Crazy Diamond
Virgin
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2003
- Posts
- 10
Good Morning to you all - I had this in my email and I thought I would share it (you never know, it could be true so just incase......)
Michael's Minute:
The World's Most Dangerous Virus
Imagine if a computer virus emerged that secretly attached itself to
one of the most popular software programs ever. Imagine if the largest
media outlets unwittingly praised this secret pairing, encouraging
millions of people to install it. Imagine if none of the major
antivirus programs would detect it. Imagine if once installed, it
could alter anything on your computer without your consent or
knowledge. Imagine if the virus was at the control of a greedy entity
that has repeatedly trampled on consumers and smaller companies to
advance its corporate agenda. Imagine if it could force everyone who
wanted to communicate with you to also carry the virus so it would
insidiously spread person to person. Sound like a scary sci-fi plot?
It's not science fiction. This week MO3 will be released on the world.
Here's how to detect it in your neighborhood and what you can do to
protect yourself:
The Trojan Horse
Press outlets will blanket the world with stories about Microsoft
Office 2003. Most articles will tout seemingly innocuous features and
feel good quotes from Microsoft like "this is our most important
product release ever." Unfortunately the press won't talk about the
dangerous software buried inside this release - MO3. This code will
give Microsoft the ability to change anything on your computer at
anytime they wish with no notification to you.
The Security Ploy
Post 9/11, few people question actions taken under the guise of
"improved security" and this is how MO3 will be foisted onto computer
users - as a feature to "make you safer." Computer users have
understandably tired of the near daily worm and virus warnings, as
well as the time-consuming patch process due to Microsoft's lax
software standards and its focusing not on building secure products,
but on products that secure its monopoly market positions. To improve
the predicament which they've created, Microsoft is forcing consumers
to accept MO3 embedded into every computer. Listen closely and you'll
hear Microsoft mouth pieces speak of "turning software into a service"
which really means they will be changing the software on your computer
whenever they feel like it. They will slowly limit your ability to run
non-Microsoft software. They will restrict choices on your computer to
only those products they approve. They will make changes which cripple
other software programs or reduce their ability to interoperate with
your computer so you will be forced to use exclusively Microsoft
approved products.
History Repeats Itself
Microsoft may use this newfound power to fix some holes in their
software, but they will also abuse this power to further their
corporate monopoly and increase their control and profits. Microsoft
has already embedded the MO3 virus into another operating system they
have deployed, called Xbox. They now have the power at anytime to
change all existing Xboxes which connect to the Internet, and they are
already misusing it. They have deleted files from users' computers
without their knowledge or permission. They have added software which
has removed the ability to run competitor's software. They have been
changing
<http://xbox-linux.sourceforge.net/docs/remotedelete.html> users'
systems without their consent and notification. They will do the same
on Microsoft Windows-based computers once MO3 is installed.
Microsoft management has been shown to be deceitful
<http://www.lindows.com/lindows_michaelsminutes_archives.php?id=65#ms>
and dishonest and will continue this behavior. Twice Microsoft has
been found guilty by the Federal government of using illegal tactics
to drive competitors out of business and extend their monopoly, and
unfortunately nothing has occured since then to make them change their
practices.
Infecting Friends
<http://info.lindows.com/mailers/michaelsminute/sotext.gif>
<http://info.lindows.com/mailers/michaelsminute/sotext.gif>
Microsoft
Word (.doc) file open in StarOffice 7
To stop the advance of competing products and to force users into
purchasing new software with the MO3 virus, Microsoft is making
certain Microsoft Office 2003 files unreadable by all older versions
of Microsoft Office and all competing office suites. Products like
Sun's StarOffice are getting extremely good
<http://www.lindows.com/so97> at interoperating with Microsoft word
processing, presentation and spreadsheet files making it possible for
people to spend closer to $50 for an office suite
<http://www.lindows.com/so7info> instead of giving $400 or more to
Microsoft. To blunt this, and force users of older versions of
Microsoft Office to buy new software, Microsoft has changed
the specifications for some files.
