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Patch Backlash | |
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| Time: 06:02 EST/11:02 GMT | News Source: PC World | Posted By: Alex Harris | ||
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Is Microsoft doing enough to fix its security mess? We asked its users, who wonder how things got this bad in the first place. "It's like having a car where the locks don't work." Advertisement "Patches ad nauseam!" "I would join any class-action suit against Microsoft and feel [such a lawsuit] is completely warranted." Angry, frustrated, fed up: That's how many PCWorld.com visitors feel about the seemingly endless revelations of security holes in Windows and the cavalcade of patches Microsoft issues to fix them. How do we know? We asked. We invited PCWorld.com visitors to tell us what they thought about Microsoft's security muddle--and whether they believed the company was meeting its obligations to the millions of people who use its products. The overwhelming majority of those who replied said that they're sick of constantly having to fix software they paid good money for. And more than a few said that Microsoft should be held accountable for the damage resulting from weaknesses in its software--a point of view that has prompted at least one angry customer to sue the company. |
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Read Only Comments Return to News |
Displaying Comments 1 through 14 of 14 |
This is an archived static copy of ActiveWin.com. |
| #1 By 860 (68.62.237.149) at Saturday, January 03, 2004 12:25:22 PM |
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I just put together a new XP box for my father over the holidays. I installed XP Pro (original release) on there and let me tell you - if he didn't have access to broadband, his system would NEVER have been patched up to date. There were over 70 updates on Windows Update totalling more than 60mb. Without broadband, it would have taken at least 6 hours to patch it up to date.
How can anyone not be frustrated by that? |
| #2 By 2459 (24.175.137.164) at Saturday, January 03, 2004 04:05:19 PM |
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SP1 is also available on CD. For modem users that can't stand the large download, this is the best option.
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/pro/downloads/servicepacks/sp1/ordercd.asp |
| #3 By 143 (199.35.38.86) at Saturday, January 03, 2004 05:08:23 PM |
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>:-) Just let me pull my foot out of my mouth! Sorry...Alex Harris (-:<
>:-o ~~~*PC World is obviously not a MS fan. Security is an issue when a virus can lower MS stock profits. "The money must flow" This post was edited by donpacman on Saturday, January 03, 2004 at 23:08. |
| #4 By 2459 (24.175.137.164) at Saturday, January 03, 2004 05:54:43 PM |
| Alex is an ActiveWin staff member. He just posted the article. He's not the author. |
| #5 By 1642 (172.170.186.45) at Saturday, January 03, 2004 09:00:02 PM |
| I know that SP1 is availble on CD, but I really think that MS should have done a Security Roll-up Package at some point since it has been so long since SP1 (and it will still be a few more months before SP2), and make that availble via CD too. I also think that they could push such a CD harder, by having free copies at local computer stores (similar to all those AOL CDs that litter the world). I understand that they are looking at pushing out CDs in that fashion with SP2. I think that "little" things like that could really go a long way. |
| #6 By 135 (208.186.90.91) at Saturday, January 03, 2004 09:04:44 PM |
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I will point out that the problem isn't patches. Patches aren't new, it's just that now in the internet connected world, the reality of patches is hitting hard. In the past, like 10 years ago, you just wouldn't see patches released for software that was broken.
#10 - The updates #4 talks about are security rollups since the release of SP1. But first you need SP1 to begin with. But I would agree that when SP2 is released, they ought to distribute it widely. I remember back in 1999 receiving a Y2k update CD from Microsoft for my Windows 95/98 installations, etc. |
| #7 By 5948 (24.1.15.104) at Saturday, January 03, 2004 09:23:47 PM |
| Linux has way more patches, but I don't see anyone wanting to sue them, is MS just an easy target because they have the post popular OS out there, always someone wanting something for nothing... |
| #8 By 2459 (24.175.137.164) at Sunday, January 04, 2004 12:45:22 AM |
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JWM, what software maker, OSS or commercial, doesn't release a new version until every bug in the current version is fixed (currently Windows has the slowest schedule for new releases of all major OSes and the longest support period)?
