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The real news here is that while Microsoft is losing the smart phone market they are the market leaders in the bot net market with a clear 100%! Thank you Micr

The real news here is that while Microsoft is losing the smart phone market they are the market leaders in the bot net market with a clear 100%! Thank you Microsoft for helping to clean up your mess!

vyrotek 16y ago
How is it their mess?
- JoachimSchipper 16y ago
  Presumably, because most botnets consist of Windows computers. If Windows security were better, building a botnet would be difficult. That said, most botnets consist of old unpatched Windows computers or spreads via third-party software (e.g. Flash/Acrobat Reader), and MS' market share means that it will be targeted even if it their security is no worse than their competitors'. Windows security still could be better, but I don't think blaming Microsoft is as justified as it was before e.g. XP SP2.
  - radicaldreamer 16y ago
    The only reason most botnets consist of Windows computers is because Windows is ubiquitous, difficult for the average Windows user to secure, and full of security issues from add-ons and plugins. Look for future malware to be spread using the biggest rarely updated smartphone platform (currently Android).
    - rbanffy 16y ago
      > The only reason most botnets consist of Windows computers is because Windows is ubiquitous, difficult for the average Windows user to secure, and full of security issues from add-ons and plugins. So, the only reason are actually 3?
    - nitrogen 16y ago
      Cell carriers really need to realize that they're effectively selling perpetually-connected pocket-sized computers, and that refusing updates because they're "not in the business plan" is going to cause them an inordinate amount of grief due to malware.
      - CamperBob 16y ago
        The carriers are not the sort of businesses who are well-known for thinking ahead.
        rbanffy 16y ago
        They still won't be able to bend reality to their convenience. When this can of worms is opened, it will be nasty. The only thing that may come to their aid is that telcos have a power over the phones that connect to them no PC OS maker has. Well... Maybe Apple will get there... And, BTW, once phone manufacturers realize they need to provide security updates for the life of the phones, they will trim their lineups down to very manageable levels.
    - kprobst 16y ago
      I disagree that it's difficult to secure. Rather, it's that it's too easy to compromise manually.
      - rbanffy 16y ago
        The average Windows user is, therefore, the weakest link in computer security today. I still believe Windows comes next.

The real news here is that while Microsoft is losing the smart phone market they are the market leaders in the bot net market with a clear 100%! Thank you Microsoft for helping to clean up your mess!

vyrotek 16y ago

How is it their mess?

JoachimSchipper 16y ago
Presumably, because most botnets consist of Windows computers. If Windows security were better, building a botnet would be difficult. That said, most botnets consist of old unpatched Windows computers or spreads via third-party software (e.g. Flash/Acrobat Reader), and MS' market share means that it will be targeted even if it their security is no worse than their competitors'. Windows security still could be better, but I don't think blaming Microsoft is as justified as it was before e.g. XP SP2.
- radicaldreamer 16y ago
  The only reason most botnets consist of Windows computers is because Windows is ubiquitous, difficult for the average Windows user to secure, and full of security issues from add-ons and plugins. Look for future malware to be spread using the biggest rarely updated smartphone platform (currently Android).
  - rbanffy 16y ago
    > The only reason most botnets consist of Windows computers is because Windows is ubiquitous, difficult for the average Windows user to secure, and full of security issues from add-ons and plugins. So, the only reason are actually 3?
  - nitrogen 16y ago
    Cell carriers really need to realize that they're effectively selling perpetually-connected pocket-sized computers, and that refusing updates because they're "not in the business plan" is going to cause them an inordinate amount of grief due to malware.
    - CamperBob 16y ago
      The carriers are not the sort of businesses who are well-known for thinking ahead.
      - rbanffy 16y ago
        They still won't be able to bend reality to their convenience. When this can of worms is opened, it will be nasty. The only thing that may come to their aid is that telcos have a power over the phones that connect to them no PC OS maker has. Well... Maybe Apple will get there... And, BTW, once phone manufacturers realize they need to provide security updates for the life of the phones, they will trim their lineups down to very manageable levels.
  - kprobst 16y ago
    I disagree that it's difficult to secure. Rather, it's that it's too easy to compromise manually.
    - rbanffy 16y ago
      The average Windows user is, therefore, the weakest link in computer security today. I still believe Windows comes next.