Am I wrong to think the Windows worm was an inside job?

[paulat]

1) MSFT knows it put out flawed software.

2) MSFT knows that a hostile hacker could take malicious advantage of the flaws.

3) MSFT knows that no one has been downloading the patches they've been sending out.

4) MSFT sends out a relatively benign worm that does not destroy data, but gets users to update their machines.

5) MSFT deflects suspicion by putting a "Billy" message in the worm, and intimates that the real weapon will be directed at MSFT on Saturday.

5a) MSFT doesn't direct the worm at old versions of Windows because they don't care about them any more and provide almost no support.

6) MSFT gets mildly annoyed customers to download the patches, and, probably, to pay more attention to patches in the future.

7) On Saturday, MSFT can claim that it has successfully fought off the worm.

8) Ergo, MSFT has covered its posterior.

9) Someone in Redmond will be getting a big, big raise.

[Grit]

yes.

[D-fendr]

I wouldn't impute malice where ignorance is the trend.

[bmwcyle]

Microsoft does not need to increase profit by this method. They are fighthing to keep close source software now, You idea will not help the fight.

[bedolido]

they've known about the problem for awhile. had the patch ready before the worm hit...

not sure but it sounds like a great conspiracy theory.

[Grit]

Let me elaborate...

I don't agree with any one of your 10 points. And not one addresses: "Why?"

MSFT launches "benign" worm to preempt someone launching a malicious one? No. If MSFT wanted customers to patch their machines and had the ability and desire to create a worm to infect their machines. Why would they not just have the worm patch the machines?

[zchip]

Yes, you are wrong to think that the MSBLASTER worm was an inside job.

And you are wrong about someone in Redmond getting a big raise. Actually it would most likely be someone in India getting a big raise.

[=Intervention=]

Actually M$ is suffering from money flow problems. Why do I say this? Look at their recent licensing arrangements and how they've moved to a yearly subscription deal. Their new products offer only incremental improvements at big-ticket prices. I don't think they'd do this, though. It's too transparent.

[paulat]

Why would they not just have the worm patch the machines?



Indeed...why not?

[theDentist]

Yawn. I guess MSFT is going to insert microchips in our food so they can track us from the scret Space station on Venus too, eh?

[SES1066]

You missed a step - M$ has been hinting for years now about how much better it would be if the Operating System (OS) license were sold on a subscription basis with yearly renewals. Thus, instead of a one-time purchase, every year M$ would get another chunk of money from each Windoze user.

With these kind of attacks, M$ could make the case that only this kind of business model can keep the patches and fixes coming for those who pay the subscription price. Hats off the the Redmond Geniuses - I'm rooting for linux competition - it is badly needed!

[bmwcyle]

The money flow problem is not profits in but spending out. It would be hard but they could cut speading and increase profits. That is hard to do for them but it could be done. Microsoft like DEMS waste money.

[Eala]

And you are wrong about someone in Redmond getting a big raise. Actually it would most likely be someone in India getting a big raise.

I work in Redmond and will confirm that they're still a very large presence here. And they're building (planning? done with?) another large campus a few miles south in Issaquah.

[mhking]

Take off the tin foil. Microsoft is just flawed software.

[paulat]

The other responders have backed me up.

If a "benign" worm would invisibly fix a problem, then there would be no sense of urgency, no push to download patches, no need to buy new versions or subscriptions.

If a "fit-it" worm was a good deal for MSFT...why haven't they been using it all along for all updates, service packs, etc.?

[2Jedismom]

Care to share what you think, ksen?

[b4its2late]

I guess MSFT is going to insert microchips in our food so they can track us from the scret Space station on Venus too, eh?

Didn't they already do that a few years ago?

[Lunatic Fringe]

Worst. Post. Ever.

[AIRFORCE76]

Please. Wake me when the aluminum-foil crowd take their medication.
I'm with you on Linux. I've spent 15 years dealing with MS and hope the next generation users don't have to deal with the arrogance of clowns like Gates.

[ChadGore]

Re: I wouldn't impute malice where ignorance is the trend.

More than one quarter million infected microsoft products . . . , I would call it "lack of due diligence".