Microsoft swims upstream on security

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It does, actually

"Now they're selling a product to protect you from those problems that you paid for.

Why does this not bother you?"

It does, which is why I will never pay Microsoft (or anyone else, for that matter) for a security product.

That said, however, my question is, what should Microsoft do? The security problems in Windows were not put in there intentionally; they are a result of migrating a single-user, standalone OS to a networked platform. Microsoft doesn't write the viruses and other malware that plague Windows. If there were no malware writers, none of this would be an issue.

So what should Microsoft do? Rewrite Windows to be more secure? Oh wait, it's doing that - and many MS bashers have been very vocal about refusing to even consider Vista. "Fix" the existing Windows? How should that be done? Through patches? It does that already. Through service packs? It does that already. And in both cases, is thoroughly criticized each time it does.

The whole security software market came about because Windows was insecure in a networked environment. If that problem hadn't existed in the first place, that market never would have existed (or it would, but in a much reduced form). If Microsoft "fixes" Windows, those same companies will still be put out of business. Should MS be allowed to do that? Or must it continue with an insecure Windows, just because there are companies whose bread and butter depends on it?

In my opinion, MS should give away any security product it produces - not because it "owes" it to anyone, but because it's the right thing to do. The Windows security market should never have come about in the first place. If some companies go out of business, so be it (to paraphrase some in the OSS camp).

Carl Rapson

Posted by: rapson   Posted on: 06/23/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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