[LINK] MS strikes again

[Kim Holburn]

On 2009/Jul/02, at 1:40 AM, Brenda Aynsley wrote:

> Jan Whitaker wrote:
>> from another list:
>>> I was listening to Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte in a recent Security
>>> Now podcast, and they were discussing a situation in which the
>>> Windows automatic update had shut down a bunch of computers in a
>>> hospital operating room wing to do updates automatically...
>>> unfortunately it was *during* active surgeries...  then the hospital
>>> turned off the Automatic Updates feature of Windows and ended up
>>> getting infected with a worm...
>
> I'm not an apologist for Microsoft as we all know but I think its
> unfortunate that the company gets blamed for the stupidity of the  
> users
> in engaging in behaviour that permits a worm being introduced.
>
> Sure we can say if MS got the architecture and implementation of their
> software right it couldn't happen, but we know that's not ultimately  
> true.
>
> Imagine in the future that the whole world are linux/'something other
> than windows' users, which currently enjoys a relatively troublefree
> computing existence at present; do you really think that they will
> continue to be trouble free as young hotshots demonstrate their  
> prowess
> at creating mayhem as they do with windows or the more sinister  
> element
> engage in economic disruption at the computer.

Yeah but each hotshot will probably create their own version of  
mayhem.  There won't be automated ways of attacking systems worldwide  
which is the problem with windows.  Vital equipment should have  
dedicated systems that are not connected to the rest of the network  
and aren't general purpose desktop systems.

>
> I think not,
>
> cheers
> brenda



-- 
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
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