MrRant

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Computer security experts issued a joint report on Wednesday saying that the ubiquitous reach of Microsoft Corp.'s (Nasdaq:MSFT - news) software on desktops worldwide has made computer networks a national security risk susceptible to "massive, cascading failures." The report, unveiled at the Computer & Communications Industry Association's meeting of industry leaders and government officials in Washington, D.C., saying that Microsoft is now the number one target for malicious computer virus writers. The report's authors told CCIA -- which is funded by Microsoft rivals -- that the software's complexity has made it particularly vulnerable to attacks. So far this year, two major viruses emerged that took advantage of flaws in Microsoft software. Slammer, which targeted computers running Microsoft's server-based software for databases, slowed down Internet traffic across the globe and shut down flight reservation systems and cash machines in the United States. The Blaster worm burrowed through hundreds of thousands of computers, destroying data and launching attacks on other computers. "The nature of the platform that dominates every desktop everywhere is such that its dominance, coupled with its insecurity, cannot be ignored and is a matter of corporate and national policy," said Dan Geer, a security consultant and chief technology officer of @Stake, a computer security company. Geer, along with other well-known computer security experts Rebecca Bace, Peter Gutmann, Perry Metzger, Charles Pfleeger, John Quarterman, and Bruce Schneier, said they issued their report to raise awareness of the risk to national security by using a single, wide-spread software system. The report's authors said the report was a reflection of their own views and not necessarily those of the CCIA, an industry trade group of Microsoft's competitors that has a long history of suing the world's largest software maker. But in response to the report, Americans for Technology Leadership, an industry trade group backed by Microsoft and other companies and organizations, called the report an attempt by the CCIA to exploit the "serious issue of cyber-security." "Cyber-security is an industry-wide problem that will not be solved by malicious finger pointing and political attacks," Jim Prendergast, executive director of Americans for Technology Leadership, said in a statement. IS MONOPOLY THE PROBLEM? Microsoft, which launched its Trustworthy Computing initiative in early 2002 to make its software more secure and reliable, said it is continuing to work with its customers and the government to make its software "as secure, private and reliable as possible." "Microsoft considers security for all of our customers -- from government networks to individual PC users -- to be our top priority," said Microsoft spokeswoman Ginny Terzano. "The widespread use of Microsoft products around the world means we are constantly working to be responsive when vulnerabilities occur." But the security experts said the issue of computer security had more to do with the ubiquity of Microsoft's software than any flaws in the software. The best solution, the report's authors argued, is to adopt a mix of different computer systems that will reduce the risk of a single security incident crippling a company or a government agency. "Having more than one operating system running inside your enterprise (news - web sites) would be a substantial improvement," said Geer. Bruce Schneier, a co-author of the report and chief technology officer of network monitoring firm Counterpane Security, noted a recent initiative by Japan, Korea and China to develop an alternative operating system to Microsoft's Windows to enhance security. "I wouldn't put all of the blame on Microsoft," Schneier said, "the problem is the monoculture."

Could just be network conditions.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Locked in a court battle with film and music studios over its popular Kazaa file-sharing software, Sharman Networks this week accused its legal foes of copyright infringement -- the same charge the entertainment companies have leveled against it. Sharman, headquartered on the island nation of Vanuatu in the South Pacific, on Monday amended its claim in federal court in Los Angeles to accuse the labels and studios of breaching its copyright and privacy provisions to covertly gather information about users of Kazaa. It also revived its antitrust charges in the claim. Last year, the record labels and movie studios filed a copyright infringement suit against Sharman, one of several such legal battles against file-sharing services in their effort to stamp out online piracy. A spokeswoman for the Recording Industry Association of America (news - web sites), which represents the major labels, said the copyright infringement claim was ironic for a company accused of abetting online piracy. "Sharman Networks' newfound admiration for the importance of copyright law is ironic, to say the least," the RIAA spokeswoman said. "Too bad this self-serving respect stops at their headquarters' door in Vanuatu, and doesn't extend to preventing the rampant piracy on their networks or lifting a finger to educate their users about the consequences of illegal file sharing," she added. Sharman also accused the studios of a concerted scheme to keep Sharman, its partner Altnet, and peer-to-peer technology out of the market for licensed digital content distribution. Since last year, digital media company Altnet, owned by Brilliant Digital Entertainment Inc., has placed pay-content listings among Kazaa search results to lead users to authorized, protected files instead of unlicensed music tracks and other content on Kazaa. Sharman has touted the partnership with Altnet as a potential and legitimate revenue source for music labels. But in its counterclaim, it said that while Sharman and Altnet held various productive talks with executives at AOL Time Warner's Warner Music, Vivendi Universal's Universal Music and other labels, these efforts were later stymied by industry body directives. It said the studios also engaged in collusion to apply pressure to advertisers, Internet service providers, and business partners of Sharman and Altnet, as well as public smear campaigns.

