Rebecca Seiferle wrote:
>Well, I think you are safe with your Mac, Doug, or at least I hope so! since
>I have one too.
>
>And you're right that it's not a matter of having a virus on one's machine but
>rather of spambots accessing the addresses of whatever server may host a
>listserv or various websites, all of which is another matter than the computer on
>one's desk.
>
>Someone needs to invent a botswatter?
>
>
Back to work. Now am I in Arden, the more fool I:-).
This story became peculiarly relevant because of an NPR story this
morning that Bill Gates is flying down to Rio or Brazilia or whatever it
is to meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Gates,
as a de facto head of state, is very perturbed that the entire Brazilian
government has mandated dumping Windows and proprietary software off
their machines in favor of Linux and other open source products. In
fact, Gates is perhaps seeing his future, brought about by insecure,
worm- and virus-ridden software produced in the name of the bottom line
and a monkey-see-monkey-do insistence of adhering to Microsoft's
"standard." If I knew the Brazilian national anthem, I'd stand up and
sing a few bars. It would be nice if SOMEone paid attention to this change.
Do bots, virii, and other annoyances become reduced based on Linux as
opposed to the infamously insecure
Windows? I know Windows adherents who claim that the only reason Linux
hasn't been as severely hit is that Windows is the bigger target. I'm
not sure I believe that. Competent design must figure into this as well.
Ken
--
Kenneth Wolman
Proposal Development Department
Room SW334
Sarnoff Corporation
609-734-2538
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