On Oct 19, 2006, at 12:54 PM, Tim Newsham wrote:
Can one write malware for a non-Windows platform? Sure.
Can one run malware from a non-privileged account? Sure.
Can one get people to install malware on a non-Windows platform?
Sure
Does Windows offer a more attractive target, especially because
a) its huge installed base
Yes.
b) its proclivity for running in a mode where very few
restrictions are in place
c) its got more holes than swiss cheese
No.
We disagree, which is fine.
Sure. But now we're back to "its time to simply ban Windoze
machines from the Internet."
Why, so that the installed base of another operating system grows
and the same exact situation arises again for another operating
system?
This is the entirety of my point -- removing all windows machines
does nothing to solve the problem. It just changes the preferred
platform of attacks...
If your point is that stupidity will dominate, so people will install
malware no matter what kind of OS you've provided, then there is no
solution short of "welding the hood shut". NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS
INSIDE.
Was that your point?
If so, we need a new sign: "You must be at least this smart to take
this ride."