Re: Did Microsoft just issue a new patch?

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Ad (graaphi47uk_at_y.a.h.o.o.co.uk)
Date: 02/23/05 

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 22:26:31 +0000

Ken Gardner wrote:

>
> Well, that's my point. Virtually all security threats I know of involve
> situations in which the user initiates the downloading and installation of
> crudware on their machines. Obviously you know better, and so do other
> responsible users. Microsoft is constantly updating its software to make
> their software more secure -- as do many other software vendors as well --
> but ultimately it is up to users to practice safe and secure computing
> instead of downloading and installing crudware and then blaming Microsoft and
> other software vendors for the resulting problems.
>
But not everyone knows what they are doing. this is another problem.
Computers are suppose to help us, not get us in such a state that we
feel like throwing the thing though the window.
I thought those days was gone when we had the X81 with it wobberly ram pack
>
> I do use Internet Explorer and have had never had a problem related to
> privacy or security. It is simply a matter of knowing how to configure it
> properly, a task that got even easier with SP2 but wasn't exactly rocket
> science even prior to SP2. I use Outlook rather than Outlook Express, but

I just prefer firefox, I think it is a far better browser even if
Internet Explorer did not have security problems I would still use Firefox.
This is where the E.U went wrong, when they told Microsoft to take out
Media player, they should have told Microsoft to also take out Internet
explorer and outlook express.

> both programs also enable the user to configure them in a particular way for
> added security. I have never had a privacy or security problem with these
> two programs either.

Too many strange things can be done with Internet Explorer, using
scripts, I know you can muck around with it to stop these things
happening, but you need to be careful, otherwise no web site will
download. I never used Outlook as I do not own office nor likely too.
Outlook express is ok for some people as it is easy to use, but so many
people use it now, that any viruses will take control over it.

I use two email clients.

Incredimail to send email to my mates and email pals.
thunderbird for sending emails to everyone else.

>
>>But the point is that there is still loads of holes in windows and
>>people like myself who is on a fixed I.P are at risk.
>
>
> There is no such thing as perfect security, either in life or in computing.

Maybe not, but Microsoft seems to have more than their fair share of the
problems.

> The bottom line is that the user must take primary responsibiltiy for
> computer security. He shouldn't download and install crudware and then whine
> that Microsoft didn't do enough to protect him against himself. If he does
> everything reasonably possible to secure his machine and is still compromised
> through no fault of his own, then he has a valid complaint. Not until then.
>

But as I said, not every one knows what they are doing. A lot of people
just want to use their computer, just like switching on their T.V or
Hi-fi, they do not want to muck around with crap. This is what I am
starting to feel like.
I am getting fed up of fighting with computers, one of the reasons I am
looking at the Mac platform, it seems to be a better system. 

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