should have had a firewall in front of these computers, but because of their functionality, I didn't justify the expense. But still, am I to blame or should Microsoft be held accountable? | ||
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| #1 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 1/6/2004 10:50:19 AM |
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Ultimately, he switched his personal work system over to Linux. "The lack of accountability is one reason I switched away from using Microsoft products."
So then, who is he holding accountable for the Linux system? |
| #2 By 6859 (206.156.242.36) at 1/6/2004 10:58:19 AM |
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You three are totally right, all of you. Before even getting this far, I was wondering about accountability for Linux as well; and wondered why end user stupidity and laziness is MS' fault?
I mean, if you fail to change the oil in your car for 10,000 miles, and the engine siezes up and dies, who is to blame? Same with computer security when the power is in the hands of the user. At some point do they expect MS to send a rep to their house? Laziness and stupidity are the bane of security. |
| #3 By 19992 (164.214.4.61) at 1/6/2004 12:09:31 PM |
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#2
I think you are questioning the wrong portion of that paragraph. You should be questioning this part: Wilbur Pan, a pediatric oncologist at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick Since when did a doctor become a security/I.T expert who needed to be interviewed about security flaws by PC World? |
| #4 By 19992 (164.214.4.61) at 1/6/2004 12:22:57 PM |
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#4
I wouldn't say it's fair to call the end-users without a firewall/virus checker stupid and or lazy. Most of them are ignorant of why they need one to begin with. And their ignorance IS the I.T communities (not just Microsoft) fault for two reasons. First - we've got a bad track record of acting the part of Chicken Little with the public via Michelangelo and Y2K. Y2k was an actual problem but nothing blew up, therefore it wasn't a big deal and it was overstated (in the minds of normal people) and Michelangelo (albeit quite old news now) was nothing but a form of security fraud by McAfee. Second, we haven't really seen any coverage of vulnerabilites (not viruses) on a medium that would appeal to these non technical users. These 'stupid' people are out there to buy an appliance, not a hobby or a way into a new profession. They want to look at pictures, send e-mail and maybe surf the web. |
| #5 By 6859 (206.156.242.36) at 1/6/2004 4:43:36 PM |
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happyguy, perhaps you're right in saying that I am being a bit unfair to call the end user either lazy or stupid; but be that as it may, when a new device (be it a gun or a computer) comes into your home you must own up to the fact that there are new responsibilities and duties that revolve around the new device.
If the new thing is a recliner, you need to make sure the cat doesn't get inside it and get crushed when you get up (known to happen.) If the new thing is a firearm, you need to make sure that it's not loaded, nor accessable to a child, and that the ammo and the gun are secured. If the new thing is a car, you need to rotate the tires, change the oil, wear your seat belt, not speed, etc... If it is a computer we're talking about, the end user must take some form of responsibility as well. Generally, it's refered to as "safe computing" and entails things like updating AV definitions, using a firewall, and performing general system maintenence. It's all fine and dandy to hire someone to do that for you, just as long as the duties and responsibilities aren't being ignored. But OEMs and system manufacturers need to have certain software installed and configured by default (such as AV and firewall), there's no excuse for not having those on. So, in that instance, they get the blame. |
| #6 By 19992 (68.69.127.171) at 1/6/2004 5:55:42 PM |
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#9
I understand where you are coming from with the analogies of the car, firearm, etc. But the problem is that most home users don't think of computers as potentially causing harm. To them computer is akin to a cuisinart, toaster or refigerator. The only time they worry about them is when they break. The OEMs do need to do a better job of increasing system security out of the box, or they can fob it off on Microsoft (as they've done thus far). Either way, the technical community is going to need to do a better job of ensuring that major vulnerabilities are communicated to these home users in a manner that helps them understand what the issue is and how to correct. I'm not going to pretend to have the perfect way to accomplish this, but the methods that have been employed thus far haven't worked, it's time to try something else. |
| #7 By 9589 (68.17.52.2) at 1/7/2004 12:04:42 PM |
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While I was home on vacation over the holidays several of my neighbors brought me their computers complaining that they were showing this symptom or another. All had late model computers and all were using Windows XP Home or Professional edition. None had installed the built in firewall nor had a router/switch between their cable modem and their computer(s), all had either let their antivirus software expire or hadn't updated it in months, all did not have Adaware or Spybot Search and Destroy installed, none had an IE pop-up blocker installed and none had updated their operating system with service packs and security patches - in fact either they didn't have automatic update set or just ignored it when it prompted them to install updates.
I patiently explained the error of their ways and like some of you gave the analogy of the car needing periodic oil changes. After I had set things right and gave each of them back their computers with everything updated and running great, I offered to sit down with them and within 20 minutes explain to them what had been done, what they should be doing and how often. Not one owner was interested! They were all content that the problems had been eliminated and just didn't want to be bothered with having to do anything to maintain their computers. I was really taken back by this. Here were smart successful people that had paid, in some cases, thousands of dollars for great computing hardware and software with most having sensitive financial and personal data stored on their computers and they were not interested in learning what were just the minimum tasks to ensure a safe computing environment. Maybe that's why I drive a manual six-speed car and they all drive automatics . . . |
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