But wait, aren't we all already paying the "Microsoft Tax" on every computer we buy from a major OEM, whether it has Windows or not?
http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2007/05/windows-tax-is-50-according -to-dell-linux-pc-pricing.ars Methinks we've already paid, so perhaps we should get the benefit of the tax we've been paying for some time, by Microsoft paying $50 per license they receive from the OEMs to the gov for cybersecurity. > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > On Behalf Of Paul Ferguson > Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2010 6:54 PM > To: funsec > Subject: [funsec] Microsoft's Charney Suggests 'Net Tax to Clean > Computers > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > What?! > > PC World. > > [snip] > > How will we ever get a leg up on hackers who are infecting computers > worldwide? Microsoft's security chief laid out several suggestions > Tuesday, > including a possible Internet usage tax to pay for the inspection and > quarantine of machines. > > Today most hacked PCs run Microsoft's Windows operating system, and the > company has invested millions in trying to fight the problem. > > Microsoft recently used the U.S. court system to shut down the Waledac > botnet, introducing a new tactic in the battle against hackers. > Speaking at > the RSA security conference in San Francisco, Microsoft Corporate Vice > President for Trustworthy Computing Scott Charney said that the > technology > industry needs to think about more "social solutions." > > That means fighting the bad guys at several levels, he said. "Just like > we > do defense in depth in IT, we have to do defense in depth in [hacking] > response." > > "I actually think the health care model ... might be an interesting way > to > think about the problem," Charney said. With medical diseases, there > are > education programs, but there are also social programs to inspect > people > and quarantine the sick. > > This model could work to fight computer viruses too, he said. When a > computer user allows malware to run on his computer, "you're not just > accepting it for yourself, you're contaminating everyone around you," > he > said. > > The idea that Internet service providers might somehow step up in the > fight > against malware is not new. The problem, however, is cost. > > [snip] > > More: > http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/190581/microsofts_charney > _sug > gests_net_tax_to_clean_computers.html > > Enjoy. > > - - ferg > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: PGP Desktop 9.5.3 (Build 5003) > > wj8DBQFLjyDAq1pz9mNUZTMRAn20AKDL7tAFtYWpI3gjD5P8YppVD4LDcQCeI4DE > kXW3EMVRgsIh65NDCdxyQE8= > =sCAd > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > > -- > "Fergie", a.k.a. Paul Ferguson > Engineering Architecture for the Internet > fergdawgster(at)gmail.com > ferg's tech blog: http://fergdawg.blogspot.com/ > _______________________________________________ > Fun and Misc security discussion for OT posts. > https://linuxbox.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/funsec > Note: funsec is a public and open mailing list. _______________________________________________ Fun and Misc security discussion for OT posts. https://linuxbox.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/funsec Note: funsec is a public and open mailing list.
