Microsoft founder Bill Gates, 49, talks about the thorny issues of computer security and other issues with SPIEGEL magazine. In the interview, Gates espouses homogenous operating system use. An excerpt:
Gates: The truth is: the fewer operating systems there are within a company, the better it is from a security point of view.
SPIEGEL: I beg your pardon?
Gates: Simply because one must spend billions of dollars to ensure the security of each individual system. Our company has an unbelievable number of people who are solely responsible for this type of security around the clock.
SPIEGEL: The particular charm of Linux is that it is an adaptable system that users can shape themselves.
Gates: If everything runs under the same platform, however, you can better concentrate resources and more quickly repair errors. For instance, in a hospital where different systems are used, a single problem in one section cause the other systems to crash. Thus, from a security standpoint it is always better to focus on one system.
SPIEGEL: But your small competitor Apple, for example, is much less frequently a victim of virus attacks …
Gates: … put so sweepingly, that is not correct. Of course we are the largest target, simply because we have the most widely disseminated system. But it affects others in exactly the same way. Linux is, in many respects, even more significantly affected.
SPIEGEL: In a few hours a Windows virus can travel across the world like an epidemic…
Gates: … above all because of our global popularity. But we know that. And we must apply still more time and money to it. However, spam or data theft are not questions of the operating system. For this, you also need laws and global standards.
SPIEGEL: Once again: Windows is the most vulnerable.
Gates: You could look at that in many ways. The speed with which, for example, the Linux community reacts to problems is not especially high — that’s because this system, unlike ours, simply does not keep thousands of people on standby to deal with problems. In this respect, a commercially distributed operating system also has decisive benefits. Sweeping judgments don’t help because we all have to take the problems seriously. Even Linux developers know that there is no miracle cure in Linuxland. They, too, must continue to work and continue to make progress.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Note how Gates turns the conversation from Apple’s Mac platform to Linux and makes no mention of Mac OS X. That’s very telling, as are the related articles below. One can only hope that those wedded firmly to homogenous Microsoft Windows networks, will wake up and realize that diversity of platforms is the best course to chart for the future if security is really their goal.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Single Mac keeps company running while Windows machines fail due to Blaster worm – August 13, 2003
MSBlaster Windows worm cost: hundreds of millions of dollars – August 13, 2003
Congress members frustrated with computer viruses wonder how to protect public – September 11, 2003
The problem Bill has is that he is no GW. People expect Bill to be somewhat intelligent so he can’t use the old “repeat until it sounds true” trick that GW uses.
I love Speigel’s reaction in the first quote:
Gates: The truth is: the fewer operating systems there are within a company, the better it is from a security point of view.
SPIEGEL: I beg your pardon?
When you spew facile idealism 180 degress opposite to conventional wisdom, saying “I beg your pardon,” is the polite way to laugh.
Re: “HEY GUYS, I WANT TO BE SUPERIOR TOO!!! NOT!”
His one hand says, “Stop saying you’re superior!” whilst the other hand blathers, “Get people to switch!”
Praytell, how are we supposed to get people to switch without espousing the superior nature of the product???
You’re just a blah blah person.
A few fraid nerves above it seems. Now now boys don’t be so sensitive and defensive for your dear old uncle Bill. Actually its your ‘Master’ that sounds more like he is taking the supremacist root what with preaching the electronic version of eugenics ie purity equals superiority. Some people never learn it seems
This interview is priceless! I love this part:
“Simply because one must spend billions of dollars to ensure the security of each individual system. Our company has an unbelievable number of people who are solely responsible for this type of security around the clock.”
One only need to spend “billions” to ensure security IF THEY’RE USING WINDOWS!!! They have thousands of people responsible because their system is so insecure!
Then the interviewer specifically asks about OS X, but he changes the subject to Linux because he can’t argue with him about the Mac.
I think he took lessons from Iraq’s Minister of (dis)Information.
“…One must spend billions of dollars to ensure the security of each individual system. Our company has an unbelievable number of people who are solely responsible for this type of security around the clock.
Excuse me? Maybe microsucks and other companies with windoze has to spend billions on security, but not for Macs!
He has no vision. No style. No idea what he’s talking about. He’s such an idiot.
