CNET News: Microsoft critic dismissed (FIRED) by @Stake

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

http://news.com.com/2100-1014_3-5082649.html

"A computer security expert who contributed to a paper deeply critical of Microsoft has been dismissed by his employer, a consulting company that works closely with the software giant.

Dan Geer, a longtime computer security researcher, and several colleagues released a controversial study on Wednesday that called the ubiquity of Microsoft software a hazard to the economy and to national security. Although independently financed and researched, the study was distributed by the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), a Washington-based trade association largely made up of Microsoft's rivals.

(...)

In that statement, @Stake said Geer had not been associated with the company as of Sept. 23, the day before Geer's report (the report co-written by Geer) was actually released.

Security expert Bruce Schneier, another co-author of the report, said Geer had believed he was still employed when the two of them discussed their report on a conference call with reporters on Wednesday.

'When Dan was on the call, he was an employee,' said Schneier, who serves as chief technical officer at Counterpane Internet Security. 'They might have fired him 10 minutes later, but they didn't tell him.'

Geer could not be immediately reached for comment. (...)"

[Atlant]

1. "Look, it's simple..."

"Participation in and release of the report was not sanctioned by
@Stake," the security and consulting company said. "The values and
opinions of the report are not in line with @Stake's views."

He hypothetically continued...

"Look, this guy took his lips off of Microsoft's 'network connector'
and let some truth slip out in the resulting gap. The minute you do
that, you're of no use to us. Are you surprised by this? Jeezzz..."

Atlant

[Sentath]

2. Excellent 'Morford'ing

Really

[govegan]

3. Additional info. in AP story

Link: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/141444_msftsecurity26.html


The CCIA trade group also ran into trouble yesterday when it sought to send a paid announcement about its critical Microsoft report to 140,000 subscribers of popular trade magazines for chief security officers and chief information officers.

<snip>

But in this case, the subject was too touchy.

"We find it is too sensitive of material to send out. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I have to deny your request," according to an e-mail from the publisher obtained by The Associated Press.


There's no security like insecurity, especially when the insecure ones have very large bank accounts. Don't worry folks, we got Johnny-on-the-spot Ashcroft to keep an eye trained on all of those who might think of flouting the anti-trust laws. Whew! Man, am I relieved. I feel much more secure today! <satire off>

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. You know, the analysis does make sense.

Diversity in software code to make it more complicated for every Dick, Jane and Harry to crack. Who's going to tell Bill Gates?

[GAspnes]

8. monoculture has certain advantages

otherwise we wouldn't (nearly) all be standardized on MS-Word.


But this sucks, nonetheless. I wonder when my opinion became the property of my employer?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

9. Say WHAT?

MS Word? Endless upgrades? Inescrutable file format? Vendor lock-in? Gobs of cash lost in "licenses" (translation: protection money) by nearly every business in the world? THAT is an advantage? Jesus H. Christ on a crutch.

:crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

[GAspnes]

10. you missed my point, I think

The advantages are:

- no file conversions from one format to another and back again (think WordPro, Word, WordStar, WordPerfect, DeScribe, vi, nroff/troff, et-bloody-cetera)

- no lost formatting, missing fonts, missing text

- no re-training/multi-training across platforms and apps

- simplified support/help desk/equipment requirements

From a user or business owner's standpoint, it's more important that a sales demo runs correctly on any system in the company than it is that the company support a 'proper' mix of Unix, Linux/Gnome, Linux/KDE, Solaris, AIX, MVS, OS/2, Windows, Windows2000, Mac OS8, Mac OS9 and Mac 0S X. It is more important that I can send a contract to my sub-contractor, outsourcer, banker, lawyer (they mostly still use WordPerfect, interestingly enough because they don't have to exchange files with anyone but other lawyers, and they standardized on WP a long time ago and don't want to have to retype all those old documents).

I know all about the problems with MS apps, upgrades, &tc. They're nothing, nada, compared to the chaos that is a heterogenous business environment. Yes, monocultures are vulnerable. Yes, MS charges too much and is monopolistic. But. There is a reason why monocultures arise.

[Nottingham]

5. You can fire him but He is telling the truth!

:bounce:

[mumon]

6. Just like the Ireland potato famine!

(where they planted only 1 species of potato.) Kinda obvious.

[DrBB]

7. This is getting FAR more coverage

...than it otherwise would have, thanks to @Stake firing him. If somebody leaned on 'em with the idea of quashing the report, well, didn't 'zackly work, did it.