|
At last,
the contents of Aardvark's "million-dollar ideas" notebook
are revealed for all to see!
|
|
So, Microsoft's new flagship product has been released to OEMs in the USA,
which means that it will soon start appearing on PCs in the marketplace.
It's time for the usual warnings that are really little more than commonsense.
Don't buy Windows XP -- until it's had time to settle down and the
worst of the security holes have been patched.
Let's face it, all new software
has bugs and holes, that can't be avoided. Unfortunately, Microsoft's track
record means that there are likely to be some massive vulnerabilities lurking
inside the first few releases of XP so, unless you absolutely have to use
some new feature or facility offered by the new OS, just hang on before
laying down your money.
The Code Red worm only managed to infiltrate as many machines
as it did because Microsoft are still patching programs that are already years
old. Despite their
protests to the contrary,
Microsoft are not particularly good at designing, implementing or patching
their security systems. Just ask anyone who has religiously downloaded and
applied all of the company's security patches. In recent months alone those
patches have screwed up mailservers they were supposed to fix and failed to stop
the Code Red worm as they were supposed to.
No, give XP time to show its true colours before you place your machines and
valuable data at risk.
But For Time, IDG Would Be Criminals
IDG's
revelation
that Auckland's CBD is littered with open wireless networks
yet again rams home the fact that too many companies hardly give a second-thought
to security.
Of course IDG did many of those whose networks were found to be open a good
deed by reporting the problems to them, and for that they are to be commended.
However, in a few months time, instead of being commended they might be
imprisoned for doing exactly the same thing.
Yes, they would have been in breach of the proposed Crimes Amendment Bill, liable
for significant penalties, and branded as "hackers."
If you're one of the many who have given little but a passing thought as to
the ramifications of the proposed CAB, then please take 15 minutes out of your
day to read what the Privacy Commissioner has to say about it in these reports dated
13 Dec,2000
and
3 May 2001.
No, don't do it later -- do it NOW!
These are your rights that are at stake here. If you don't act to protect them
then you will lose them -- there is nothing more sure.
Perhaps the most relevant quote from the reports is: "Confidence in the ability
to communicate securely and privately is a cornerstone of a free society."
Remember that inrecent year's we've already lost the right to be presumed
innocent in an increasing number of situations -- police roadblock licence checks already
operate on the presumption of guilt and you don't need to provide any "reasonable
cause to suspect" before you are pulled over. The simple act of forgetting to
grab your wallet (and thus your photo driver's licence) in such cases can result in
a stiff fine.
Driving without a licence is clearly a crime worth enforcing -- but forgetting
your wallet -- does that really endanger the life or property of others and thus
merit a fine?
New Zealand is what YOU make it -- don't let your apathy allow our politicians to
ride rough-shod over YOUR rights.
Don't let politicians fool you into believing that just because something is
allegedly "in the public good" that it's worth giving up your rights for.
These are the roots from which pure socialism is born.
Save The Aardvark Fund
Yes, I have had several donations to the Aardvark fund and I thank those
who put their money where their mouse is :-)
If guilt is gnawing away inside you then there's still time to donate.
Just drop by and
hand over your loot.
Aardvark also makes a summary of this daily column available via XML using
the RSS format. More details can be found
here.
= open in new window