Windows Weaknesses?

[knocker]

i always figured windows 9x with any decent firewall (zone alarm) to really be one of the safer systems out there for the basic guy. Why? 'Cause windows 9x was never intended to be a big time network os with lots of services. As long as file and print sharing is off and a firewall is active, what is there for major remote-access security risks/holes?

On the other hand, *nix, *bsd or any unix based os is incredibly difficult to secure and even when you think it is, another hole comes out. I'll probly get hell for liking windows, sorry folks. I happily accept any constuctive (constructive being the key word) critisism for my opinion, just dont hurt me.

[Lansing_Banda]

Every OS is going to have weaknesses, just like pretty much any security program. There are always backdoors that someone is going to find. Like amorphous said, how many "mainstream hackers" are going to develop a worm or trojen for Linux or openBSD? The only reason that Windows is weaker is because it has the largest number of people aimed at hacking it.

[bpiedlow]

I think a few people are just to use to the Window bashing threads or something - and are taking this as being like the rest - as it seems the last few posts had nothing to do with the subject of the thread...

This thread was NOT about what OS is better or safer then the next, if that was the case there is no real point in discussing it - as Catch pointed out there are simple security standards each system has been compaired to and scored on. Its a matter of fact not debate, unless you're debating the legitimacy of the standards...

As Cerveza and catch have both done - this thread is nothing more then someone asking what in each of our own "OPINIONs" are the weaknesses to Windows OS, as ALL OSes have some weaknesses and what some people think of as a weakness others may not - which is why their called opinions... (No where did he say - 'security weaknesses' or 'exploitable weaknesses' - just weaknesses in general)

ANYWAYS, back onto the topic... Hmm some of the things I think of as weaknesses to Windows:

1- File Fragmentation
2- Imbedded applications (IE, OutlookExpress,etc)
3- Overly Dumbed Down (MACs - OSX excluded - are for people looking for toys, PCs are machines and should be learned how to be used first)
4- DLL H*ll
5- Overly Used (relates to #3)


Are what I come up with quickly...

RRP

[St1cky]

I'd say the #1 weakness is the people that use it. The only reason viruses get around in the first place are the people who Download e-mail attachments titled "vacationpic.exe" and assume it's safe because it's from a friend. So, before everyone says "Microsoft doesn't give a crap about security" just remember that a lot of people don't know what a firewall or antivirus is, and that's part of the reason why so many Windows Boxes get attacked. Now the vulnerabilities are MS's fault, but they atleast patch them when they're discovered and don't just sit on their ass and act like nothing happened.

[nihil]

The actual question was:

So, everybody loves to make fuss of things about windows. I personally feel every tool can be efficient if used properly. Today, someone asked me to outline 10 points why geeks think that Windows is unsafe?

That sounds a pretty level question to me?

I suppose the answer is in what do you mean by a "geek" I would venture to suggest that a large number of IT professionals who visit this site probably make their living in part at least out of Microsoft products (patching them probably ).

Also, if it is that unsafe, why is it the biggest and most popular OS in the World?

If "geeks" think that Windows is unsafe, it is because they are ignorant of how it works, and prejudiced, possibly as a result of some kind of inverted snobbery. I think that you answer that part of your own question when you say that every tool can be efficient if used properly.

All operating systems have flaws, Windows is the biggest and most successful of them, so it is subjected to the most attacks, and is the most fashionable to "knock"

I am not really that interested in what this mythical tribe of "Geeks" think, do or say. I AM interested in the opinions of senior IT professionals, CIOs and the like, who have the power to sign off multimillion dollar corporate purchase orders. After all they made Bill Gates the richest man on Earth didn't they?

I still believe that there is far more danger from unsafe implementations of operating systems, than from the OSes themselves.

Just a little philosophical slant, and my answer to the first part of your question.

Cheers