Microsoft is not the only company making the assumption that every computer is connected to the Internet. Symantec leaps to mind with its Live Update. Don't get me wrong, its a nice feature, but is totally useless unless you are connected to the Internet. One would think that Microsoft would have realized that not every user or computer needs access. It would be nice if I could restrict individual users from accessing the Internet simply and easily, like with a Group Policy setting. If its in there, I sure haven't been able to find it. Until I have that capability, setting up access from all networked computers is out. Too bad as it would be nice to make use of Internet access from some of them to keep up on the needed security patches from the same company that doesn't give us the capability to limit access (i.e. Microsoft). Oh well, thats my rant for the day. Back to work. Robert S. Jacobsen Operator/Network Technician Cowlitz Water Pollution Control Plant Mailing address Shipping address 207 Fourth Ave. North 467 Fiber Way Kelso, WA 98626 Longview, WA 98632 (360)577-2020 voice (360)577-2040 voice (360)577-2041 fax cwpcpa@private -----Original Message----- From: owner-crime@/var/spool/majordomo/lists/crime.scattercreek.com [mailto:owner-crime@/var/spool/majordomo/lists/crime.scattercreek.com]On Behalf Of Alan Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2002 14:56 To: Jere Retzer; crime@private Subject: Re: CRIME Perspective on Criticisms leveled at Microsoft We also need to take account that sometimes the best defense if to not be connected to the net at all. Current Windows versions seem to assume that you have a connection to the net for each and every machine that you have. (They are not the only ones, BTW. Many other software companies make the same assumption.) People have been sold on the idea that the have to be able to "surf the web" and get e-mail from anything and everything that they lose sight of what the machine is for in the first place. For example, there should be no reason why air traffic control systems should be connected to a public network. Yet it happens, usually because someone involved insisted that they had to have net access. There are many other types of infrastructure systems that should not be connected to public networks. The military and related agencies understood that back when people who were clued made the decisions. Since such things are now in the hands of higher ranking and less technically skilled people, more and more systems that should not be available to the rest of the world are.
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