Squirrel Monkeys

Two pieces of news broke in one day yesterday.

Item one: Microsoft acknowledged a critical vulnerability Wednesday in nearly all versions of its flagship Windows operating system software…[which] could allow hackers to seize control of a victim’s Windows computer over the Internet, stealing data, deleting files or eavesdropping on e-mails.

Item two: The Homeland Security Department has chosen Microsoft Corp. as its preferred supplier of desktop computer and server software, according to a statement issued late Tuesday. …perhaps most important to Homeland Security’s mission to get agencies communicating more easily, Microsoft will provide the standard e-mail software for the entire department.

I loved Jeffrey Zeldman’s summary:

Let’s see what the government might have chosen in its effort to protect American lives from ruthless, technologically sophisticated terrorists:

UNIX, Linux

Inexpensive or free.

Requires some user knowledge.

Practically invulnerable to attack.

Mac OS

Costs money.

Easy to use.

Practically invulnerable to attack.

Windows

Costs money.

Easy to use.

Can be hacked by a squirrel monkey, thus is wide open to attack.

Produced by a company the Department of Justice found guilty of criminally abusing its monopoly power — a finding that is supposed to result in punishment, not in fat contracts bankrolled by taxpayers.

To the bureaucratic mind, the choice was obvious.

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p>Sounds safe and secure to me.