Again under the umbrella of "security," Microsoft is implementing
features which limit who can open and edit documents to further thwart
competition. Microsoft Office 2003 gives its users the ability to
control who can read and edit certain documents, but only if they use
the latest Microsoft software. If one user within an office uses this
feature, all others will be unable to use any other office suite to
access that document. They will not be permitted to run Linux
software; they will be required to purchase and run additional copies
of Microsoft Office 2003. Since documents are frequently emailed
around via the Internet, this will force others to accept Microsoft's
software or be unable to communicate. Microsoft refers to this as IRM
for "information rights management," but it's really an "infection
relay method" designed to force everyone to adopt MO3. They will be
using scare tactics about leaked memos or misdirected emails to
persuade unwitting computer users to deploy this technology. Doing so
will create a viral growth of MO3 which will give MS unlimited power
over every computer.
Universal MO3
MO3 will not only come with Microsoft Office 2003, but with future
Microsoft products as well. The same technology will be embedded into
the next version of Microsoft's operating system software so all users
will have to accept it with their new computer. Latest estimates
indicate this new software will not ship until 2006, so between now
and then, watch for Microsoft to secretly embed MO3 into updates or
security patches that they promote for their existing product line.
Protect Yourself
<http://info.lindows.com/mailers/michaelsminute/sospread.gif>
<http://info.lindows.com/mailers/michaelsminute/sospread.gif>
Microsoft
Excel (.xls) file open in StarOffice 7
There are precautionary measures you can take to fend off MO3. First
off, do not purchase and install Microsoft Office 2003. Also,
discourage those around you from purchasing Microsoft Office as well,
since one infection will quickly grow. If you need a new office suite,
check out the solid and affordable StarOffice 7.0
<http://www.lindows.com/so7info>
which runs equally well on Microsoft Windows or Linux computers, and
can be purchased online and immediately downloaded and installed.
Encourage those penning articles and reviews to fully inform their
readers of the dangers of Microsoft Office 2003. Finally, encourage
them to do in-depth reviews of Microsoft Office 2003 vs. Sun's
StarOffice 7.0 so people can make informed decisions about the
benefits and risks of either product.
-- Michael
<http://www.lindows.com/buy>
<http://www.lindows.com/so7-tour.php>
Please visit <http://support.lindows.com/> support.lindows.com to
answers questions you may have about LindowsOS or Lindows.com.
CD
Michael's Minute:
The World's Most Dangerous Virus
Imagine if a computer virus emerged that secretly attached itself to
one of the most popular software programs ever. Imagine if the largest
media outlets unwittingly praised this secret pairing, encouraging
millions of people to install it. Imagine if none of the major
antivirus programs would detect it. Imagine if once installed, it
could alter anything on your computer without your consent or
knowledge. Imagine if the virus was at the control of a greedy entity
that has repeatedly trampled on consumers and smaller companies to
advance its corporate agenda. Imagine if it could force everyone who
wanted to communicate with you to also carry the virus so it would
insidiously spread person to person. Sound like a scary sci-fi plot?
It's not science fiction. This week MO3 will be released on the world.
Here's how to detect it in your neighborhood and what you can do to
protect yourself:
The Trojan Horse
Press outlets will blanket the world with stories about Microsoft
Office 2003. Most articles will tout seemingly innocuous features and
feel good quotes from Microsoft like "this is our most important
product release ever." Unfortunately the press won't talk about the
dangerous software buried inside this release - MO3. This code will
give Microsoft the ability to change anything on your computer at
anytime they wish with no notification to you.
The Security Ploy
Post 9/11, few people question actions taken under the guise of
"improved security" and this is how MO3 will be foisted onto computer
users - as a feature to "make you safer." Computer users have
understandably tired of the near daily worm and virus warnings, as
well as the time-consuming patch process due to Microsoft's lax
software standards and its focusing not on building secure products,
but on products that secure its monopoly market positions. To improve
the predicament which they've created, Microsoft is forcing consumers
to accept MO3 embedded into every computer. Listen closely and you'll
hear Microsoft mouth pieces speak of "turning software into a service"
which really means they will be changing the software on your computer
whenever they feel like it. They will slowly limit your ability to run
non-Microsoft software. They will restrict choices on your computer to
only those products they approve. They will make changes which cripple
other software programs or reduce their ability to interoperate with
your computer so you will be forced to use exclusively Microsoft
approved products.