For a commercial company especially, it isn't really realistic. Plus, some things can only be fixed by releasing a new product that implements a better design. Another issue is the overall pace of the industry and the desire for solutions to problems that can now be solved due to rapid advances. Most people have a generally good experience with current software, but still desire more capabilities. MS does have a responsibility to provide more secure software and make it easier for users to secure their computers, but users also have to do their part and use firewalls and antivirus software, and patch their systems when necessary. Many who complain of insecurity are also negligent in their duties. I'm sure that some time after SP2's release, there will be a significant number of exploited XP SP2 boxes simply because many will turn off autoupdates and the firewall thinking that they know better than MS how to secure their system. Sadly, those same people won't have a 3rd-party software firewall or an external hardware firewall installed or properly configured. |
| #9 By 1845 (67.161.212.73) at Sunday, January 04, 2004 12:59:15 AM |
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I think one reason people are upset is because MS seems to keep creating new products (new revenue) instead of fixing their current products.
Um, if they aren't fixing their current products, then why do people moan so much about how many patches there are? Obviously they fix their current products. The sheer number of patches for XP is evidence of this, is it not? |
| #10 By 135 (208.186.90.91) at Sunday, January 04, 2004 03:56:18 AM |
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JWM - Products evolve. New products are the old products with bugs fixed and new features added.
This has always been the case. This has been the case with the telephone, electric lightbulbs, automobiles, airplanes, computers, etc. Many of these technologies have been around for a century. Give me one good solid example of any other company which behaves in the manner that you think Microsoft should operate in. Just one, that's all I'm asking for. Frankly I think you're a whiner who can't come up with his own ideas, so he trashes everybody elses successes. |
| #11 By 2960 (68.101.35.196) at Sunday, January 04, 2004 01:15:52 PM |
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#4,
That's not correct. Even after installing SP1, there are dozens and dozens of patches that have to be applied from Windows Update. I know because I just did it last month. In fact I posted the exact number here in a different story. IIRC, it was something like 67. TL |
| #12 By 20 (67.9.179.51) at Sunday, January 04, 2004 10:54:41 PM |
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I think we should also sue all the car manufacturers for not including airbags standard <199x.
Likewise for seatbelts. Also, the government failed too, we should sue them for not having circa 199x technology in 196x and not having future state of the art technology before its time! Yeah Yeah! Oh wait, we should only sue the LEADING manufacturer, because all other car manufacturers were not guilty for the sole fact that they were not the leader right? Then, let's sue MS for a problem that every other software manufacturer in the history of computing has had and has yet to solve properly. |
| #13 By 1845 (67.161.212.73) at Monday, January 05, 2004 04:04:20 AM |
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I just dl'ed Windows XP with slipstreamed SP1a from MSDN.
There are 14 Critical Updates and Service Packs totalling 15 MB. There are 19 Windows XP updates. The 17 (non DX 9b, non WMP) total 51.8 MB. DX is clocks in at 293 KB (though I'm guessing that's just the installer, not the DX runtime). WMP clocks in at 9.7 MB. ~76.8 MB is about the total for all types of updates. So, assuming that after these are installed no other ones will appear, the grand total of updates, critical or otherwise, on Windows Update for a clean Windows XP SP1a install is 36. This post was edited by BobSmith on Monday, January 05, 2004 at 04:15. |
| #14 By 6859 (206.156.242.36) at Monday, January 05, 2004 05:43:00 PM |
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It's a mix of "I want it now!" syndrome; the recent problems of security worldwide; and people not willing to foot the blame for their own insecure computing practicies.
The whole thing is far to close to "don't blame the shooter, it was the gun manufacturer"...after all, people don't kill people, guns do. The same mentality is hitting parents too--"I can't be expected to rear my child, that what the schools are for!" Whatever.... |
