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Just another display of Microsofts blatant security-unawareness
Authored by: jluster on Apr 07, '02 12:26:25AM

This is just another display of M$' blatant security unawareness. And just another proof that most people will uncritically install just about everything on their machines, not knowing what it does and how it works.

With literally thousands of Office X installations directly accessible through the 'net and Microsoft's track record of producing insecure daemons, no one in his or her right mind should leave this hole open. This is M$ for you, and this is also Joe R. User for you, who trusts everything to "behave", regardless of it origin as long as it has a shiny website.

I am amazed, that especially we Mac users seem to feel so safe from any threat that we don't want to learn from the past, especially the stuff that happened to just about every M$ product so far - it was used for a number of heinous attacks.



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Just another display of Microsofts blatant security-unawareness
Authored by: eno on Apr 07, '02 04:56:27AM
Bad move on MS's part to implement this kind of network checking. Why? Because it's a security hole and an inconvenience to legitimate users.

They did it because they're obsessed with software piracy. But have they stopped it? Anyone who wants to use multiple copies of Office v.X with the same (probably pirated) SN will find out how to circumvent the "protection" by spending a minute or two watching the output of tcpdump (man tcpdump) or by doing a google search.

The end result? Piracy goes on unaffected, but legitimate users are inconvenienced and handed another MS-made security vulnerability. Oh, and people hate MS more, both legit users and pirates, who become even more determined to beat them.

Sigh. Stupid, stupid, stupid MS.

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Just another display of Microsofts blatant security-unawareness
Authored by: jluster on Apr 07, '02 04:51:13PM

If there's one thing to be learned from the past, then it's the fact that every move, no matter how bold, how stupid or how endangering to users, will be forgotten in no time flat. Microsoft's bad rep is old - but only with those who know [tm] and does not really impact sales.

Same for Apple. Did the hundreds of cease-and-decist's, Apple's legal department has sent out in the last few months, in any way decrease the loyalty, Apple's user base shows? Did any of their moves, from a forced networked registration, over the "no themes" movement, etc. impact Apple's sales? I don't honestly think so.

This is why Microsoft will keep doing those things. My machine is locked down, anyways, so this Auto-Discovery (if I'd use Office, which I don't) is not really a threat to me, and the userbase they endanger, will forgive them to a large extend. Simply because somehow M$ managed to make them believe that this is the way it has to be, and that security holes and privacy violations are something normal they have to deal with.

Fortunately, we are different. We're Mac users. And the only way to show Microsoft that WE are different, is to talk about those holes. Publically. Call the press, let them know. Inform the media. In the light of current Microsoft/DOJ-battles, the media LOVES to hear about this stuff from someone they can quote.



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Just another display of Microsofts blatant security-unawareness
Authored by: seedy on Apr 08, '02 10:12:20AM

I thought one could avoid the Apple registration by selecting "Not ready to connect to the internet" and then deleting the registratioon file before going online. Or does it register anyhoo?

Problem with Microsoft is that Word is going to join Kleenex and Velcro as the common usage for word processor. Since it already dominates, excepting us perceptive types who hate having helpful hints lobbed in our way, some people who don't want to or can't pay MS's inflated price and NEED to have it for whatever reason will steal it, or borrow it or whatever.

And since it's way overpriced, they'll feel justified, just as people do with music CD's that are way overpriced. Both the music industry and Microsoft are slowly cutting their own necks, but don't tell them that. Let's watch the blade start to sink into the skin before we speak.



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Re: Apple registration
Authored by: Krioni on Dec 12, '03 10:51:16AM

Actually, to skip Apple's registration, just press Command-Q on your keyboard. Registration skipped, and install process continues. Whew, that was hard.

And, yes, you can also decline to send in the registration as another poster pointed out.

The other complaints about Apple are legitimate, but this one is just not true.



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