Re: Another Internet volcano thanks to MS

Gosh Jim, it's so unlike you to bash Microsoft.

The Chevy analogy is weak at best. Chevy doesn't engineer defects into a product nor does any other organization. That fact that the defect emerges based on conditions they never accounted for does not make them liable. What might make them liable would be to fail to heed notice of said defects. Recalls often handle this. In parallel, MS doesn't engineer in the defects. Nor do they fail to feed notice of defects when found. They issue patches.

If a consumer fails to heed warnings put forth from a supplier there's little that consumer can seek by way of damages. And following in accordance with civil laws, in your analogy some third party struck by your mythical Chevy would have little or no grounds for relief from the manufacturer. The operator of said vehicle is responsible for it.

Being responsible is a two way street. Expecting the government to somehow do it for you is ridiculous. Take care what you wish for. Government actions here would have to be industry-wide. How sure are you that you want the government crippling software development?

The true criminals here are the individuals doing the attacking. How about punishing them? What, too hard? It's easier to sit back and take pot shots at the vendor, isn't it?

And to think it's somehow justified to attack a vendor because they're profitable is repulsive at best. The thought "go re-read Atlas Shrugged" comes to mind...

But hey, it's yet another example of people failing to take responsibility for themselves. It's much easier to point fingers than it is to fix problems.

-Bill Kearney

"Jim Roepcke" <jim@roepcke.com> wrote in message news:Conversant-56389@jim.roepcke.com... > Yahoo: Virus Overwhelms Global Internet Systems > > "The virus-like attack, which began about 12:30 a.m. EST, sought out vulnerable computers on the Internet to infect using a known flaw in popular database software from Microsoft Corp., called "SQL Server 2000."" > > Just wondering, when is Microsoft going to be made responsible for these problems? If someone could, say... cause all the Chevy Cavaliers on the road to swerve into oncoming traffic when they hear a particular tone on the radio, do you think maybe Chevy might get into trouble about this vulnerability? But where's the trouble at Microsoft? They release a patch and don't take any heat. And it's not like this is an isolated incident... all the viruses are taking advantage of gaping holes in MS software. Code Red, Nimda, you name it. > > I think a government, I don't care which one, needs to rake them over the coals. Companies affected should file claims with their insurance providers, and they should in turn go after MS with force. They have lots of cash... now that they're giving out dividends, shareholders are going to care a little more about avoidable losses. >