[jd_957]

The stuff coming out of MS in past couple weeks, makes me wonder. What are they trying to drag us through. A bigger pile of poop.

Microsoft Makes Security Pledge -- Again

http://www.internetnews.com/commenta...le.php/3484481

[Wet Chicken]

How disappointing

The title said "Are you wearing boots?" and I thought you'd have pictures of sexy women in boots

[xico]

I thought it might be Bill Gates in boots with Hu Hefner Or Hu with a whip and Gates with boots!

[hotskates]

ONLY boots

[MSM Hobbes]

Yawsers!!!! That image is now embedded into my noggin for the night...

Black ones?? With laces?? And, with just a little bit of a heel?? Awwwwwwwww, yea...



As I mentioned on another thread, while here in San Fran for a convention of metallurgists, there was also a convention hosted by RSA computer security firm. Talked w/ quite a few different people from that convention when ran into them around town - each and every one of 'em had nothing at all positive to say about M$. All the piss-poor foundation of the OS is nothing more than a sieve. Asked a couple of 'em about how Longhorn is supposed to be a vast improment on the issue of security, and they again all agreed that even that will not make that big of a difference since MS's OS is just too vulnerable; too many holes, too many conflicts, etc. Sad that one of the richest firms in the world has a product that is such crap when it comes to that kind of foundation.

[Wet Chicken]

Originally Posted by MSM Hobbes

Asked a couple of 'em about how Longhorn is supposed to be a vast improment on the issue of security, and they again all agreed that even that will not make that big of a difference since MS's OS is just too vulnerable; too many holes, too many conflicts, etc. Sad that one of the richest firms in the world has a product that is such crap when it comes to that kind of foundation.

That's why God made OS-X

[hotskates]

Originally Posted by MSM Hobbes

Yawsers!!!! That image is now embedded into my noggin for the night...

Black ones?? With laces?? And, with just a little bit of a heel?? Awwwwwwwww, yea...

Hope you slept well Hobbes

[xico]

Originally Posted by hotskates

Hope you slept well Hobbes

What a dream!

[MSM Hobbes]

With my mind in the dark recesses of the ditch near the road, I forgot to quote the following from the original link above:

In terms of substance, Gates told attendees the next version of IE will feature additional levels of security to combat spyware, viruses and phishing scams. The Microsoft founder also revealed plans to create a virtual network of victims -- that is, users -- who will report on what code they downloaded and the havoc it may have wrought on their systems.

But it was Gates' announcement that Microsoft would launch its own free anti-spyware tool that drew a strong response from Symantec CEO John Thompson, who dismissed Microsoft's security efforts.

"We applaud Microsoft's actions but I'm not sure their software is sufficient for large enterprises, and they may be incapable of doing so," Thompson said in a keynote later Tuesday. "No one believes that a single security vendor is the best solution."

Make that almost everybody, John. I suspect some folks in Redmond may feel otherwise.

Going beyond what Thompson said, it's safe to say that most users would prefer Microsoft to focus on improving what goes out the door rather than spend time designing tools to fix problems caused by its own software vulnerabilities. After all, other than persuading Internet rogues to lay down their malicious scripts and embrace goodness, the most effective way to reduce security problems is for Microsoft to upgrade what it ships.

You've got to wonder which is more likely.

Now with that in mind, read thusly:

First Trojan to attack Microsoft anti-spyware product discovered, reports Sophos. Microsoft's products are often targeted by virus writers and hackers. Anti-virus experts at Sophos have discovered the first piece of malware to attack Microsoft's new anti-spyware product, currently still in beta.

The Troj/BankAsh-A Trojan horse is designed to steal passwords and online banking passwords from unsuspecting Windows users. The Trojan horse also disables Microsoft AntiSpyware, currently available only as a beta download from Microsoft's website, attempting to suppress warning messages that Microsoft AntiSpyware may display and deleting all files within the program's folder.

"This appears to be the first attempt yet by any piece of malware to disable Microsoft AntiSpyware, but it may be the first of many such future attacks," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "As Microsoft's product creeps out of beta, and is properly released and is adopted more by the home user market, we can expect to see more and more attempts by Trojan horses, viruses and worms to try and undermine its effectiveness."

Sophos experts have warned that, besides disabling Microsoft's anti-spyware product, the Trojan horse also targets users of UK online banks such as Barclays, Cahoot, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds TSB, Nationwide, NatWest, and Smile.

"More and more malware is being written by criminals, designed to steal bank account information from innocent computer users," continued Cluley. "All internet users need to ensure their computers are properly defended with the latest up-to-date protection software, and make sure they are not putting themselves in jeopardy."

And to think w/ all those thousands of high-talent and the multi-millions of dollars in its kitty that they continue to suck at creating better products...

[MSM Hobbes]

Originally Posted by hotskates

Hope you slept well Hobbes

Well, after tossing and turning for some time in my hotel room, did sleep quite well.

Thanks!

[xico]

Originally Posted by MSM Hobbes

Well, after tossing and turning for some time in my hotel room, did sleep quite well.

Thanks!

With a laptop you can sleep under a bridge for free!