Who Can Windows Users Trust?
May 5th, 2009 by ComputerBob
If you were one of the sociopaths who makes money or gets their jollies by infecting the Windows world with malware — you would have to fight a constant battle.
Even though Windows itself is a virtual swiss cheese of both disclosed and undisclosed security vulnerabilities, Microsoft and many third-parties offer a boatload of often-expensive firewalls and anti-virus, anti-adware, anti-rootkit and anti-phishing applications and utilities (did I forget any?), to try to plug those vulnerabilities, clean up the messes that you make, and keep you from being able to do your job.
But, thanks to Windows’ design, you would always be able to find another security vulnerability to exploit — until the opposing army figured out how to stop you again.
In the ensuing leap-frog game, you would get rich. Microsoft would get rich. The third-party security companies would all get rich.
And users would be left holding the swiss cheese.
I know what some of you are thinking: “Well, at least Windows users know that they can trust the Windows security providers.”
Are you sure about that?
What appears to be a credible source has reported, “During tests this weekend, we discovered the company who claims to ‘keep you safe from identity theft, credit card fraud, spyware, spam, viruses and online scams,’ has several cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities and provides the bad guys with a brilliant - albeit ironic - launching pad from which to unleash their attacks.”
That means that sociopaths could use one of the most popular Windows security web sites in the world to distribute Windows malware.
Of course, Slashdot’s readers have a lot to say about that.
Maybe the Windows world needs another new security company to look into the problem.
Permalink:
http://www.computerbob.com/wp/who-can-windows-users-trust.php
Tags:
Consumer Info, Internet, Microsoft, Security, Software, Tech Support, Windows