V
valuedcustomer
What's Microsoft's response to this?
SOURCE: http://www.lindows.com/lindows_michaelsminutes.php
The World's Most Dangerous Virus
Date Published: Oct 21, 2003
Imagine if a computer virus emerged that secretly
attached itself to one of the most popular software
programs ever. Imagine if the largest media outlets
unwittingly praised this secret pairing, encouraging
millions of people to install it. Imagine if none of the
major antivirus programs would detect it. Imagine if once
installed, it could alter anything on your computer
without your consent or knowledge. Imagine if the virus
was at the control of a greedy entity that has repeatedly
trampled on consumers and smaller companies to advance
its corporate agenda. Imagine if it could force everyone
who wanted to communicate with you to also carry the
virus so it would insidiously spread person to person.
Sound like a scary sci-fi plot? It's not science fiction.
This week MO3 will be released on the world. Here's how
to detect it in your neighborhood and what you can do to
protect yourself:
The Trojan Horse
Press outlets will blanket the world with stories about
Microsoft Office 2003. Most articles will tout seemingly
innocuous features and feel good quotes from Microsoft
like "this is our most important product release ever."
Unfortunately the press won't talk about the dangerous
software buried inside this release - MO3. This code will
give Microsoft the ability to change anything on your
computer at anytime they wish with no notification to
you.
The Security Ploy
Post 9/11, few people question actions taken under the
guise of "improved security" and this is how MO3 will be
foisted onto computer users - as a feature to 'make you
safer.' Computer users have understandably tired of the
near daily worm and virus warnings, as well as the time-
consuming patch process due to Microsoft's lax software
standards and its focusing not on building secure
products, but products that secure its monopoly market
positions. To improve the predicament which they've
created, Microsoft is forcing consumers to accept MO3
embedded into every computer. Listen closely and you'll
hear Microsoft mouth pieces speak of "turning software
into a service" which really means they will be changing
the software on your computer whenever they feel like it.
They will slowly limit your ability to run non-Microsoft
software. They will restrict choices on your computer to
only those products they approve. They will make changes
which cripple other software programs or reduce their
ability to interoperate with your computer so you will be
forced to use exclusively Microsoft approved products.
History Repeats Itself
Microsoft may use this newfound power to fix some holes
in their software, but they will also abuse this power to
further their corporate monopoly and increase their
control and profits. Microsoft has already embedded the
MO3 virus into another operating system they have
deployed, called Xbox. They now have the power at anytime
to change all existing Xboxes which connect to the
Internet, and they are already misusing it. They have
deleted files from users' computers without their
knowledge or permission. They have added software which
has removed the ability to run competitor's software.
They have been changing users' systems without their
consent and notification. They will do the same on
Microsoft Windows based computers once MO3 is installed.
Microsoft management has shown to be deceitful and
dishonest and will continue this behavior. Twice
Microsoft has been found guilty by the Federal government
of using illegal tactics to drive competitors out of
business and extend their monopoly. December 1st, 2003 a
trial will take place in Seattle Washington where more of
Microsoft's past behaviors will come to light.
Infecting Friends
Microsoft Word (.doc) file open in StarOffice 7
To stop the advance of competing products and to force
users into purchasing new software with the MO3 virus,
Microsoft is making certain Microsoft Office 2003 files
unreadable by all older versions of Microsoft Office and
all competing office suites. Products like Sun's
StarOffice are getting extremely good at interoperating
with Microsoft word processing, presentation and
spreadsheet files making it possible for people to spend
close to $50 for an office suite instead of giving $400
or more to Microsoft. To blunt this and force users of
older versions of Microsoft Office to buy new software,
Microsoft has changed the specifications for some files.
Again under the umbrella of "security," Microsoft is
implementing features which limit who can open and edit
documents to further thwart competition. Microsoft Office
2003 gives its users the ability to control who can read
and edit certain documents, but only if they use the
latest Microsoft software. If one user within an office
uses this feature, all others will be unable to use any
other office suite to access that document. They will not
be permitted to run Linux software, they will be required
to purchase and run additional copies of Microsoft Office
2003. Since documents are frequently emailed around via
the Internet, this will force others to accept
Microsoft's software or be unable to communicate.
Microsoft refers to this as IRM for "information rights
management," but it's really an "infection relay method"
designed to force everyone to adopt MO3. They will be
using scare tactics about leaked memos or misdirected
emails to persuade unwitting computer users to deploy
this technology. Doing so will create a viral growth of
MO3 which will give MS unlimited power over every
computer.
Universal MO3
MO3 will not only come with Microsoft Office 2003, but
with future Microsoft products as well. The same
technology will be embedded into the next version of
Microsoft's operating system software so all users will
have to accept it with their new computer. Latest
estimates indicate this new software will not ship until
2006, so between now and then, watch for Microsoft to
secretly embed MO3 into updates or security patches that
they promote for their existing product line.
