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DEL.ICIO.USNew Vista, old threats
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Designing software is a risky business - and the user shares that risk along with the designer.
So there’s no irony in the fact that one of the driving reasons for software that isn’t safe is the desire to keep the home user happy.
How would you feel if every new operating system - Windows or Mac - required brand new software? There would be technical advantages to doing that - creating operating systems that run older applications constrains what the designer can do. We’re talking compromise.
But there would be an uproar from users because of the expense of junking all the old programs. The other option - if operating systems were designed that way - would be for the manufacturers of the computer programs you use to create free updates that made the old programs compatible. So - either way - no-compromise operating systems would cause someone - manufacturer or user - to spend a lot of money.
That’s not going to happen.
But it also means that new operating systems run your old programs as well as old spyware programs, old viruses. So that’s the price you pay for operating systems that are backwards compatible.
Me? I don’t see how it could be any other way. I can’t afford to replace all my software each time I change operating systems. But - as this story notes - it means that new operating systems can still be vulnerable to old threats.
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Comments
By C. Henry Adams & BIE
May 8, 2007 8:17 AM | Link to this
Bill,
We don’t know whether to agree or disagree with you here, because we think compatibility and vulnerability are two distinct subjects when it comes to computers, software and the security of each within.
Being vulnerable means to us…being open to an attack. It is likely that an Engineer forgot to tie up a loose end or purposely utilize something to access the target object for repair or upgrades. By utilizing reverse-engineering…the Cracker, the Hacker or the Script-Kiddie located the hidden door and turn a “To Use For A Good Purpose” into a “Bad One.”
On the other hand, Compatibility to us is quite simply one term, “Standard”.
If you have a standard protocol as to how you do things and would be willingly and openly share it….things would go alot smoother. Why? Because, if its standard then no matter how unique the next person…there will always be similar guidelines to follow.
Its when you choose to not share your knowledge to help create a “Standard”, no matter how unique you are..when individuals label you “Selfish, Self Centered or Self Serving”; then of course they want to attack you.
So, our bottomline is…either its going to work or its not, No Vulnerability or Compatibility in between.
Just a thought.
C. Henry Adams & BIE
http://www.networkingmenu.com
By Anita
May 11, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this
We just bought a second computer with Vista installed on it. We have one big problem, we cannot get on to the MSN Zone (games) to play bridge. I understand that MSN has not yet configured their zone for Vista. What can we do? I tried to get in touch with MSN, but am not sure if I was successful
By Bill
May 11, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this
Hi Anita, try this Web address:
http://zone.msn.com/en/vistagames/
Or here is a link you can just click