Re: Microsoft finally acknowledges the security drumbeats

From: Philip J. Koenig (See_email_@ddress_below.This_one_is.invalid)
Date: 02/12/02 

From: Philip J. Koenig <See_email_@ddress_below.This_one_is.invalid>
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2002 01:42:21 -0800

In article <3C68BD97.7070900@quiotix.com>, jbs@quiotix.com (Jeffrey Siegal)
writes...
> Warren L Holybee wrote:
> >>Your neighbor can enter your garage to get his drill if you give him
> >>permission to do so. Even more so if you have entered into a contract
> >>with your neighbor to allow him to retrieve your drill from your garage
> >>in exchange for, say, being able to use his hot tub while he's away.
> >>(In this case, not only does he have the right to do it, but he can go
> >>to court and force you to let him if you try to interfere.)
> >>
> >>Similarly, Microsoft can search your computer if you give or gave them
> >>permission to do so, especially in the form of a contract.
> >
> > All quite true. That said, if my neighbor wanted me to sign a contract that
> > gave him permission to enter my house to get his drill when he wanted it
> > back, whenever he wanted, without asking me first, I would never borrow the
> > drill. I also don't think the vast majority of computer users want to enter
> > this agreement with a software vendor.
>
> I suspect you are right, but I also suspect that the vast majority of
> them (the ones that pay attention at all, that is), will hold their nose
> and sign it anyway, when it comes to Microsoft, because they really have
> no choice. Which is about as strong an argument for abuse of market
> power that there is...

Amen. Although it's also a pretty strong argument for how willing
people are to give up their rights, or to cede power to a monopolist
at the drop of a hat. 

-- 
Philip J. Koenig         The Electric Kahuna Organization       [anti-spammed]
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