SOURCE: http://www.lindows.com/lindows_michaelsminutes.php
The World's Most Dangerous Virus
Date Published: Oct 21, 2003
Imagine if a computer virus emerged that secretly
attached itself to one of the most popular software
programs ever. Imagine if the largest media outlets
unwittingly praised this secret pairing, encouraging
millions of people to install it. Imagine if none of the
major antivirus programs would detect it. Imagine if once
installed, it could alter anything on your computer
without your consent or knowledge. Imagine if the virus
was at the control of a greedy entity that has repeatedly
trampled on consumers and smaller companies to advance
its corporate agenda. Imagine if it could force everyone
who wanted to communicate with you to also carry the
virus so it would insidiously spread person to person.
Sound like a scary sci-fi plot? It's not science fiction.
This week MO3 will be released on the world. Here's how
to detect it in your neighborhood and what you can do to
protect yourself:
The Trojan Horse
Press outlets will blanket the world with stories about
Microsoft Office 2003. Most articles will tout seemingly
innocuous features and feel good quotes from Microsoft
like "this is our most important product release ever."
Unfortunately the press won't talk about the dangerous
software buried inside this release - MO3. This code will
give Microsoft the ability to change anything on your
computer at anytime they wish with no notification to
you.
The Security Ploy
Post 9/11, few people question actions taken under the
guise of "improved security" and this is how MO3 will be
foisted onto computer users - as a feature to 'make you
safer.' Computer users have understandably tired of the
near daily worm and virus warnings, as well as the time-
consuming patch process due to Microsoft's lax software
standards and its focusing not on building secure
products, but products that secure its monopoly market
positions. To improve the predicament which they've
created, Microsoft is forcing consumers to accept MO3
embedded into every computer. Listen closely and you'll
hear Microsoft mouth pieces speak of "turning software
into a service" which really means they will be changing
the software on your computer whenever they feel like it.
They will slowly limit your ability to run non-Microsoft
software. They will restrict choices on your computer to
only those products they approve. They will make changes
which cripple other software programs or reduce their
ability to interoperate with your computer so you will be
forced to use exclusively Microsoft approved products.
History Repeats Itself
Microsoft may use this newfound power to fix some holes
in their software, but they will also abuse this power to
further their corporate monopoly and increase their
control and profits. Microsoft has already embedded the
MO3 virus into another operating system they have
deployed, called Xbox. They now have the power at anytime
to change all existing Xboxes which connect to the
Internet, and they are already misusing it. They have
deleted files from users' computers without their
knowledge or permission. They have added software which
has removed the ability to run competitor's software.
They have been changing users' systems without their
consent and notification. They will do the same on
Microsoft Windows based computers once MO3 is installed.
Microsoft management has shown to be deceitful and
dishonest and will continue this behavior. Twice
Microsoft has been found guilty by the Federal government
of using illegal tactics to drive competitors out of
business and extend their monopoly. December 1st, 2003 a
trial will take place in Seattle Washington where more of
Microsoft's past behaviors will come to light.
Infecting Friends
Microsoft Word (.doc) file open in StarOffice 7
To stop the advance of competing products and to force
users into purchasing new software with the MO3 virus,
Microsoft is making certain Microsoft Office 2003 files
unreadable by all older versions of Microsoft Office and
all competing office suites. Products like Sun's
StarOffice are getting extremely good at interoperating
with Microsoft word processing, presentation and
spreadsheet files making it possible for people to spend
close to $50 for an office suite instead of giving $400
or more to Microsoft. To blunt this and force users of
older versions of Microsoft Office to buy new software,
Microsoft has changed the specifications for some files.
Again under the umbrella of "security," Microsoft is
implementing features which limit who can open and edit
documents to further thwart competition. Microsoft Office
2003 gives its users the ability to control who can read
and edit certain documents, but only if they use the
latest Microsoft software. If one user within an office
uses this feature, all others will be unable to use any
other office suite to access that document. They will not
be permitted to run Linux software, they will be required
to purchase and run additional copies of Microsoft Office
2003. Since documents are frequently emailed around via
the Internet, this will force others to accept
Microsoft's software or be unable to communicate.
Microsoft refers to this as IRM for "information rights
management," but it's really an "infection relay method"
designed to force everyone to adopt MO3. They will be
using scare tactics about leaked memos or misdirected
emails to persuade unwitting computer users to deploy
this technology. Doing so will create a viral growth of
MO3 which will give MS unlimited power over every
computer.
Universal MO3
MO3 will not only come with Microsoft Office 2003, but
with future Microsoft products as well. The same
technology will be embedded into the next version of
Microsoft's operating system software so all users will
have to accept it with their new computer. Latest
estimates indicate this new software will not ship until
2006, so between now and then, watch for Microsoft to
secretly embed MO3 into updates or security patches that
they promote for their existing product line.