Update your Goddamned computer. If you think that running automated updates is a pain, trying waiting on hold for a half hour to talk to your ISP’s tech support only to find out that they aren’t going to fix it for you. You see, when some script kiddy finds out about a system security problem in a popular operating system or software package, he will exploit it. In most cases, either the folks who made that software already know about and have made fixes to it, or the folks who make popular antivirus software already have their programs set up to defeat the damned thing. Oh yeah, and firewalls are good. You can get one for free, too.
</rant>
I put in 19 hours cleaning up a sloppy, blaster-ridden health clinic yesterday. The tech guy that planned the network was incredibly proud of his cabling, his pricy Cisco routers, and his implementation of VoIP.
I only wish that he could have stopped patting himself on the back long enough to install a firewall, or maybe upgrade the workstation operating systems to something newer than Windows 2000 SP0 (that’s right, service pack ZERO).
That’s exactly what I’m talking about, brother. Sonic.net technical support (who, mind you, neither wrote the Blaster worm nor writes antiviral software nor provides system security services) has been pounded by Blaster calls since approximately 8:30am Monday. With any luck these people will leave their built-in XP firewalls and auto-update services on for the remainder of their stays on the internet.
I am glad that I use a computer manufactured by a company whose main goal doesn’t seem to be capturing a large share of the personal computer market.
Also, I am glad that I run Windows update once a month. Fucking losers.
Chunkbot, you’ve been smoking too much medicinal, buddy.
Apple has been out to conquer the personal computer market for about as long as there has been a personal computer market to try to dominate. Since Windows came out, however they’ve been pretty much lucky to still be in business. Granted, attitudes such as those you just demonstrated are a large part of why Apple still exists as anything but a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Dell corporation: blind allegiance.
Anyhow, I trust you enjoyed your $99.00 OS patch. The OS wars are over, Microsoft won (and oddly, their patches are free). All that’s left is mop-up and guerrilla insurgencies. At least in the personal computer market. There’s still a lot of bloat to contend with when it comes to Microsoft server software.
Shalomkkll
I must admit that my followup comment on this article was rather “tart.” On the other hand, I hear a lot of smug comments from Macintosh users, who are always quite pleased to be running an operating system that has become so marginal that nobody bothers to write viruses for it. Except when they’re trying to get software, which is when they’re typically in denial about the variety of sources they have available.