This was posted at the Age newspaper today. Its a short piece so I'll
quote it rather than the link because some may not have access to the
Age articles.
I just wonder how much more before the majority of Windows users
throw in the towel.
Cheers,
Mike Fuller
We had to destroy the PC to save it.
Monday, October 17, 2005 - 11:01 AM
Just in case you thought Microsoft was not doing its best to beat off
the hobgoblins, ghouls and gremlins constantly attacking the Windows
operating system, please be aware of a patch, released last week, to
fix what are described as critical security flaws in Windows 2000, XP
and Server 2003.
Four flaws in the software have been fixed, including one that the
experts says will be exploited by a worm (virus) "in the coming days."
Ominously, the flaw involves a Windows component for transaction
processing...the Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator.
However, Microsoft now says that installing the patch can cause
serious problems. Users could be locked out of their PCs, the Windows
Firewall could be stalled, certain applications could be stopped from
running or installing and the network connections folder could be
emptied.
Microsoft is now working on fixing the fix. Meantime, they say,
apparently with full seriousness that even if users experience
trouble caused by the patch they will be protected.
Putting it into medical terms: the pills will protect you against the
infection. They will also kill you. But your corpse will be free of
the dangerous infection.
Let us hope that the forthcoming fix fixes the fix and we can all
proceed knowing that the fix is in, and fixed ... at least until the
next fix needs to be fixed. Or words to that effect.
Posted by Garry Barker at October 17, 2005 11:01 AM