When reading interviews with Billy goat, his words don’t connect with me. He has no original ideas and is so frickin boring! But when I read interviews with Steve Jobs, he has such conviction about his vision and it sounds so exciting.
as AtAT says, “The suburbs are also safer because they are less populated. It doesn’t mean we should all move to the inner-city and tape $100 bills to our chest.”
ndelc, I was just going to reference the same guy.
Sounds a lot like newscasts where the Iraqi MoD was being interviewed saying that they would push back the infidels (or whatever he said) while you could almost see the US soldiers taking control in the background.
I have always wondered why every other piece of software written for banks and hospitals must go through rigorous test to make sure that they ensure data privacy.
If the application fails or is hacked, the software vendor has to fix the problem and can be penalized.
Any computer software needs to be approved by the FDA if it deals with patient care.
Why is M$ excused?
Why is M$ not required to fix their problems?
Why do banks and hospitals switch to Windows and Office?
Why are new ATM’s running windows?
Why it is not M$ responsibility but the gov’t?
… and that’s Bill Gates for ya. He can’t change.
You guys are blind. Bill changes the subject from Mac OS X to Linux because Apple is not a player in the business market. The discussion was about corporate IT. Apple’s 3% of the market is home users, Hollywood, and Photoshop pros. The Apple market share in corporate IT is neglible. Want a good laugh or confused look from your boss? Suggest they install an XServe or a few iMacs in your next meeting..
Linux, on the other hand, is making inroads. (1) because its free, and (2) because it can be loaded over an old Windows install. From this standpoint Bill is right. You are on your own if you run your corporation business workstations and servers using Linux.
“…….Want a good laugh or confused look from your boss? Suggest they install an XServe or a few iMacs in your next meeting….”
Youre probably correct, here GB…. but only in the fact that your boss would most likely scoff at a suggestion of using XServes, and Macs…
However, this says nothing about the probable reason for his scoffs would be one of ignorance, and not one of informed judgement…
How many “bosses” out there would be expected to know about the superior security, low maintenence, low (long term) operating costs, and the absense of (expensive) malware-related problems associated with using Macs ??
I’d say..not many..
and.. “HEY GUYS” ….
Your post is idiotic … You ramble… and make no sense !! … Just because someone says …”I use both” … doesnt necessarily mean you may use Macs on a regular basis….
While, you may have played a game on a Mac once… I doubt very seriously you have any knowledge of the current line up and / or OSX ..
If you did … you would have a different view…
Bottom line, I guess …. the moral of the story would be…
“…… You can always tell a PeeCeer …. but, you just can’t tell him much !……”
First, I would like to say that I dislike MS as a company, but…
To all those who think Bill tried to stear clear of OS X, read the full article! The comment right before the quote on MDN, shows that Bill brings up apple as an OS maker. MDN provides a link to the article so you can read and make a judgement for yourself. Please utilize it.
For all those that cannot be bothered to click a link and read a bit, the first mention of apple in the article:
Gates: There are actually a large number of operating systems in addition to Windows, for example, such as OS from Apple or Linux and Unix…
I point this out of love for the Mac community! Lets stop being fanatics and saying crazy things unless we have proof.
Heh! When I first saw this and read it, I thought that Gates got his ass handed to him by the Spiegel catalog people. 😀
SPIEGEL: When one puts the sentence “Bill Gates is the devil” into the Internet search engine Google, one gets thousands of hits. Does this bother you?
Gates: I have never searched for such a sentence. Plus: if you understand the search engine properly, it doesn’t mean that you will find exactly this sentence on these pages.
Google (exact phrase):
http://www.google.com/search?q="Bill+Gates+is+the+devil"&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Results 1 – 50 of about 5,250 for “Bill Gates is the devil”
From Bill’s own new search engine (exact phrase):
http://search.msn.com:80/results.aspx?q="Bill+Gates+is+the+devil"&srch_type=0&FORM=QBHP
1-10 of 1,730 containing “Bill Gates is the devil”
HEY GUYS,
I’m not superior because I use a Mac.
I use a Mac because I’m superior.
You’re mixing up cause and effect here.
