nanog mailing list archives
Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help
From: "Scott Weeks" <surfer () mauigateway com>
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:17:07 -0700
: Most ISPs recommend using Microsoft software or : provide software for the Microsoft platform, and : require to turn on JavaScript I've never heard of an ISP requiring this. They might provide it for you if you want to use their branded Micro$loth-oriented software, but it's not a requirement. Any ISP requiring folks to use a particular OS is doomed to fail. scott --- fw () deneb enyo de wrote: From: Florian Weimer <fw () deneb enyo de> To: Owen DeLong <owen () delong com> Cc: Sean Donelan <sean () donelan com>, Jack Bates <jbates () brightok net>, nanog () nanog org Subject: Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 22:06:42 +0200 * Owen DeLong:
Wrong... Most of them are subject to the problems they have because of their contractual relationship with Micr0$0ft. Specifically, they made the unfortunate mistake of purchasing software from Micr0$0ft, agreeing to the Micr0$0ft End User License Agreement (contractual relationship) and then running the Micr0$0ft software, which lead directly to their system getting owned (or pwn3d if you prefer) due to the enormous number of design flaws, well known exploits, and other deficiencies in the code purchased from Micr0$0ft.
In most parts of the world, the Microsoft EULA is not enforceable. Most users don't buy their software from Microsoft, either. It's preinstalled on their PC, and Microsoft disclaims any support.
In what way, exactly, is this in any part the ISPs fault? Why should their ISP bear the brunt of the costs for Micr0$0ft's poorly written code?
Most ISPs recommend using Microsoft software or provide software for the Microsoft platform, and require to turn on JavaScript, which makes browsers much more vulnerable. (Obviously, this doesn't matter in practice, but still.) They don't exist in a vacuum. But the whole thing underlines a very difficult problem compromised end users face: they haven't got anyone to turn to. Someone quoted rates for some services, and these aren't acceptable (you can almost get a newer, faster PC for that price). Part of the problem is piracy, which makes it difficult to reinstall everything from scratch. Another one is the lack of an audit trail which would tell *why* the customer got infected, so that you could get some learning effect.
Current thread:
- Breaking new laws by quarantining infected (l)users, (continued)
- Breaking new laws by quarantining infected (l)users J. Oquendo (Jun 19)
- Re: Quarantining infected hosts (Was: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help) Leigh Porter (Jun 19)
- Re: Quarantining infected hosts (Was: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help) Sean Donelan (Jun 20)
- RE: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help Jamie Bowden (Jun 15)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help John Levine (Jun 14)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help Brandon Butterworth (Jun 13)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help Sean Donelan (Jun 13)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help Brandon Butterworth (Jun 13)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help Leigh Porter (Jun 13)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help Fergie (Jun 14)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help Scott Weeks (Jun 15)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help D'Arcy J.M. Cain (Jun 15)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help Jack Bates (Jun 15)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help D'Arcy J.M. Cain (Jun 15)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help Scott Weeks (Jun 15)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help D'Arcy J.M. Cain (Jun 15)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help Valdis . Kletnieks (Jun 15)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help Lyndon Nerenberg (Jun 15)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help Scott Weeks (Jun 15)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help D'Arcy J.M. Cain (Jun 15)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help Joe Greco (Jun 16)
- Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help Roland Perry (Jun 16)
(Thread continues...)