atw: MS: Your potential exploitation. Our passion.

There are three things certain in life: death, taxes and Microsoft
discovering new ways to charge you for their mistakes. First they pioneered
the concept of the users pays to log a bug and not get a fix, otherwise
known as your standard support service contract of three calls for $150.
Now, with the ever-present threat of spyware and malware, we see the
introduction of Microsoft's Anti-spyware offering. It is now almost certain
that corporates will have to pay for this package. 

Spyware and malware are only possible on your system because of fundamental
security flaws in Microsoft's product family. With this new paradigm in
place, we can surely expect a few changes in the future from the Evil
Empire.

First, there is now active incentive to release internet-enabled products
with holes. The more holes you leave in, the more dependant your customers
become on the Anti-spyware product. With the MS spyware team's inside
knowledge of the upcoming holes, they can stay one step ahead of their
competition. Second, why issue free hot fixes any more? The security flaws
can now be handed over to the spyware team. Two excellent strategies for
achieving not only another niche market monopoly, but also raising profits.

The long term issue is more concerning. MS want you addicted to constant
updates. Why then, would their spyware team develop and design a 'catch-all'
solution or even plug the hole entirely? They make far more profit listing
new signatures as they become available. The problem for us mere mortal
users is of course, some of us have to get infected, notice it and report it
quite technically before anything gets done about it, rather than avoiding
the infection in the first place.

The final logical evolution will be to ensure that their holes are
well-publicised. This guarantees plenty of new attack forms with their
attendant signatures, giving every update a long list of new attacks you are
'being protected from'. Great value for your money.

I highly suggest your management contact the Sales and Marketing division at
your local Microsoft Office and let them know in no uncertain terms exactly
what you think of this proposed policy. As a constantly clogged voice system
is hard to ignore, we may be able to change their minds before it is too
late.

In Australia, phone 13 2058, fax (02) 9870 2466 AND email
contactus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx By all means, include this article.
                                
(c) Steve Hudson, MS MVP

Word Heretic, Sydney, Australia 
Tricky stuff with Word or words for you.
www.wordheretic.com
ABN: 86 453 419 554   
Without prejudice

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