[Am-info] Widespread use of Microsoft poses security risk

[Fred A. Miller]

Widespread use of Microsoft poses security risk
Posted September 24, 10:50 a.m. Pacific Time

Whatever Microsoft's strengths or failings as a developer of reliable 
software, the mere existence of an operating system monopoly is a 
critical security risk, argues a new report released Wednesday at a 
Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) gathering in 
Washington, D.C.

Written by seven IT security researchers, "CyberInsecurity -- The Cost 
of Monopoly" calls on governments and businesses to consider in their 
buying decisions the dangers of homogenous systems, and to diversify 
the software mix deployed in their organizations. It also urges the 
U.S. government to counterbalance Microsoft's user lock-in tactics by 
forcing the company to offer multiplatform support for its dominant 
applications, including Internet Explorer and Microsoft Office 
products.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/09/24/HNwidespreadms_1.html

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"...Linux, MS-DOS, and Windows XP (also known as the Good, the Bad, and
the Ugly)."