They've run similar ads in the Netherlands. No one objected though. Finding an independent specialist to prove or disprove it will be hard, i guess, since either you say it is secure, and you lose your credibility, or you say it is insecure, and when people stop using MS, you lose a major part of the business.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard M. Smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2003 5:01 AM Subject: [Full-Disclosure] Microsoft runs early April Fools ad > http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/business/2003/0303201315.asp?A=SFT&S=Sof > tware&T=Section&O=FPSH > > Microsoft ad pulled by ASA > > The Advertising Standards Authority of SA (ASA) has ordered that a > Microsoft ad implying that its software will bring about the extinction > of the hacker is to be pulled for being "unsubstantiated and > misleading". > > An objection was lodged by freelance journalist Richard Clarke, in his > personal capacity, who complained that the advert was untrue. He claimed > Microsoft software is littered with vulnerabilities. > > The advert depicts a dodo, a woolly mammoth, a sabre tooth tiger and a > hacker. The caption claims that not everyone benefits from Microsoft > software and that with it, a customer's data couldn't be safer even if > it was kept in a safe. It was published in the November issues of ITWeb > Brainstorm and Time Magazine. > > "Microsoft's software is littered with vulnerabilities," Clarke says in > his submission. > > Microsoft was asked by the ASA to provide information, substantiated by > an independent, credible expert, on the degree of security of its > software in accordance with Code of Advertising Practices. Microsoft was > also asked to defend the advert against Clarke's claim that the advert > was misleading. > > Microsoft submitted documentation to substantiate its claims about the > security of the software and said the advert was not designed to mislead > the consumer, but was merely a tongue in cheek dramatisation that the > software would threaten the survival of hackers. > > After reviewing both parties' submissions, the ASA ruled that > Microsoft's claims about the security of its software were > unsubstantiated as it had not been evaluated by an independent entity. > The ASA ruling said because the claim was unsubstantiated, it was > therefore misleading and ordered the advert to be withdrawn. > > Steyn Laubscher, Microsoft account director at Lowe Bull Advertising > agency, says Microsoft is in the process of having Windows XP > Professional and Windows .Net server 2003 evaluated by independent > experts against the common criteria. > > "Substantial information was submitted from our US office, backing up > the claims. Our survey data are still in the process of being evaluated > by independent experts and we informed the ASA of that. However, the ASA > still ordered the ad withdrawn." > > Laubscher says despite the decision, Microsoft fully maintains that its > software is able to fulfil the task of keeping hackers and viruses out, > making the customers' data safer than if kept in a safe. > > Clarke described Microsoft's claim as "laughable". > > The advert was to be run this year in a number of broad-reaching > business publications, including Business Day, the Financial Mail and > Business Report. > > _______________________________________________ > Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. > Charter: http://lists.netsys.com/full-disclosure-charter.html _______________________________________________ Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. Charter: http://lists.netsys.com/full-disclosure-charter.html
