Counseling not to use Windows (was Re: Anonymous surfing my ass\!)

[full-disclosure () lists netsys com (Roland Postle)]

I should mention that I'm only referring to Windows NT here, Windows 9x /is/
one monumental design flaw and not even worth talking about.

> That is true when it comes to memory protection, but what you're
> talking about is filesystem protection, and Linux doesn't "pretend"
> anything -- it enforces it.  I believe it is possible under some
> versions of Windows to allow read access but not execute access to
> files and directories, but again, 99% of end-users don't know this
> and don't configure it.

It's hardly a 'fundamental design flaw' if it can be configured differently.
Many default unix installations will leave all a user's newly created files
with world read access. And I bet the vast majority of novice computer users
(the ones most at risk) would find it easier to change their file
permissions on a Windows machine than a unix machine.

The fact that 99% of Windows users are clueless is no reflection on Windows'
actual security.

- Blazde