Overhype

Overhype

by Mike Masnick




Microsoft: Okay, Now We'll Focus On Security

from the it's-about-time dept

Maybe we won't need a law to make Microsoft's software secure. Bill Gates has suddenly realized that maybe (just possibly) they should focus on making their software just a wee bit more secure. The fact that (1) such a memo from Gates was needed and (2) that it's even making news should tell you something about the state of Microsoft's software. As others in the article point out, it's nice to hear such claims, but I'll believe it when I see it.

4 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 
 

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  1. Jan 17th, 2002 @ 7:35am

    No Subject Given

    by Joe Schmoe

    Only one problem. Whenever MS decides to focus on something, they make it worse before they make it better...

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  2. Jan 17th, 2002 @ 8:06am

    Yeah.....suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure

    by The Captain

    If you believe that, I've got some swampland and maybe a couple of bridges I can sell ya...

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  3. Jan 17th, 2002 @ 8:31am

    Re: Yeah.....suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure

    by Joe Schmoe

    Ok,

    They take over Hotmail and attempt to run on NT, flops...

    They start their big ad campaign last year on the reliabilty of thier business systems/software, their own servers crash big and publicly the next week.

    I could go on. I don't feel like it. I wish them luck, but I do not expect or believe that it will be a quick or a smooth sail - for them or anyone in the same situation.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  4. Jan 17th, 2002 @ 9:33am

    Re: Yeah.....suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure

    by Ed

    The trouble is that there's a whole industry that will parrot Microsoft's party line, no matter how shaky their track record has been.

    Windows XP is the most secure OS ever? Anybody with a clue knew that claim was ridiculous, but the big hardware vendors bundled XP with their new systems and used XP promotional material in their own promotions, and the retail stores displayed those computers and XP upgrades and gave their "highly trained sales staff" training that repeated it.

    I'm sure that Windows 2003 (or whatever) will be touted as the most secure OS in the history of civilization, and yet today I can predict with absolute certainty both that it won't be secure and that in spite of Windows' track record the vendors will believe the claims once again.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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