10 Reasons Why Security Problems Persist at Microsoft (
Page 1 of 2 )
Microsoft sent out a patch March 9 for security
holes in Office Excel and Windows Movie Maker. Recent reports also suggest
that a zero-day vulnerability is currently being used to attack Internet
Explorer 6 and 7, allowing
malicious hackers to run remote code.
The software giant said it's aware of problems affecting computers because
of the IE flaw. But it's just another in a long line of vulnerabilities that
have yet to be patched in IE, Windows and several other Microsoft products.
Security has been an enormous issue for Microsoft throughout the years. As its
software became more popular and as hackers became more sophisticated,
Microsoft customers were being targeted at an astounding rate.
It has gotten so bad that some folks have opted for other operating systems
and third-party software to try to reduce their chances of being hit by a
hacker attack that could compromise their data and their identities.
In recent years, Microsoft has done a slightly better job of addressing
security issues. Unfortunately, its efforts haven't been good enough. Security
problems still persist in Microsoft products and the chances of them being
eliminated in the near future are slim. Here's why:
1. Microsoft is a major target
If there's any company that malicious hackers can't stand in the tech industry,
it's Microsoft. Many view Microsoft as a dominant company that has gone out of
its way to keep other companies down. It's not good for Microsoft. Because the
company has such a huge target on its back, more and more hackers are looking
to pile on. Microsoft needs to temper its image as the mean, aggressive,
1,000-pound alpha gorilla in the software industry. I'm sure Google would
gladly help it achieve that goal.
2. Windows is an easy target
Windows is a nightmare when it comes to security. The operating system is
filled with holes that, over the years, have been patched with varying degrees
of success. Windows 7 is the most secure operating system Microsoft has
released to date, but it's probably rife with flaws that Microsoft hasn't heard
of yet. And no doubt hackers are ceaselessly searching for them. Unless
Microsoft does something drastic with the next iteration of Windows, its
operating system woes will likely continue.
3. The competition isn't big enough
Make no mistake, most security attacks are about money. Malicious hackers
steal sensitive information, coax people into downloading malware or fool users
into phishing scams because there is money to be made with each exploitation.
Currently, the best place to exploit users is on Windows, since it has the most
users. Mac OS X might have holes that hackers can exploit, but there are too
few users running Apple OSes. If they want to make big money, hackers need
to target Windows and its huge user base.
4. The company ignored it for too long
Microsoft ignored security issues for too long. Windows XP was one big
security hole when it first launched. Only after two XP service packs were
released did Microsoft finally address the concerns of the entire security
community. When Windows Vista was released, Microsoft committed the same
errors. Windows 7 is much better than its predecessors, but it's already too
late. By ignoring security problems in the beginning, Microsoft is playing an
unending game of catch-up with hackers.
IT Security & Network Security News & Reviews News & Reviews 
