Gates swipes at complacent rivals

By Matt Loney
Posted on ZDNet News: Jan 27, 2004 2:35:00 PM

LONDON--Microsoft chief software architect Bill Gates took a swipe at rival operating systems on Monday, as he reiterated the importance of security for Windows and in particular for the upcoming Longhorn version.

As the latest mass-mailing worm spread across the Internet on Monday, hitting Windows PCs with a program designed to attack the servers of Unix vendor SCO Group on Feb. 1, Gates stressed the importance of security to his company's products but said companies such as SCO were courting danger by sitting back.



		Get Up to Speed on... Enterprise security Get the latest headlines and company-specific news in our expanded GUTS section.

"A high-volume system like (Windows) that has been thoroughly tested will be by far the most secure," Gates told the audience at the Developing Software for the future Microsoft Platform conference at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre here.

"To say a system is secure because no one is attacking it is very dangerous," said Gates, referring to operating systems that have a smaller share of the desktop market, such as Apple's Macintosh OS and the open-source software Linux.

Noting the large number of major virus epidemics during the past two years, Gates said that in some ways, "hackers are good for maturation" of the platform, because they have forced the company to develop new inspection techniques for the code.

But patch management continues to be the largest headache, Gates said. "Everybody who had their software completely up-to-date (during the epidemics) was immune to those problems. But only 20 percent of our customers were, so obviously, we weren't doing enough."



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Part of the problem is with taxonomy, Gates said, such as making it clear whether a patch is essential or just advised. Furthermore, he said, patches are too large, and their regularity was not predictable. In December, for instance, Microsoft issued a patch through its Automatic Update service just one day after saying it would issue no patches that month.

Gates said "virtually all" Microsoft customers are now using automatic patching, but in the past, even this has proved problematic. Last August, many companies were left open to a new virus, because a flaw in the Windows Update service led them to believe--wrongly--that they were protected from MSBlast.

Microsoft software architect Chris Anderson, who is working on Longhorn, explained another problem with patches: "Today, virus writers don't find holes," he said. "They just sit back and wait for patches to appear, and then it is a race to write the first virus. We want to get patch deployment down from days or weeks to hours."

Gates also said Microsoft is looking at ways of developing e-mail protocols so that a recipient can verify the sender of the e-mail. "This is critical for security," he said, "and for getting rid of spam."

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That's what my computer does!: Oh, wait. I use OS X. The secure operating system. I
proved I am no complacent, Mr Gates. I bought the one
that works.... (Read the rest); Posted by: MTMacPhee Posted on: 01/31/04 You are currently: Logged In as: a Guest | Login | Terms of Use

Oh Please TWRX | 01/27/04

Right on Domb2 | 01/27/04

Your head is safely buried in the sand vferrara | 01/27/04

While yours is tucked safely up your behind. Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/27/04

And yours must be tucked up there as well. IT_Guy_z | 01/28/04

No, but yours sure is. Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/29/04

Security should be an obsession. notbilln | 01/27/04

For your sake, I hope you're right vferrara | 01/27/04

Arrogance? Yagotta B. Kidding | 01/27/04

Ok..... notbilln | 01/27/04

What? openMind | 01/27/04

You're confused rock06r | 01/27/04

Curious YetiChick | 01/27/04

Read this one then rock06r | 01/27/04

Interesting... YetiChick | 01/27/04

Question of point of entry rock06r | 01/27/04

don't confuse them Fred Flintsone | 01/27/04

Not the point... YetiChick | 01/27/04

Read it, now what? NoB$ | 01/27/04

OK, great rock06r | 01/27/04

Creationist theory is about perception voska | 01/27/04

OK, great NoB$ | 01/27/04

What does this have to with OS security? nite_w0lf | 01/27/04

Bogus Chad_z | 01/27/04

WOW! you were wrong! el1jones | 01/27/04

OH PLEASE revisited TOOL_z | 01/27/04

But Subarus Suck And They're Ugly nikoli | 01/27/04

And Windows is a thing of beauty? Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/27/04

Depends on who's driving nikoli | 01/28/04

Oh, were you making a joke? Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/29/04

Hmm . . . DrJ_z | 01/27/04

Funny thing slopoke | 01/27/04

Mac users must evolve... golddragongarret | 01/28/04

Macs for Sale? Jkirk3279 | 01/28/04

Windows security problems dissprortionate to marketshare MacGeek2121 | 01/28/04

He's got a point OhMyGosh | 01/27/04

RE: Microsoft has an upgrade plan for hackers JakAttak | 01/27/04

It's been 14 years so far Fred Fredrickson | 01/28/04

That's what my computer does! MTMacPhee | 01/31/04

Pot calls kettle black, film @ 11 Chad_z | 01/27/04

Maybe it was about something else rock06r | 01/27/04

MS shill tries, has a non-starter.. NoB$ | 01/27/04

No, something else OhMyGosh | 01/27/04

Or more choices Suicida| | 01/28/04

Okay, who'se lying? IT_User | 01/27/04

Burger flipper posing as a programmer? Doug@... | 01/27/04

Missed that particular one... IT_User | 01/27/04

Clueless, really. Fred Fredrickson | 01/28/04

please start making sense...sometime today rock06r | 01/27/04

Whoa, we're not making cars IT_User | 01/27/04

right back at you rock06r | 01/27/04

Logic YetiChick | 01/27/04

Thank you for clarifying IT_User | 01/27/04

Dont bring Joe Average into this rock06r | 01/27/04

Are you that bad at reading? IT_User | 01/27/04

What about el1jones | 01/27/04

Joe Average doesn't want that voska | 01/27/04

Not exactly... YetiChick | 01/27/04

This... Yen_z | 01/27/04

HUH??? No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/27/04

Depends IT_User | 01/27/04

lazy or poor programming makes it insecure! B.O.F.H. | 01/27/04

tie ins. ryusen | 01/27/04

IP stack in the OS IT_User | 01/27/04

My toaster is secure! No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/27/04

