We read, sometimes on a daily basis, about security and privacy holes in Microsoft Internet Explorer, Windows, and versions of Windows Server. To its credit, Microsoft generally delivers patches with alacrity, but the vulnerability of the browser and OS is worrisome, to say the least.
So imagine my surprise when I read that the new governmental behemoth charged with guarding our security, the Department of Homeland Security would be standardizing on Dell systems running Windows XP and Microsoft Office Professional. This is the government agency thats supposed to be protecting us both in the real world and in cyberspace, right? Then why would it choose these flawed Microsoft products over, say, Linux, Unix, or Mac OS X products? There are other OSes and applications that some say are far less susceptible to hacking than those from Microsoft. Choosing Dell is, I think, a good move, considering its track record for service and reliability. But dont the OS, applications, and ancillary apps have to be rock-solid, too?