[Leaplist] A letter to my Windows friends...

[Chris]

I'm sending the following to everyone in my address book. Yeah,
I'm having an old fart grumpy moment after spending my "Holiday"
cleaning up three friends/relatives PCs - sheesh.

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What's wrong with this article?

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/11/27/uk.spam.reut/index.html

Here's what's wrong - nowhere in this article is Microsoft, and
their products, such as Internet Explorer, Outlook, Outlook
Express and Windows mentioned. And that's just wrong. Because
Microsoft is largely culpable for the plague of spam infesting
your email. And your Windows PC is helping.

----

Computer columnist Robert Cringely wrote, back in 2001:

"The wonder of all these Internet security problems is that they are
continually labeled as "e-mail viruses" or "Internet worms," rather
than the more correct designation of "Windows viruses" or "Microsoft
Outlook viruses." It is to the credit of the Microsoft public relations
team that Redmond has somehow escaped blame, because nearly
all the data security problems of recent years have been Windows-
specific, taking advantage of the glaring security loopholes that
exist in these Microsoft products."

----

In November of 2003, John Dvorak wrote:

"The [Outlook Express] product has been under fire since its
release, and almost every major virus uses Outlook's open-door
security policy to turn individual mailboxes into spam-o-matic
emailing machines."

----

The mainstream media seldom makes the distinction between
"computer" trojans/viruses and "Microsoft" trojans/viruses. The
mainstream media maybe don't know any better. Or maybe, the
mainstream media gets a heck of a lot of advertising revenue
from Bill Gates.

Look, it's this simple. Windows desktop PCs are a disaster on
the Internet that have cost literally billions of dollars of damage
to computer users.

You didn't know this - and that's not your fault. But the fact is,
you were sold a PC that had severe security problems in the
fundamental design of it software, and even worse problems
in its default setup. If it weren't for the agreement you made
in the form of  the MS EULA (Yes, you agreed to it) you'd have
the right to a class action lawsuit.

But it's time to grow up. Now you know better. And my message
is simple - run something besides Windows - at least when you're
connected to the Internet. Chances are, your machine can run
Windows and Linux. I'll even help you set it up. Use Linux to surf
and do email. Run Windows for what it's safe for - playing games.

Or buy a Macintosh. But please, don't sit there, and wonder
why your inbox is flooded with spam while running five zombie
tasks on your PC that are spreading viruses and flooding the
Internet with spam without your knowledge.

Are you afraid to learn how to use Linux or a MacIntosh?
Don't be. You weren't born knowing Windows, and the
transition is easier than you think. Personally, I'd be a LOT
more afraid of passing out my credit card numbers, my
social security number, my address. I'd be a LOT more afraid
about giving out all my bank account information and passwords.
I'd be a LOT more afraid of the FBI knocking at my door wanting
to know about the kiddie porn I've been emailing out.

Awwww, it couldn't be that bad, could it? Consider, in 2003,
the Norwegian telco provider, Telenor shut down a server
controlling a "bot-net" of 10,000 "zombie" PCs.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/09/09/telenor_botnet_dismantled/

But 10,000 PCs - that's nothing, right? OK, how about this:
In September of 2005, Dutch police arrested a trio controlling
a zombied network of 1.5 million (yeah, million) PCs.

The currents levels of spam, viruses and trojans points to even
bigger networks. Much bigger. And none of the people using
these millions of PCs even know anything is wrong with their
computer.

Look at it this way. You worked hard. You saved. You bought
your PC. You thought you owned it. But Bill Gates gave it away
to some Ukrainian criminal organization. They're running your
PC, and the only reason you can use it at all is because you
have their permission. And you still want to surf the web with
Windows?

Be my guest. But when you get tired of wondering why your
browser doesn't go where you want it to, when you get your
fill of the slow machine that used to be fast, when you start
wondering if your entire identity isn't for sale on a foreign
website... give me a call.

Cheers,

Chris