Points of information:
The DDoS exploits against the DNS roots were launched from Linux
boxes.
Worms existed on the Internet and DECNet long before Windows
Worms and viruses will always do better if they attack a common platform
than a rare one for the simple reason that to propagate a virus need only
pass the infection on to an average of more than one new host per host
infected.
None of the O/S platforms in use today scores well on the security front.
Microsoft is the only company to have made a public recognition of this
fact.
Phill
-----Original Message-----
From: Barry Shein [mailto:bzs(_at_)world(_dot_)std(_dot_)com]
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 11:04 PM
To: Yakov Shafranovich
Cc: asrg(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org
Subject: Re: [Asrg] News Article - Editorial on spam by Bill Gates
Why I Hate Spam
And what we're doing about it.
BY BILL GATES
...
But a single company can't stem the tide of spam alone...
Ironically, it may well be that a single company can stem the tide of
spam alone and, remarkably enough, it's Mr Gates' company.
Apparently much of the spam is forwarded via computers which have been
infected by viruses turning them into unwaitting mail slaves for
spammers.
Reviewing the most common of these viruses, such as Jeem, sobig.a and
Proxy-guzu, indicates that they all target Microsoft's winows
operating system. Versions up to and including their latest XP and ME.
There's a reason for this: Microsoft's operating systems are
vulnerable to viruses.
Other operating systems, or at least late-releases (e.g., Max OSX),
are not susceptible to viruses.
The technology for immunizing OS's against viruses has been known for
about 40 years (before viruses even existed!) It's been commonly used
in other OS's for about 20 years. And it's been available on
consumer/desktop PC-class machines for at least 10 years.
So why does Microsoft continue to provide opportunity for spammers
unnecessarily?
And why does Mr Gates act like he does not know this?
--
-Barry Shein
Software Tool & Die | bzs(_at_)TheWorld(_dot_)com |
http://www.TheWorld.com
Purveyors to the Trade | Voice: 617-739-0202 | Login: 617-739-WRLD
The World | Public Access Internet | Since 1989 *oo*
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