I bet Bill thinks interbreeding is good for the genome.
re. BISHOP and dogs – I hope no one here is beating dogs …
Bill Gates is not worried about Mac OSX, he is worried about Linux. You guys don’t get it? The Macintosh is irrelevant in the big picture. The Mac may grow to 2%, 3%, 4%, or maybe even 5%, but so what? It will still be 95% to 5%. And, Microsoft can copy OSX, and fix the security issues. There is no rush. Microsoft’s total dominance provides them with years and years of time.
This may be upsetting, but it’s true.
PCs Rule has a point. OSX has been out for years, and Apple’s market share has gone down. As a MAC user that upsets me. Why do people put up with that crap???
Where was the Mac Mini Advertisiment during Super Bowl? When was the last time you saw a Mac Ad?
Bill Gates must have been sleeping in Biology class when the teacher was giving the “Darwin’s Theory” lecture?!
“…….Bill Gates is not worried about Mac OSX, he is worried about Linux. You guys don’t get it?…..”
uhhhh…. he’s worried about both !!
For one…. Linux can run on PeeCees… thus, a threat to his “world dominence”…
And secondly, he’s worried about Mac OSX, because of its elegance and its bullet-proof immunity to virii, popups, keystroke loggers, spyware, trojans… etc etc etc….. which, preliminary data seems to be showing… is attracting those PeeCeers who have the brains to educate themselves about the alternatives !!
Because, even Billy Gates realizes… a drip can become a trickle, a trickle can become a stream, and a stream can become a raging river !!
“……Microsoft’s total dominance provides them with years and years of time….”
And I hope they sit on their laurels, and use all of that time bilking their customers out of their hard earned money, and trying to convince the world that its the various “Governments job to secure their (sadly) insecure Operating System”….
Eventually, even PeeCeers will see through their crap, and switch to the Mac…
Gates: … above all because of our global popularity. But we know that. And we must apply still more time and money to it. However, spam or data theft are not questions of the operating system. For this, you also need laws and global standards.
I think last week’s MSN Messenger worm problem puts to rest the “popularity” excuse made by Microsoft, since most people use AIM.
http://news.com.com/MSN+Messenger+hit+by+double-whammy+worm/2100-7349_3-5562129.html?tag=nefd.top
Gates is exactly right. Homogeniety within operating systems is the ideal. Which is why it’s better to use OSX UNIX to accesss Linux UNIX and IBM UNIX and all the others. The odd-one-out here is Windows. Follow Bill’s advice and get rid of Windows now…
Another excerpt, just for grins & giggles…:
SPIEGEL: In the past 15 years Microsoft has time and again been a target of lawsuits and court disputes. Your company already was required to pay billions of dollars in penalties. The accusers and cases all have the same complaint: Microsoft continues to pack additional innovations onto the Windows platform at no cost, virtually annihilating competitors in the long-term. Why do you promote this strategy?
Gates: Which strategy? In the software sphere in which we operate, only one thing matters: benefit to the customer. And there were more improvements there than in any other economic sector. You need only look at what Microsoft Office or Windows could do 10 years ago and what these programs cost back then and what possibilities they offer today at what price. The costs are going down; the capabilities are increasing with tremendous speed. We should really wish that all other sectors — from the automobile industry to politics — would bring us improvements similar to our sector as far as innovations and revolutions are concerned. The software business is really not one where one can rest on one’s laurels.
SPIEGEL: That doesn’t answer our question about the company strategy, with which you time and again run up against cartel guards.
Gates: Once someone has purchased Windows they don’t bring me any turnover again for a while. I only again earn something when I convince the customer that my product has become much better and more exciting and that its new acquisition is worth the cost. Therefore, we are forced to continuously improve our products. That is also the reason that we probably have the largest research and development budget of all company groups on the planet. We do not do this for fun, although I happily admit that it still is fun.
/excerpt
Just LOVE how he switches back and forth from “I” to “we” in that last paragraph, especially when it comes to earning money… it’s fun to run up against cartel guards? Just makes me ILL.
Gates is exactly right. Homogeniety within operating systems is the ideal. Which is why it’s better to use OSX UNIX to accesss Linux UNIX and IBM UNIX and all the others. The odd-one-out here is Windows. Follow Bill’s advice and get rid of Windows now…
Very fine point
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