Two pieces of news broke in one day yesterday.
Item one: “Microsoft acknowledged a critical vulnerability Wednesday in nearly all versions of its flagship Windows operating system software…[which] could allow hackers to seize control of a victim’s Windows computer over the Internet, stealing data, deleting files or eavesdropping on e-mails.”
Item two: “The Homeland Security Department has chosen Microsoft Corp. as its preferred supplier of desktop computer and server software, according to a statement issued late Tuesday. …perhaps most important to Homeland Security’s mission to get agencies communicating more easily, Microsoft will provide the standard e-mail software for the entire department.”
I loved Jeffrey Zeldman’s summary:
Let’s see what the government might have chosen in its effort to protect American lives from ruthless, technologically sophisticated terrorists:
- UNIX, Linux
- Inexpensive or free.
- Requires some user knowledge.
- Practically invulnerable to attack.
- Mac OS
- Costs money.
- Easy to use.
- Practically invulnerable to attack.
- Windows
- Costs money.
- Easy to use.
- Can be hacked by a squirrel monkey, thus is wide open to attack.
- Produced by a company the Department of Justice found guilty of criminally abusing its monopoly power — a finding that is supposed to result in punishment, not in fat contracts bankrolled by taxpayers.
To the bureaucratic mind, the choice was obvious.
Sounds safe and secure to me.