Symantec CEO hits Microsoft's security myth

TalkBack 49 of 188:

Next »

« Previous

• Thread View
• Flat View

I agree

i think it's a cost benefiot ratio... like most choices.
how easy is a windows box to hack vs what benefits can i get from it?

I would agree. The easy to hack part is due partly to the way it is designed (to be extremely useable) and party due to the people who use it, and the benefit part is due entirely to the market share. My argument is that the benefit part is the overridding factor.

Even if Microsoft fixed some of the glaring security problems with it's OS, the benefit of attacking windows would still exist - the huge install base, and a huge base if ignorant users who will click on anything they are told to. People would still use third party applications - like ICQ/Trillian/Symantec Personal Firewall - all applications which themselves have had serious vulerabilites in the past, and will continue to in the future.

Computer: Would you like you allow [insert network app here] to access the internet?

User: Yes, as long as it works.

As of now, the only way to ensure realtive security is to put very strict limits on useability, thus forcing people to go through great pains to "unlock" their machines. My guess is that the average Joe Blow user doesn't want this, and that's why Microsoft is constantly trying to have their cake and eat it too.

Comparing Windows to the *other* useable OS (Apple) is not valid because the benefit o attacking Windows is simply not there in regards to Apple. If Windows and Apple had a 50/50 market share, then a comparisoion would be in order, but with a 90/5 maketshare, how do you do a comparison?

Regardless of why Microsoft is targeted they need to do something, and they are starting on the right foot with XPSP2 and Server 2003. The problem they face is huge, as they stand to break a ton of things in the process. I've allready noticed that a great many things that worked just fine on our old IIS5 server simply will not work on the IIS6 server we've migrated to.

If you have the answer to the useability/security paradox, please do share. I'm all ears.

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

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

• The New Generation of System X Servers: Lower datacenter costs through server refresh IBM Join Intel and IBM for a deep dive into the new Intel Xeon Processor 5500 ... Download Now
• Wireless Lab Delivers Technology and a Better Education Dell Steve Spangler, assistant principal of Middlesboro Middle School in ... Download Now
• Rethink Endpoint Security Trend Micro Watch this informative video on endpoint security solutions straight from ... Download Now