Singing Potatoes
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Wednesday, 10 March 2004
I hate you.

A diatribe seen on Fark, which I think deserves to be spread far and wide:

I hate you.

I hate you because you use Outlook Express.

I hate you because you open "those virus attachments" and make the internet suck just a little bit more for the rest of us.

I hate you because you think you're protected because of that "Norton thingie" in the system tray, even though it cannot catch new viruses.

I hate you for not using a firewall.

I hate you for using Internet Explorer and getting infected with spyware.

I hate you because right now your computer is being used to flood the internet with spam, because that virus gave control of your computer to a spammer.

I hate you because you don't care.

I hate you because you pirated that software that secretly contained a trojan.

I hate you because you don't password your computer. (NEWS FLASH: if you don't use a password, half of the hacker's work is already done.)

I hate you because you don't realize that as soon as somebody breaks in to your computer, you no longer own it.

I hate you because you farking purchased a Windows computer and didn't farking bother to secure it.

I hate you because anybody with sufficient time, money, and workers could take over your computers and cripple networks with flooding.

I hate you.

This has been brought to you by the "If you're not going to play any games buy an Apple because it's actually secure by default; and if you already own Windows turn your effing firewall on and get a Mozilla or Opera product instead of using Internet Explorer and Outlook Express (although you can use IE occaisionally if the site doesn't work) and then you should get Spybot Search & Destroy, install it, update it, and remove the spyware on your computer" coalition.

Okay, perhaps it's a little strongly worded, but sometimes people have to be shocked into paying attention.

Posted by godfrey (link)
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Comments
Word.
Posted by Ginevra on 11 Feb 2004 09:31
That's pretty harsh, considering most Windows users aren't really computer literate. Don't hate the player, hate the game. It the software makers and not just MS) faults these (and other holes) aren't fixed. They release buggy software, and expect the user to:
a)know about the problems,
b)know how to fix them
c)apply patches properly
d)find any bugs they missed.
That's unbelievable bullshit, and shouldn't be tolerated.
Also, if products are made for only experienced users, then the customer base shrinks drastically. This, in turn reduces the R&D dollars, slowing tech advances immensely. What this means is, without the average, uneducated Windows user we wouldn't have $1000 PCs with 3Ghz CPUs and 120GB HD's, we'd have machines with 10Ghz CPUs and 1TB HD's, that cost $25k. It'd be like the sports car collector market.
Posted by Lunchbox on 12 Feb 2004 11:29
True, much of it is Microsoft's fault; they should ship their operating systems with the security features enabled by default, and they shouldn't permit certain things (like privileged users without passwords).

However, that said, just because auto manufacturers don't make cars which automatically slow down if someone cuts in front of you doesn't mean drivers don't have to put on their brakes when that happens.

To further the analogy, you don't get behind the wheel of a car without learning how to use it and drive safely; people don't excuse drunk drivers by saying "well, he's not a professional driver, so he didn't know he wasn't supposed to drive after having six beers."

If you live in a high-crime neighborhood, you protect your car with an alarm system, and learn not to leave it unlocked with your keys in the ignition. Well, these viruses make the Internet a high-crime neighborhood. Firewalls, virus/spyware scanners, and passwords are like the alarm system, The Club™ and taking the keys with you when you get out.

And learning not to click on unexpected attachments, especially from people you don't know, is like not loudly shouting "Hey, you punks, I've got a Bose system in my car and I dare you to steal it!" when you park on the project streets.

Posted by Godfrey on 12 Feb 2004 11:48