Paul Smith writes:
On Sat, 18 Jun 2005 17:55:25 +0100, Keith Moore
<moore(_at_)cs(_dot_)utk(_dot_)edu> wrote:
I'd even go so far as to say we're going to continue to have massive
amounts of spam as long as Windows is the dominant PC operating
system.
I'm sorry, but that's just ridiculous. The only link between Windows
and spam is that lots of people have Windows, and it's relatively
easy to use, so lots of spammers use it. Lots of spammers also use
Linux or Macs, you just see less of that, because there are less of
those systems in use by the 'spammer' sort of person, but if that's
all there was, that's what the spammers would use.
Easy to use, you say.
I read a computer magazine called c't. High-quality thing. For example,
when it reviews Windows games, the review specifically notes whether
the game requires administrator rights to play. (Not to install. To
play.)
About 40-50% of the reviewed games require that. Now, isn't that ridiculous?
I bet that if Microsoft ever changes Windows such that people don't
routinely run their day-to-day applications as Administrator, Windows
will also be less "easy to use" for spammers.
That comment is like saying 'If Ford stopped making cars, there'd be
less car accidents'.
The operating system is irrelevant. Don't try to turn this into a
'Gates is a bad guy' argument!.. Whether he is or not is irrelevant
to the spamming issue!
A less trojan-friendly Windows may still be the dominant spammer OS, but
the degree to which it currently dominates surely is connected to its
_bad_ _bad_ security.
Arnt