more on Is Windows up to snuff for running our world?

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Tom Fairlie <tfairlie () frontiernet net>
Date: October 23, 2004 10:17:49 AM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: [IP] Is Windows up to snuff for running our world?

Hi Dave,

I am well aware of the problems with Windows;
just as I am aware of the limitations in other
operating systems. However, this pile of anecdotal
misinformation isn't doing anyone any good.

Richard's latest tale speaks volumes about the inability
of Delta's IT people to properly set up and/or maintain
their computers. In fact, he recognized the offending
application as not even being part of Windows.

In other words, how does this story have anything to
do with Microsoft or Windows? My take on this and
other related stories is that the commoditization of
computers has led to their being treated like cheap
appliances and installed/maintained as such.

If we want to address this problem, we should spend
more time and money on properly configuring and
maintaining our computer systems. In my opinion,
this will not happen. However, blaming Microsoft
Windows doesn't help at all.

Tom Fairlie
www.tomfairlie.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "David Farber" <dave () farber net>
To: "Ip" <ip () v2 listbox com>
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 1:29 PM
Subject: [IP] Is Windows up to snuff for running our world?




Begin forwarded message:

From: "Richard M. Smith" <rms () computerbytesman com>
Date: October 22, 2004 2:23:12 PM EDT
To: farber () cis upenn edu
Subject: Is Windows up to snuff for running our world?

Hi,

The Microsoft Windows operating system is increasingly being used in
devices
which run our world.  Some examples include cash registers, ATMs,
electronic
voting machines, and factory control computers.  But is the Windows
operating system really reliable and secure enough for these kinds of
applications?  A small incidence at the Atlanta airport last May makes
me
wonder.

I was flying home to Boston from Atlanta on Delta Airlines.  When I got
to
my gate at the Atlanta airport, I immediately noticed that there was a
Windows error alert box in the middle of the large display screen over
the
gate door.  I walked around the terminal and saw that many of the gate
display units had the same error alert box being displayed.  In many
cases,
the display units were no longer usable since the alert boxes covered up
critical information on the screens.

Here are some photos I took of the problem:

    http://www.ComputerBytesMan.com/atlanta

The problem existed for at least 30 minutes, but no one from Delta
seemed to
be interested in fixing it.  I wanted to click the "Okay" button
myself, but
I couldn't find a mouse. ;-)

I even recognized the software package that was failing at the Delta
terminal.  It is a customer support package that a number of computer
makers
ship with their home PC systems.  This same software package was
pre-installed on my Sony laptop but I removed it after discovering that
it
contained a number of ActiveX controls with serious security holes.
These
security holes can potentially be used by a virus writer to take over a
Windows PC using simple script code.

The customer support software was failing because it couldn't find a
standard Microsoft ActiveX control which ships with Windows.  My
impression
is that the Windows operating system in control of a display unit had
somehow been corrupted.  Ironically this customer support package is
designed to diagnose and fix these kinds of problems with home PCs.  Why
Delta was running consumer-grade PCs for this application is bit hard
for me
to fathom.

I sure that this is not the first time a Windows system has failed in a
dedicated application.  If you have any interesting photos of similar
Windows failures, please send them along to rms () computerbytesman com.

Richard M. Smith
http://www.ComputerBytesMan.com

Links

Microsoft server crash nearly causes 800-plane pile-up
http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?NewsID=2275

Car crazy: Microsoft in the driver's seat
http://tinyurl.com/6s24a

ATMs in peril from computer worms?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/20/atm_viral_peril/

Shifting cyber threats menace factory floors
http://www.securityfocus.com/news/9671

Software vendors just don't "get" ActiveX security
http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2003-q3/0043.html









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