Microsoft in 'does something good for everyone' move against spam

Microsoft has achieved something of benefit to almost every computer user regardless of what operating system you use, from Windows to OS X to Linux. The company has successfully convinced a US court to shut down a global network of computers responsible for pumping out more than one and a half billion spam messages every day.

A judge has granted Microsoft’s request to shut down 277 internet domains said to be deployed as command-and-control hubs for the what is referred to as the Waledac botnet. A botnet is a network of computers that have been compromised by spyware and operate under the control of hackers without their actual owners knowing.

The software giant claims that closing the domains will stop up to 90,000 PCs from receiving orders to send out spam. What isn’t being reported, at least not by the BBC in  this report, is that all those computers are running Windows. It is is the OS most vulnerable to attack by viruses, trojans and spyware.

Windows is the most-used OS by a wide margin over the likes of OS X and Linux,making it is the hackers’ target of choice for maximum reach when machines are taken over. Windows is also the least secure OS in comparison to the others, making it easier to get inside and take over computers running it.

Before anyone thinks, oh here we go, another smug Mac user, I want to point out that Microsoft can’t be blamed for the work of criminals and is to be commended for actively engaging with this huge international problem. The company works hard on filling in security holes whenever they are discovered.

I think back to my own days of using Windows now with something akin to disbelief that I endured the constant need for vigilance and software security updates for so long. Even a clued-up technology journo as I was back in those days had occasions when my Windows PCs became infected with various nasties despite my using anti-this and anti-that. Of course many computer users are clueless as to how to protect their systems, and what signs to look for that indicate a PC has been compromised. One such sign is a slowdown in performance but the problem with using that as an indicator is the ability of Windows to slow down for a multitude of other reasons as well, benign even though irritating.

I don’t glibly recommend ‘get a Mac’ unless you can actually afford one. They remain much more expensive and, yes, you get what you pay for—but if you don’t have the funds, you get what you can. My experience with Macs has been overwhelmingly positive. They are as capable of breaking down as any other hardware—my MacBook Pro has been in for repair due to internal failures of things like video cards and logic boards on two occasions since it was purchased back in 2007–but where they excel is in their day-to-day operations.

I have never had to wipe the MacBook Pro completely. Never. I’ve reformatted the iMac I bought at the same time just once, and that was because of a screw-up I was entirely responsible for. When I was a Windows user I found it a routine necessity to wipe the drives at least once a year, sometimes more often, if I wanted to regain out-of-the-box performance in terms of speed and reliability.

Both my Macs actually run faster and perform better in 2010 than they did in 2007, following the most recent OS X upgrade last year.

For the most part the adage ‘Macs just work’ is entirely correct. As a writer I value being able to use my computers to do my work, as opposed to having to work on my computers in order to be able to use them. If you’re working in an office with an IT department, and have someone on hand to help when things go wrong, you’re fine using Windows—but for the self-employed home-worker, a computer needing no geek-nanny intervention is of huge time-saving benefit to you and saves money in the long run for your business operations.

Perhaps the biggest liberator in switching to Mac is no longer having to face up to the constant bombardment of spyware, trojans and viruses. There are millions of these horrors and the overwhelming majority—in excess of 99%–simply aren’t able to run under OS X. A handful of them do, so it’s wise for Mac users to check downloaded files before opening them but the stats speak for themselves as to the benefits of Mac use for those who want to keep their data safe and their computers operating for them and not for some nefarious group of criminals operating out of Eastern Europe or Asia.

Linux, too, is much more secure than Windows but is harder for the average person to configure. A big plus with Linux, though, is that if you’re a Windows user you can install it onto your PC at no cost, either using it exclusively or running a dual-boot system with Windows still on there. If you install Windows on a Mac—which you can easily do these days—you have to be as vigilant in running it as anyone with a machine built for Windows. The various virtual parasites that infect Windows don’t consider the hardware on which it runs, they go for the weaknesses in the OS.

The ultimate key to defeating the bot-nets is for Microsoft to make a version of Windows that is much more secure. Windows 7, being the latest, is obviously going to be an improvement—but that doesn’t mean it comes close to OS X or Linux in terms of providing a safer computing experience and not jeopardising your data.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Paul Tagliamonte: What is Linux? (paultags.com)
• Why Can’t PCs Work More Like iPhones? (bits.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Which Linux For Non-Techie Windows Users? (ask.slashdot.org)
• Cracking Down on Botnets (microsoftontheissues.com)

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