“Microsoft has admitted that it can’t beat hackers all the time, but will do its best,” Nick Farrell reports for The Inquirer. “That argument was quietly put forward by the softly spoken, shy and retiring, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer before Gartner Symposium ITXPO at Lake Buena Vista.”
Nick Farrell, “Steve modestly said that Microsoft knew more about security than anyone else in the world, but hackers were getting much brighter too. He also added that the biggest security problem Microsoft had were customers who did not upgrade their systems.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Microsoft blames its customers once again. And yet, many line up to be punched in the face repeatedly by the Redmond Sloth. Amazing, yet sad, too. And how, exactly, Mr. Ballmer, are your unfortunate users supposed to do your job for you when a brand-new, unprotected Windows machine becomes infected with viruses in just 20 minutes on the Internet?
For our Windows-only friends, information about adding a secure, powerful, and fun Mac OS X machine (starting at $799) to your computing arsenal can be found here.
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Doing their best? It isn’t very good is it.
I’m going to start referring to him as Steve Ball-S-mer because he obviously has big ones to make such an idiotic statement.
I’ve always felt that the end user has a certain responsibility to know enough to use the tool correctly (like any tool) but Microsoft goes far beyond that. Keeping a Windows box secure is almost a full time job. It’s beyond ridiculous.
Steve: I did upgrade Windows XP 2 years ago, and it is gone forever..
Boy, that Ballmer dude really knows how to turn on the charm….
It may be a bit infantile of me, but Steve Ballmer is big, fat, and ugly. When Gates passed the reigns to big, fat, ugly guy, Microsoft was doomed. He’s also tactless. Thank goodness he doesn’t work for Apple.
Everyone leave Steve Ballmer alone. Sure, he’s stupid, but so are you.
Brian Maki:
With the best will in the world, I am a “big, fat, ugly guy” – however, I’m blessed with the ability to recognise my own limitations and those of the company I run.
Ballmer’s problems have nothing to do with his physical dimensions, but everything to do with his inability to take responsibility for the weaknesses that are inherent in the ‘brain-damaged’ core of Windows or (to refer back to his earlier lesson in ‘How To Win Friends And Influence People’) to accept that people have the right to choose solutions other than Microsoft or understand what their reasons for so doing.
Yep. Fat & bald over here too. Not ugly exactly, but I ain’t no beauty. If I was giving a presentation, I wouldn’t be dancing around getting all sweaty and out of breath like that.
Surely the M$ shareholders can’t like the guy ? Surely they can boot him out at a shareholder’s meeting ?
Just because you “know” something doesn’t mean that you apply it.
I inherited a circa-2000 Dell system running WinME from a relative. It goes wtihout saying that this computer needs to be wiped and the OS reloaded (except ME sucks so bad that I need to buy XP). I would, of course, need to acquire all of the OS patches and burn them to CD so that I can update XP without actually connecting it to the internet. In order to maintain it in this pristine, unifected state I would have to also:
1) Run daily OS update checks
2) Invest in updated virus protection software and/or virus definition subscription plan
3) Regularly run Spybot S&D and other software
4) Prevent the kids from downloading free games
5) Pray a lot because new stuff regularly pops up that isn’t covered by the above.
This ends up being a rather expensive proposition in terms of money and my personal time and attention. And that is starting from the basis of a “free” (albeit used) computer. I’m buying a new Mac to replace my old PM 8500. The kids can use the PC for games and non-sensitive internet access.
Maybe Ballmer is not really trying to be funny?
I bet that if Bill sacks him (hehe), he could always get a job on SNL…. cleaning the floor or something!
(he does have a point guys – if you don’t upgrade, you won’t get the latest patches – all 2000 of ’em. Windows people should be checking for updates at least once a week, but they often don’t.)
they probably DO know the most about viruses… but the problem is that they don’t share that information as open source so that the rest of the world can fix them.
It’s like selling a car that only the manufacturer can fix or change oil on. It’s too much to ask. You need dealerships, part stores and other mechanics.
It’s the customer’s fault for not updating? Hmm…Partially true, but mostly a canard. When our repair center has computers in for the Spyware/Virus scans and Windows updates, we find on average, almost every computer needs around 13-25 updates downloaded and installed. That’s an average of 30-60Mb of downloads (If not more).If a customer is on a dialup connection, they are sometimes too impatient or unable to maintain a connection long enough to complete those downloads. And the rapid buildup of updates means if they wait a few weeks, they suddenly have a bunch more.
Good point Dak. The only way Ballsmer could rightfully blame the end user is if MS started sending every patch out to every consumer on CD. Even then you couldn’t really blame them though, because the greater responsibility falls on MS to build a solid product, which they do not.
Al,
I can’t believe how many of these idiot Americans are saying they’re going to vote for Kerry! America is a going to fall apart if John Kerry gets elected. The good people in the rest of the world want George Bush to be re-elected!
Ricardo,
Why are you inserting Bush into this thread. But since it’s out: I spent a good deal of time in Europe this past summer. Every single person who mentioned politics to me – and there were quite a few – was stunned that Bush hadn’t been impeached, must less running ahead in the polls.
Don’t impugn the ‘good people’ like you did.
Hey, people, Ballmer is perfectly correct.
Anyone who uses Windows, whatever version, is a consummate risk taker who is willing to expose themselves to malware.
What he probably meant to say was, �Get a Mac, you boneheads.�
Hey Ballmer:
HAHAHAAAHAHAHAAAAHHHHAHAHAHA!!!!
Oh my sides… (more ROFLOL….)
Wow your latest blame-the-users line is too much.
You should get into the auto industry. Then blame traffic fatalities on people who don’t own the latest cars.
Better yet, why don’t you just get out of the public’s eye and stop making such an ass of yourself and Microsoft? Nah just keep talking, it’s helping my Apple stock.
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-sip
Who was complaining about Mac users not upgrading to OSX fast enough and MS was not getting return on investment for MS Office of X?
Our windoze computer is fine. It sits next to a desk disconnected from the internet…and power. It’s the ideal set up for a windoze machine.
Oh, and King Mel, our IT consultant recommends that you run Adaware as well as Spybot as sometimes one will catch things the other doesn’t. I’ve found that to be very true.
As far as the personal attacks, I’d hope you don’t think of yourselves as that much better than Ballmer, after all, that’s what he was doing.
JPS,
What commie slime balls were you talking about sir? Everyone I know here in Europe supports Bush, not that lying, scum bag, Kerry.