True, but most of the news you post about isn't significant in any meaningful sense of the term. It's simply weird, disgusting, or stupid shit that happened on that particular day. It isn't important. It doesn't affect anyone outside the story. Whether or not it's current, it isn't news and it isn't an event. That's fine, and I'm not saying that CE should be entirely about politics. I believe you're confusing me with JMA. For once, I agree with Marney. CE should be mainly political, or at least meaningful, news. The "lighter" stuff fits better in General Chat. Then you are a moron. Define "lighter" stuff. What is meaningful to you means jack shit to me motherfucker so I will post what is meaningful and current to me.

I take offense to that comment Marney as the only news is not political news. Some of us would like to discuss something other than the 8 or 9 threads on the presidential debate and if you don't like it.... then complain to Tom. Edit: And the rules are stupid Dames. The only place it would apply would probably be in the WWE folder because you shouldn't expect people to go and find a thread posted a year ago to bump.

2003 Power Rankings: Week 4 1 Chiefs 3-0-0 2 Buccaneers 2-1-0 3 Colts 3-0-0 4 Broncos 3-0-0 5 Seahawks 3-0-0 6 Bills 2-1-0 7 Vikings 3-0-0 8 Titans 2-1-0 9 Dolphins 2-1-0 10 Steelers 2-1-0 11 Panthers 2-0-0 12 Patriots 2-1-0 13 Giants 2-1-0 14 Ravens 2-1-0 15 Rams 1-2-0 16 Redskins 2-1-0 17 49ers 1-2-0 18 Eagles 0-2-0 19 Packers 1-2-0 20 Raiders 1-2-0 21 Browns 1-2-0 22 Saints 1-2-0 23 Falcons 1-2-0 24 Cowboys 1-1-0 25 Lions 1-2-0 26 Cardinals 1-2-0 27 Jets 0-3-0 28 Texans 1-2-0 29 Jaguars 0-3-0 30 Bengals 0-3-0 31 Chargers 0-3-0 32 Bears 0-2-0 ------------------- Thuoughts? My disagreement is with the Rams being ranked above the Redskins and a WINLESS Eagles being ranked above teams with a win.

Lord Of the Rings and that is about it from what I've seen. Rundown is worth maybe a rent or PPV buy since a movie is on PPV about a month after home video releases.

Seahawks were good in the Largent years but fell upon hard times since. And the AFC West for many years was Broncos and then a rotatings 2-4 between SD, Oak, KC and Seattle.

Well of course there are books that are probably iffy to have in a children's library or for a young child to be reading. Certainly Catcher In The Rye is not 5th grade reading material (and it shouldn't be because they probably wouldn't understand it) but is find for 8th grade and up at least.

I point my finger at Jim Brown anytime I can. I hate that bastard so much.

Bills and Dolphins should not switch as Miami lost against a relatively bad Texans while the Bills lost to a good team in Miami so Buffalo should be higher.

It'd be better without all the mindless questions.

Gnomes and the depression arguments.

You witless xenophobe... If you can post your black hate I can post my Jew hate.

What it start to be on the box "18-20 GB" and "37 - 40GB" etc.

Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans New England Patriots at Washington Redskins Philadelphia Eagles at Buffalo Bills San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers - Lock Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers Dallas Cowboys at New York Jets Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos Indianapolis Colts at New Orleans Saints Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears (MNF) The [LOCK OF THE WEEK] options go to: Tennessee Titans @ Pittsburgh Steelers Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans God this is a horrid week to pick.

They are really going to be mad when they discover that if they format the drive a certain way they lose even more space. Morons.

Umm... No. If you payed attention you would know this is the first time since 1998 and second since 1986.

Anyone seen this movie about the Mitchell Brothers and what they did in the porn industry? I happened to catch it on Cinemax and thought both Charlie and Emilio did a good job portraying the two brothers and their rise and fall. Movie went pretty fast though and seemed to try and cover as much as possible so that led to only a few minutes for each period. The movie was also directed by Estevez.

Quit changing your name every week you motherfucking bastard. Banky doing it weekly is irritating enough without having a fucktard like you copy everyone to try and be cool. Of course an asshole with a different name is still an asshole. Go stand outside of your "house" and look for cops motherfucker.

MrRant - Play mostly ESPN NFL though so if you want to play a game. Hit me up. I don't use voice... I hate listening to someone breathe.

Well it makes sense. After all Worms > Jews. And yes for all you uptight and reactionary fucktards there is sarcasm in the post.

Well a horny 13 yr old can pick out a pair of boobs pretty quick.

that's from the ALA website. What do they have against Where's Waldo? Racial profiling? Maybe if Waldo was black....

But...but... it's RACIST~! But in a good way of saying how it's wrong.