Ok I was going to sit this one out but, this is not a Microsoft issue, its bigger than that, and you have missed the bigger issue. Orion Edwards wrote:
Sure, but if there's an unknown potential flaw in a window of your house, which causes it to break if tapped three times or somesuch, and a thief uses this to break in and steal all your stuff.
But since only ABlast, MSBlast and the variants are being sought ... All old known issues. the argument falls down. Its not about an unknown flaw, but a well known one. Lets reverse the argument a second. Suppose the same window is in a car, and on impact breaks the glass into pieces that cause chards to punch holes through everyone in the back seat. Should we post a reward to convict any driver who collides with that model of car, or who in any other way causes the glass to be broken. ?
Regardless of the fact that the window company may or may not be fixing the issue in future, would you make such snide comments if the police etc still hunted the thief and the window making company put up some incentive to assist this? I don't think so.
Sure Governments and the police should help, personally I would rather see the money spent helping train police in how to find such vermin, Esp here where the laws are not enforced as 1, we dont have the police numbers, 2. The police lack the skills to deal with such issues, 3. There is no longer a legal distinction between having the tools, or using them for good or bad uses. Actions such as this do not help address the real issues of damage caused by exploits, rather ... to use your issue, anyone who has the tool to tap the windows should be jailed, even if they are a builder. Look at the spam issue, 90% is spoofed, this is a crime already. Its called "using a document for pecuniary advantage" or "Fraud" But if you complain, you will be told that the issue is complex, its probably outside NZ jurisdiction, and the police do not have the resources to look into it. So nothing happens, and the spammers are reassured that they can get away with it, so they continue.
Not trying to defend MS here or anything like that, just that the whole "it's cool to bash microsoft without thinking about it, because we're linux people and therefore we're so much smarter/better than them" attitude grows tiresome at times.
I think the comment at the beginning was correct. This is a know issue, and should be fixed. If Microsoft really were serious about a fix, they could make the fix available to every PC store and ENCOURAGE them to make a cd like the DSE Open Office CD with all the fixes on it, then you get a free CD that fixes the windows. or in our illustration, educate the home owners with a voucher, that allows them to get a builder in and get the window replaced without any added cost to the homeowner. The issue is not should you do both of course you should do both, but this is actually targeting the wrong issue. ....... Just replace the defective glass. It would be much better for the homeowner/pc user. And if Linux or Open Office were being as stupid, I would happily slam them too. This is a headline grabber designed to shift the blame away from the window maker and blame someone else. -- "Yes I am weird, .................... Get over it!"