TechNewsWorld Talkback

Re: Vista and the Future of OS Security
Posted by: Jack M. Germain 2006-12-19 08:16:40

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The planned release of Vista at the end of January has provoked a great deal of speculation about its expected impact on hackers. Microsoft claims that Vista will offer completely new, more secure core components. Until now, users of other operating systems -- such as Unix, Linux and Mac OS -- have enjoyed nearly attack-free computing. Will Vista's heightened security cause virus writers and other attackers to turn away from Windows users in search of new victims who use other operating systems and cross-platform applications?

Re: Vista and the Future of OS Security
Posted by: au79 2006-12-19 08:29:45 In reply to: Jack M. Germain

This article cites several experts that base their opinions on several assumptions:
1. Vista will be immediately and widely migrated to.
2. Linux and Mac OSX could be just as easily targeted notwithstanding architecture differences, which has made attacks all but impossible.

Re: Vista and the Future of OS Security
Posted by: tracyanne 2006-12-25 21:38:59 In reply to: au79

One thing that the writer completely ignores, probably is unaware of, is the way in which software is installed on Linux distributions, which is in and of itself an additional security layer, that simply does not and can never exist on a windows os.

Re: Vista and the Future of OS Security
Posted by: Blackberry 2006-12-28 15:27:52 In reply to: tracyanne

I'm not sure what you mean when you say 'which is in and of itself an additional security layer, that simply does not and can never exist on a windows os.'
are you referring to packaging applications with distros? This is done with Windows as well. OEM's build images using WinPE and can pre-load whatever software they want, with or without preinstall images.