Symantec CEO hits Microsoft's security myth

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Please step away from the fantasy world

and the truth - is that Windows, inherently insecure by design, will remain insecure for as long as every Windows purchaser has to click an acceptance EULA which absolves Microsoft of any and all responsibility for their sub-standard code.

Windows may be more insecure ('by design' and 'out of the box') than some other OS's, but it has nothing to do with it's EULA. It will remain inherently secure by design as long as files are deemed 'executable' via their file extension and by default, files have the right to be executed by anyone. Even if these problems were remedied, it would be inherently insecure because of the people who use it.

As to EULA's, these type of EULAs come with every piece of software on the planet. Trust me, you don't want laws passed that invalidate these EULAs. The day software authors are forced to accept full liability for their wares, is the day open source goes bye-bye.

"But if Windows was secure, it wouldn't matter HOW popular it was, it would not get hit!"

A classic brain fart of your standard OS zealot, and completely wrong. The argument that Windows isn't hit with viruses because it's the biggest target flies in the face of all logic. There are factors that increase the prevalence of viruses in Windows, but the primary factor is market share. Anyone who argues to the contrary needs an introductory course in logic.

"And if competing Operating Systems, like Unix(es) and Linux, were inherently insecure, they would get hit every week, just like Windows currently is"

They might get hit more, but not on the scale that Windows does.

Following your logic, I wonder how on earth computer viruses were spread at all back in the days of DOS 2.x - when no one was on the internet? The answer is people. People who use computers do things that they shouldn't do. I remember mass infections of computers by viruses like "stoned" (remember that one?); spread via 5.25" floppies - no network connection required.

People will always find methods to transfer information between computers, and virus writers will exploit these methods no matter how 'secure' they are. All you need to spread a virus a few uneducated/lazy computer users, and there are plenty of those to go around.

Posted by: toadlife   Posted on: 06/02/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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