It's the windows way. Users are forced to click so many useless boxes that they hardly read what they say and zips are the only way they know to share information. The system itself makes it easy to fool the user and perversely makes them less likely to try alternatives.
Sending zips is the easiest way for a windows user to share pictures and stuff they have. Users get used to opening that kind of thing and worms take advantage of it. What would you do if got something like that from a family member? I know, you would look at it closely, maybe ask the person if they really sent it to you. They are slowly learning that they don't want to use executables but it's not easy for them. The windows extension method gives them about ten different extensions to remember not to click and then the default settings or 200 spaces or double extensions hide the extension or html shows you an image icon. More sophisticated users can be exploited by a link to a website (such as their bank!) with malware that uses some kind of IE scripting hole. Microsoft's Office formats blur the line by mixing executable code with data. The lack of file permissions, executable code where it should not be and other design flaws are having their predicted effect. It's not the user's fault, ever. They are victims of their system's weaknesses and the malware's authors. You would think that they know enough to get rid of the weaker platform, but the FUD about alternative platforms is so strong they are afraid do so much as run Knoppix. The message, "don't trust people you don't know or work for" works against free software too. On Tuesday 20 July 2004 08:31 am, Karthik Poobalasubramanian wrote: > http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/[EMAIL PROTECTED] >ml Don't people know enough now? Why do they keep opening these > attachments??? > > -- > Karthik Poobalsubramanian > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
