Microsoft: Separate trail led to second virus writer

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re Microsoft should be held liable also...

>>Just like the Corvair of years past - It's manufacturer held legally responsible for deaths related to a faulty gas tank design.<<

The Corvair of years past was not plagued with a bad gas tank design. You're confusing it with the Ford Pinto. The Chevy Corvair had a problem where the aerodynamics were unsound and the car had a tendency to flip over if a good stiff crosswind hit it the wrong way.

The Ford Pinto blew up if it was hit in just the right way from behind.

>>Well, Microsoft released software with known problems and a plethora of faults. Yes, we all have a few bugs, but the sheer number of faults in Windows is clearly gross negligence. No different than the faulty gas tanks.<<

Here's a news flash...

ALL software has bugs. Except for the simplest, most useless applets (i.e. Hello World), most applications have some flaws. This is due in large part to three key factors.

1.) Deadlines. Market forces dictate that software be released promptly on schedule. Customers have a fixed length attention span. If you don't release the next "latest and greatest" version, customers will look elsewhere.

2.) Programmers are HUMAN. Humans are not perfect, tho we do like to think we are. Of course, that's our arrogance and conceit talking. Humans make mistakes. Ergo - bugs in software.

3.) "There is nothing that is truly foolproof because fools are so ingenious..." The same can be said for security. A lock is meant to keep honest people out. A determined thief will find a way to get in anyway. The same rules of thumb apply to hackers. The harder it is to crack open a system and get control of it, the more "prestige" they get for doing so.

>>Lets hold them financially liable - in addition to the nerds exploiting their faults.<<

Can't be done. The EULA (if you read yours carefully) exempts them from such liabilities.

No... Let's hold the little nerds who have nothing better to do than write these nasty little worms accountable. FIVE years for writing all of the Netsky family and the Sasser clan is a joke. Give the little bugger FIVE years for EACH and EVERY PC THAT WAS INFECTED - CONSECUTIVELY! And NOT in some "Club Fed" type prison where they have cable TV, a law library and live, relatively, in the lap of luxury. I mean a prison where they do hard labor - breaking rocks or some other hard work.

Here's a thought. Fix up one of the Soviet era Siberian gulags and make it an international prison for virus authors. Every nation would contribute something to the cause to keep the place fixed up and running.

The bottom line: if you make the penalties for the crime undesireable, most sane people will think twice about commiting the crime.

Posted by: Wolfie2K3   Posted on: 05/11/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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