> The biggest problem is that most users are not and the preconfig that > comes with M$ software is even worse then a Redhat installation :D > It's costing companies and everyday users a lot of agony and money every > year, that M$ is so negligent in general with security :( > > You shouldn't have to hit preferences and shut everything down manually > after eg installing simple a mailclienet, just so you won't get viruses > etc. That is beyond many Win users capabilities (usually out of simple > ignorance).
Well, the most secure system is a system that's under lock and key and is not connected to any network of any sort, nor is it capable of receiving commands or displaying and/or communicating any data. Of course, that would be a pretty damned useless computer :) Basically, the goal of a very user-friendly, robust, flexible, easily customizable, and powerful app of the size and scope of Oultook2002 is a very lofty one. With usability and functionality comes risks, of course. As a *loose* analogy, consider the USA and the freedom/security issue. The two are mutually exclusive. You can't have 100% freedom and at the same time have 100% security. There's a balance that has to be struck. And yeah, they could do better. But honestly, they could do a whole helluvalot worse. Thankfully, with software we can get a lot closer to achieving the utopian idea of 100% freedom with 100% security than we can in the real world, but it's still neither easy nor common. If you had to worry about keeping a MASSIVE suite of software and operating systems completely secure on 90% of the computers in the world today... Just the mind-melting myriad of possible configurations alone would be enough to make me throw in the towel. But to keep at it 24/7, trying to make everything easy to use, powerful, AND completely secure... That's amazing. And impossible. Especially when you have every reject l33t h4x0r with a chip on his shoulder gunning for you, a gang of relentless hounds just trying to find ONE possible weakness in your armor... I guess I'm just not as quick to ridicule Microsoft because I know I certainly couldn't do any better myself, and I don't know of just a whole lot of people would *could*. Demanding absolute security on a scale of this magnitude... It's crazy. Penguinaphiles can barely contain their orgasmic thrustings as they stammer on about how Microsoft hasn't officially resolved the issues with SSL that they--and Mozzila (and who knows who else)--are were made aware of. It was common knowledge there for a few *weeks* before it was taken care of on the linux side of the fence, the side with all the advantages. I mean really, give 'em a break :) Where's the love, man?? Can't we all just get along?? :D -- Eric (the Deacon remix) PS Wow, that took a lot longer to write than it normally would. gg 5:30am :) _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds_linux