History Repeats Itself
Microsoft may use this newfound power to fix some holes in their
software, but they will also abuse this power to further their
corporate monopoly and increase their control and profits. Microsoft
has already embedded the MO3 virus into another operating system they
have deployed, called Xbox. They now have the power at anytime to
change all existing Xboxes which connect to the Internet, and they are
already misusing it. They have deleted files from users' computers
without their knowledge or permission. They have added software which
has removed the ability to run competitor's software. They have been
changing
<http://xbox-linux.sourceforge.net/docs/remotedelete.html> users'
systems without their consent and notification. They will do the same
on Microsoft Windows-based computers once MO3 is installed.
Microsoft management has been shown to be deceitful
<http://www.lindows.com/lindows_michaelsminutes_archives.php?id=65#ms>
and dishonest and will continue this behavior. Twice Microsoft has
been found guilty by the Federal government of using illegal tactics
to drive competitors out of business and extend their monopoly, and
unfortunately nothing has occured since then to make them change their
practices.
Infecting Friends
<http://info.lindows.com/mailers/michaelsminute/sotext.gif>
<http://info.lindows.com/mailers/michaelsminute/sotext.gif>
Microsoft
Word (.doc) file open in StarOffice 7
To stop the advance of competing products and to force users into
purchasing new software with the MO3 virus, Microsoft is making
certain Microsoft Office 2003 files unreadable by all older versions
of Microsoft Office and all competing office suites. Products like
Sun's StarOffice are getting extremely good
<http://www.lindows.com/so97> at interoperating with Microsoft word
processing, presentation and spreadsheet files making it possible for
people to spend closer to $50 for an office suite
<http://www.lindows.com/so7info> instead of giving $400 or more to
Microsoft. To blunt this, and force users of older versions of
Microsoft Office to buy new software, Microsoft has changed
the specifications for some files.
Again under the umbrella of "security," Microsoft is implementing
features which limit who can open and edit documents to further thwart
competition. Microsoft Office 2003 gives its users the ability to
control who can read and edit certain documents, but only if they use
the latest Microsoft software. If one user within an office uses this
feature, all others will be unable to use any other office suite to
access that document. They will not be permitted to run Linux
software; they will be required to purchase and run additional copies
of Microsoft Office 2003. Since documents are frequently emailed
around via the Internet, this will force others to accept Microsoft's
software or be unable to communicate. Microsoft refers to this as IRM
for "information rights management," but it's really an "infection
relay method" designed to force everyone to adopt MO3. They will be
using scare tactics about leaked memos or misdirected emails to
persuade unwitting computer users to deploy this technology. Doing so
will create a viral growth of MO3 which will give MS unlimited power
over every computer.
Universal MO3
MO3 will not only come with Microsoft Office 2003, but with future
Microsoft products as well. The same technology will be embedded into
the next version of Microsoft's operating system software so all users
will have to accept it with their new computer. Latest estimates
indicate this new software will not ship until 2006, so between now
and then, watch for Microsoft to secretly embed MO3 into updates or
security patches that they promote for their existing product line.
Protect Yourself
<http://info.lindows.com/mailers/michaelsminute/sospread.gif>
<http://info.lindows.com/mailers/michaelsminute/sospread.gif>
Microsoft
Excel (.xls) file open in StarOffice 7
There are precautionary measures you can take to fend off MO3. First
off, do not purchase and install Microsoft Office 2003. Also,
discourage those around you from purchasing Microsoft Office as well,
since one infection will quickly grow. If you need a new office suite,
check out the solid and affordable StarOffice 7.0
<http://www.lindows.com/so7info>
which runs equally well on Microsoft Windows or Linux computers, and
can be purchased online and immediately downloaded and installed.
Encourage those penning articles and reviews to fully inform their
readers of the dangers of Microsoft Office 2003. Finally, encourage
them to do in-depth reviews of Microsoft Office 2003 vs. Sun's
StarOffice 7.0 so people can make informed decisions about the
benefits and risks of either product.
-- Michael
<http://www.lindows.com/buy>
<http://www.lindows.com/so7-tour.php>
Please visit <http://support.lindows.com/> support.lindows.com to
answers questions you may have about LindowsOS or Lindows.com.
CD
