Why does XP have so many security threats????

[py258]

What is up with XP? I just upgraded from 98SE and i was suprised on how many patches and stuff I needed to download and intall for XP! I think I may have even gotten the sasser worm, and I would have been safe from it if I had downloaded the patches two days earlier. I used system restore, so it's fine now. But what's up with all these security bugs??? no wonder ppl are waiting despretly for SP2.....

[Markoman01027]

Because XP is the latest operating system and people are going to use the latest operating sysyem

[bailey]

also its the best and there fixing the bad spots as we find them

were the beta testers
LOL

[Statica]

Don't assume that SP2 will stop this deluge of bugs or stop XP from having holes. So many bugs is a combination of a variety of factors, and thesea re some of them IMO:
1) XP is a widely popular OS, because it is (for many) an easier version to use than even the 9x kernels. Mind you, even MS Windows 2000 Professional is just as susceptible to Sasser, however, an OS seems to be synonymous with XP.
2) Most MS offerings arent built from the ground up with security in mind, there are way too many holes in ANY OS.
3) The target audience of MS operating systems is everyone, that is also why there are so many h/w issues with people trying to install a bloated OS on systems that can't handle the load. Heck if Intel wasn't synymous with processors, we would have had people trying to install XP on their calculators. With this everyone audience trying to install a holey OS, means we have a lot of people trying to write an exploit
4) Microsoft has also put all its eggs in technologies and in marrying these technologies to its OS that are fundamentally flawed. There allow for no prevention of code execution through insecure channels (email, web browsers etc)
5) MS also seems to be extremely slow at patching its holes. In addition, having a closed source also prevents anyone from patching it.

[doctorgonzo]

XP has tens of millions of lines of code. That means that even if 0.1% of those lines have bugs, that leaves thousands and thousands of possible security holes. Its complexity is the cause of most problems, like any system, software or not.

Besides, it's not like other versions of Windows are immune. I just finished installing Windows 98 SE on a laptop last night, and spent over an hour (on broadband) downloading critical updates.

[py258]

if only hackers and spammers would find something useful to do with their time......

[andyms18a]

Originally posted by py258 ! I think I may have even gotten the sasser worm, and I would have been safe from it if I had downloaded the patches two days earlier. I used system restore, so it's fine now.

i wood check that the worm is gone as sys restore makes a restore point before it restores to an earlier time the best option is to turn off sys restore reboot turn it back on and make a new restore point that way it gets rid of any nasty surprises

[videobruce]

Originally posted by bailey also its the best and there fixing the bad spots as we find them were the beta testers LOL

The best at being a security 'hole'!

Fisher Price interface at no charge!

[Nuclear Krusader]

The more complex a machine is, the easier to break it becomes.

[RayH]

RIght now, the only people with problems with the major worm floating about are those without the MS Critical Updates installed and firewall activated...even the "house" XP firewall!

[DragonNOA1]

A lot of worms and viruses take advantage of security holes found out by M$ first. Once virus writers know the vulnerability they exploit it knowing that not too many ppl have d/l the updates to fix the problem.

[Mac Medic]

If only windows would require an Admin password before it would execute code...... Maybe they'll learn that it's more of an inconvenience to patch on a daily basis, or try to remove a virus, than it is to type in a password.

[tomster2300]

Originally posted by RayH RIght now, the only people with problems with the major worm floating about are those without the MS Critical Updates installed and firewall activated...even the "house" XP firewall!

Does anyone actually use the XP Firewall? It gets in the way of too many games I play online. I'm behind a router firewall and a software firewall. I think I can live without it.