Why is Windows STILL being patched?
 

Justa quick rant...i was reading an article on cnet about some more security issues (11 in all) that need to be patched for XP (not Vista) on the next update....usually...I just shake my head and say "ok...I'll take care of it when I get home..."

the article by the way: http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-974...?tag=cnetfd.mt

but u know...this begs the question.....after 6 years and two major patches....why are there STILL holes in the system?

it used to be a time when some majors peices of software would be released and then after awhile no more patches are needed...but XP still needs patches....? after all this time? it still scares me to even think about upgrading to Vista...it's like going from one peice of halfway working tool to another less reliable tool....

We have a Mac in our home and the last time anything needed an update (NOT A PATCH) was my itunes....and in the 2 years we have had it no problem....siiiiigh...too bad Microsoft can't pull the same trick....

tis all.

I agree with you however, I'm just not a Mac person, meaning that I know windows, I can work with it and around it and it *usually* makes sense to me. Mac's confuse the hell out of me and I usually just give up before working on it to figure out whatever the problem is. My roommates have Mac's and they do have some fun toys though. :o

yeah...Mac is like a car that runs too well...lol

i can only see the Mac vs. PC commercial for this issue:

The PC guy wearing a really old, holey looking trench coat with patches hanging off, muttering about how his coat doesnt offer the protection he needs. and then Mac Guy will run up with a cool stylish blazer and say something like "Hey PC, what's going on... dude, we gotta go shopping."

and then PC guy will be like "No that's ok, i really like this coat it has a lot of memories" :: patch falls off ::

then Mac guy says "hey, let me help ya out there... you know, my jacket never gives me problems... its made of [insert really durable fabric]."



more dialogue will ensue and then Mac Guy will say something like "man, i'd hate to see what your socks look like!"

pan to PC guy giving the Debbie Downer face and then the screen will cut to the little Apple [end scene]

Guys . . . ugh.

Windows is still being patched for two reasons:

1 - it's built on an old foundation
2 - people constantly try to exploit weaknesses in the software for their own gain

Only one of these is MS's fault - and it's the least-likely to cause updating.

Because there are always things that no one has found yet. Macs are in some ways actually more secure and in others more secure because they're less popular. Plus the bad guys' technology and methods evolve just as fast as the good guys, so you're always moving just to keep even.

I am a Mac owner too and would recommend it to everyone but it gets constant patches to OS X. Also some of these "patches" are pretty vital upgrades (even outside of itunes).

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61798

And as an FYI, no operating system is 100% secure. None. Not Unix or BSD or OS X or Windows, so they all need to be updated because people constantly find holes in them.

-Rudey