E-worms: p2pnet readers’ writes
p2pnet.net News:- “Screw this garbage,” says a p2p reader in a comment post on the news that there’s yet another e-worm with a distinct liking for Microsoft-ware knawing its way around the Net.
“Sony free to a good home. I’m going out to buy a Mac tomorrow.”
He goes on that with Office X, his worry is, “my cubemate sending some macrovirus crap to my Excel”. And that’d be that. So, “The IT goons can take their ‘only-microsoft’ job security and shove it tomorrow morning,” says the disenchanted reader.
But, “Go ahead … buy your mac,” says another reader, “and note, how many stores do you know of that sell many mac products? I’d rather take the free security updates and keep windows, which eveywhere you go you can find stuff for windows … and live with microsoft … I may not like them … but their product is more world wide.”
But a third reader hits the nail squarely on the head, writing:
“heh heh. listen. these viruses are created because they serve a purpose – an alarm clock to wake users up from their false sense of security.
“just because you have a firewall sitting in front of your system does not mean that it’s protected. if you’re going to use a computer (with whatever system you choose to use – i don’t particularly care for these debates), then you should at least get a clue and get real about the situation.
“i’ve known of many cases where people have opened an email, downloaded the attachment, and actually executed the program even when they’ve been told not to. the point is that technology isn’t going to solve the problem – these viruses should have given enough evidence to suggest this. malicious programs have been around for years and we still see companies profiting from the fear of their users.
“why would someone want to use a computer if they’re not prepared to learn how to use it? it isn’t just about knowing how to copy your files from one disk to another, playing your music, writing your emails, and having frag-fests with buddies. you need to be aware of the internals of your system, the kind of code that is used to create the compiled executables, the methods and techniques of virus authors, and the mentality and motivation which comes with it. the world of computers belong to (using your terminonolgy – the ‘elitist nerds’ – i actually disagree with this label, but that’s another issue), but it’s the average user who causes the damage, not the viruses.
“if you study the culture, then you can understand the significance of these malicious creations. some are on an ego trip (these are often teenagers with vb scripts), most do it for the challenge, and a few have criminal intent.
“fear is for the ignorant.”
May 5th, 2004 at 4:52 pm
I’m loving how p2pnet seems to want to throw it’s support behind the “don’t worry” guy who seems to be saying “Just arm yourself with a little basic knowledge and you’re going to be OK”.
My sympathies are with the anti-Microsoft guy, and not because I use linux, or a Mac.
When XP came out they told us this was going to be the “Secure” operating system. Now it turns out it’s one of the least secure operating systems. It seems like a patch is coming out for some new, super-heinous, never-before-seen, vulnerablility every week. I hear of vulnerabilities Microsoft knows about, but won’t patch.
I was reading somewhere 20% of computer users still use 98. Is 98 still supported or not? I don’t know. I do know the only vulnerability MS seems to want to patch on my 98 is one that targets Microsoft?
So the mac-hater guy wants me to love MS, because he doesn’t like Mac-users, and p2pnet wants me to “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain”. Give me a break guys.