Microsoft owns up that PCs are petri dishes!

[Karel Bata]

This really made me laugh!

Microsoft: virus-infected computers should be quarantined -
http://bit.ly/Microsoft_announces_your_PC_is_a_petri_dish

Don't the folks at Microsoft realise how a statement like that, which may well generate some short-term investment in virus containment strategies, will only in the long term make people go Mac..?

My suspicions are aroused by the comment "Many of the infected computers are in the far east in countries such as South Korea and China, where pirated versions of Windows are common" - which subtly links piracy and viruses and appears to be the journalist accepting something he's been told as fact without bothering to think what agenda might be behind it.

I think this is a move by Microsoft to outlaw pirated versions of their software under the guise of protecting legit users from viruses.

 

[Alexander Ibrahim]

This really made me laugh!

Microsoft: virus-infected computers should be quarantined -
http://bit.ly/Microsoft_announces_your_PC_is_a_petri_dish

Don't the folks at Microsoft realise how a statement like that, which may well generate some short-term investment in virus containment strategies, will only in the long term make people go Mac..?

My suspicions are aroused by the comment "Many of the infected computers are in the far east in countries such as South Korea and China, where pirated versions of Windows are common" - which subtly links piracy and viruses and appears to be the journalist accepting something he's been told as fact without bothering to think what agenda might be behind it.

I think this is a move by Microsoft to outlaw pirated versions of their software under the guise of protecting legit users from viruses.

Microsoft doesn't have to make any moves to outlaw "pirated" versions of their software.

Such software is already illegal.

In this case I believe Microsoft.

Of course, from my days as a computer security guy, I'd have to guess that most of these infected computers in the far east are really in China.

If there is a hidden motive here, its to state the facts of the matter without pissing off China too much. Microsoft has been working with the Chinese government to stop copyright violations in China to significant effect.

 

[Karel Bata]

So what is it they're seeking? A huge firewall that, for starters, excludes all non-legit users of Windows? That's most of the planet! (And half my friends) Oh yeah, I'll buy into that. :smilielol5:

What have Microsoft done so far in China? I can't see this as any sort of priority for the Chinese. Quite the opposite in fact - forcing their businesses to use legit copies would hobble their economy. Seriously!