[Libloather]

Something else to name hurricanes after...

[goodnesswins]

Hmmmm....I got two of the following messages today - I suspect there's some creeps taking advantage of all of this stuff with Microsoft... Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2003 09:19:14 -0700 (PDT) From: "Microsoft" To: <goodnesswins Subject: Use this patch immediately ! Content-Type: text/plain; Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Dear friend , use this Internet Explorer patch now! There are dangerous virus in the Internet now! More than 500.000 already infected! c:\program files\qualcomm\eudora\attach\patch1.exe;

[HAL9000]

"It's another reminder of the need to patch," she said. "That message is getting out."

"And it's another reminder that Microsoft operating systems are low quality crap," HAL9000 said. "That message is getting out too."

[Siegfried]

For example, the Redmond, Wash.-based company has added to its Web site a tool that, with a person's permission, checks to see if Windows is set to automatically download and install new patches and whether firewall software is turned on.

It's always been my contention that Bill Gates intends to create a computer environment that encourages an annual payment to Microsoft as simply a part of owning and running a computer.

There are several ways he is working towards this end, and, I believe, the use of fear of computer virus attacks is one of those ways. After it becomes apparent that "everybody" (using Windows) is vulnerable to frequent virus attacks there will be a large market of people wondering "How can I possibly keep up with all these protective patches that I need to install for my computer?" And, at that point, Micro$oft will simply step in with the offer to keep any users computer up-to-date with all the latest virus patches.. for a small fee, of course. You just have to send them a check and give them complete, unfettered, remote access to your computer is all.

I'm not saying that M$ caused these virus attacks on their operating system, but I am saying that Bill Gates will make use of this situation to benefit his own bottom line.

Once you have the people conditioned to sending in a check every year, or every month, for the continued use of their computers, then it's all price increases and gravy after that!

Punch line: Get yourself out of that rut! Try Linux. You don't have to go completely over all at once. You can install Linux on a small partition and play around with it in your spare time.

Get yourself some root!