Microsoft VP Suggests 'Net Tax To Clean Computers 577
Ian Lamont writes "Microsoft's Vice President for Trustworthy Computing, Scott Charney, speaking at the RSA conference in San Francisco, has floated an interesting proposal to deal with infected computers: Approach the problem of dealing with malware infections like the healthcare industry, and consider using 'general taxation' to pay for inspection and quarantine. Using taxes to deal with online criminal activity is not a new idea, as demonstrated by last year's Louisiana House vote to levy a monthly surcharge on Internet access to deal with online baddies."
Tax Credit? (Score:5, Funny)
Do Mac or Linux users get a tax credit?
Re:Free anti-virus with Internet service purchase! (Score:5, Funny)
Microsoft wants others to pay for its mistakes? (Score:4, Funny)
Who do they think they are, bankers?
Re:Tax Credit? (Score:2, Funny)
They get double the tax.
Why? Because Mac and Linux are not Windows and therefore need special training for the cleaning crew.
Re:Taxes are already paid. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:I'm paying for WHAT? (Score:2, Funny)
Don't you love the government?
Re:Tax Credit? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Free anti-virus with Internet service purchase! (Score:2, Funny)
* When a webpage informs me that it has SCANNED MY COMPUTER and VIRUS DETECTED, I remember that I did not, in fact, install a virus scanner, and that the message is fake, and I do not have to install their special software to fix it. Instead, I close the web page.
lol@that
It's funny to see those pages on Linux. "OMG UR WINDOWS ARE INFECTED"
Re:Tax Credit? (Score:3, Funny)
No, they get arrested since only terrorists wouldn't use Windows..
Re:Free anti-virus with Internet service purchase! (Score:3, Funny)
I don't get viruses because I don't do stupid shit.
QFT
Sorry, but I just can't see what Quantum Field Theory has to do with this.
Re:Free anti-virus with Internet service purchase! (Score:2, Funny)
Ah... but does it run... never mind.
Re:Tax Credit? (Score:3, Funny)
The bit bucket needs regular emptying.
Re:Free anti-virus with Internet service purchase! (Score:4, Funny)
Lets see here an average anti-virus is going to:
A) Waste lots of network resources downloading updates
B) Constantly use up I/O resources scanning every file
C) Mess with defaults
D) Use a completely different theme ruining whatever aesthetic pleasure there was in Windows
E) Constantly use CPU time
F) Constantly say that your subscription has OMG 60 DAYS LEFT!!!! THATS LESS THAN 3 MONTHS!!!! Usually when giving a presentation
G) Interrupt gaming
H) Ignore all -real- threats like the Sony Rootkit and the like
An average virus is going to
Use some I/O resources finding sensitive files, use light network resources sending spam and generally work in the background.
My experience is going to be less interrupted with a virus than an AV.
Re:Tax Credit? (Score:3, Funny)
They get double the tax.
Why? Because Mac and Linux are not Windows and therefore need special training for the cleaning crew.
What are they cleaning?
Child porn. Why would you use Mac or Linux unless you had something to hide?
Re:Free anti-virus with Internet service purchase! (Score:5, Funny)
Microsoft Security Essentials is free too, and works pretty good.
AFAIK, it doesn't work on pirated Windows, nor does it work on Win2K.
It does work on pirated Windows. Not that I would know, myself. But some guy told me. I think he lives in Canada but I don't remember.
Re:Free anti-virus with Internet service purchase! (Score:5, Funny)
No, 2009 is still correct, if that's when he copyrighted his sig, (hah!). It will still be the correct copyright date in 2011 and 2012 and 2013... no scratch that last one. The world will (apparently) not likely make it past 2012.
Re:I'm paying for WHAT? (Score:2, Funny)
Baloney. Only *******s benefit from an educated and healthy society.
*counts out the stars*
..."machines"? So, only machines benefit from an educated and healthy society? Gasp! You're right! What fools we've all been! The more educated we are, the more machines we make, and the more healthy we are, the more time we have to make the machines better! It's all coming together now! The machines have already taken over other countries with standardized healthcare, and they're trying to take over the United States with...
...oh, wait, that's not what you meant, is it? Eh. Mine was way more interesting.
Re:Free anti-virus with Internet service purchase! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Free anti-virus with Internet service purchase! (Score:3, Funny)
Does it work on Linux?