RE: How Secure is Windows, Really?

["Joe Pluta" <joepluta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> From: Brian
>
> Better yet, how about you create and distribute a freeware utility like
> WRKDBF with a timer set for a few years into the future so confidence in
> the
> utility is achieved then when the timer is tripped you start randomly
> selecting a record from the file being updated and perform such mischief.
> Do
> you have a freeware utility like WRKDBF installed? Do you know what's in
> the
> code?
>
> This message is not in anyway way meant to suggest that WRKDBF contains
> any
> malware but just used it as an example of freeware that is installed and
> used by those with high-level authority without them really knowing what's
> in the code.

Your point is well taken, Brian.  And while I'm reasonably certain that Bill
Reger didn't put any time bombs in WRKDBF <grin>, that's one reason why the
more security conscious managers I've met refuse to put ANY freeware on
their systems.

But then again, what's to stop say, a programmer at an ERP vendor or an AV
software vendor from doing the same thing?  Or even an IBM i5/OS programmer?
This is indeed a slippery slope, and eventually you end up chucking the
computer and going back to the abacus...

Joe