Until you connect it to the internet!!! (NT) Jose Jimenez | 01/27/04

you miss the point ryusen | 01/27/04

Wrong analogy slopoke | 01/27/04

It is a slander to say Windows is insecure pa2004 | 01/27/04

Thank you rock06r | 01/27/04

Maybe.. Patrick Jones | 01/27/04

Annual fee YetiChick | 01/27/04

Yes, that's right rock06r | 01/27/04

A few points... Patrick Jones | 01/27/04

You would still pay for AV protection voska | 01/27/04

funny... ryusen | 01/27/04

"I feel like I'm working for my PC, and not the other way around" MarcB_z | 01/28/04

Slander requires you to say it, you mean are you liebel(sp?) voska | 01/27/04

MS is as secure as Linux - surprise rock06r | 01/27/04

No surprise there actually voska | 01/27/04

But what about... rock06r | 01/27/04

Actually yes I can voska | 01/27/04

That will be an uphill battle rock06r | 01/27/04

That's pretty funny.... Jose Jimenez | 01/27/04

check your computer rock06r | 01/27/04

Try again Rocko.... Jose Jimenez | 01/27/04

Actually.......... Jose Jimenez | 01/27/04

Read with an open mind rock06r | 01/27/04

Oh yes, it's all much clearer now... Jose Jimenez | 01/27/04

OK, Let's do that IT_User | 01/27/04

Some "technical mumbo-jumbo" for you... DanIelWalker_z | 01/28/04

Incomplete.. Patrick Jones | 01/27/04

Windows -is- insecure (out of the box)! MeadMkr | 01/27/04

intelligence Fred Flintsone | 01/27/04

So does Linux rock06r | 01/27/04

As a matter of fact Jose Jimenez | 01/27/04

Dream On issthatso | 01/27/04

re it is a slander to say Windows is insecure JWatson77 | 01/27/04

It is Insecure. ITGuy04 | 01/27/04

I can't believe what I'm reading here. Yen_z | 01/27/04

In other words Yagotta B. Kidding | 01/27/04

re: its a slander.... Iain_Peters | 01/27/04

Not necessarily... steppenwulf241 | 01/28/04

Patch management server needed. Ardian Daka | 01/27/04

Why are posting this??? voska | 01/27/04

Here's why: Ardian Daka | 01/27/04

Ever hear of Microsoft SMS 2003? Confused by religion | 01/27/04

Correct ! Ardian Daka | 01/27/04

Can you calibrate that "well?" IT_User | 01/27/04

Buy more of our crappy software ITGuy04 | 01/27/04

SMS problems ryusen | 01/27/04

Gates is dead on.... Mike Cox | 01/27/04

Thanks for the hot tip Michael Kelly | 01/27/04

It's always the next OS Arrg | 01/27/04

Excuse me??? Mike Cox | 01/27/04

I stand corrected Arrg | 01/27/04

Its always the next OS = evolution TOOL_z | 01/27/04

evolution is worthless if it provides no benefit Arrg | 01/27/04

You Wanna Talk About Hype ?!?!? nikoli | 01/27/04

good point Arrg | 01/27/04

Poor Bill iKenny | 01/27/04

what? JWatson77 | 01/27/04

Passing the buck John L. Ries | 01/27/04

Look at the big picture TOOL_z | 01/27/04

Hey FOOL ITGuy04 | 01/27/04

Who's The Fool ??? nikoli | 01/27/04

Ahem.... iKenny | 01/27/04

Actually, Patrick Jones | 01/28/04

OK iKenny | 01/28/04

You are MarcB_z | 01/28/04

A few examples. Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/29/04

Agree MacCanuck | 01/30/04

Now that's funny... Patrick Jones | 01/27/04

For those of you that don't know... mlindl | 01/27/04

Yeah, dude, just look at the pretty pictures. DanIelWalker_z | 01/28/04

Operating systems will build their own reputations George Mitchell | 01/27/04

Gates is SOOOOOO funny, his honorary knighthood mlindl | 01/27/04

Security Through MS-Email Protocol? Yeah right... brenthawkinsmd | 01/27/04

Eff You, Bill Harvey Birdman | 01/27/04

Boy oh boy... plungermonkey@... | 01/27/04

I don't understand teh headline joshua305 | 01/27/04

So Gates is the one that started that FUD Xunil_Sierutuf | 01/27/04

There is truth in his statement jimk_z | 01/27/04

Poor products pj-xmesh | 01/27/04

Can you say Bull Sh��? Rick_K | 01/28/04

Bullsh^t. T25 | 01/28/04

Acutally Rick_K | 01/28/04

Actualy, T25 | 01/29/04

Sun FilledOut | 01/29/04

Longhorn will be more secure because MacGeek2121 | 01/28/04

the biggest virus of all is ... MacGeek2121 | 01/28/04

Chutzpa stormcoder | 01/28/04

The thing I would be most worried about, T25 | 01/28/04

Boy o boy, all these companies swipe each other FilledOut | 01/28/04

Put your money where your mouth is! msdead | 01/28/04

Any facts out there? mlindl | 01/28/04

Great point Mike B_z | 01/28/04

Great point!!..... I dont think so nite_w0lf | 01/28/04

Yeah OK... Mike B_z | 01/28/04

Market share has nothing to do with security. Userama | 01/28/04

FACT: Spoofing Filetype is a failure of the MS "COM" component model Rick S._z | 01/28/04

I disagree! Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 01/29/04

What do you think?

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