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You might like to read that again -- I know I had to.

Okay, to be fair, Win2K is probably the best (or should that be "most far least bad") of all the Windows OSes, but few people I know would regard it as being as robust or secure as a properly implemented and configured unix or Linux system.

Of course making bold statements regarding security is nothing new for Microsoft -- I seem to recall that they made similarly impressive claims about early versions of Windows NT. I'm pretty sure however, that the certification it gained did not cover use on a PC that was connected to a network of any kind.

And we all know that any single-user, non-networked PC can be made almost totally secure by locating it in a guarded room and locking the door -- hardly a demonstration of secure coding skills eh?

There's more on Microsoft's bold claims in the news-links section of today's column.

But wait -- Microsoft have made another bold announcement -- Win9x/Me/NT are dead!

Well if you want to stay up-to-date with the latest and greatest versions of MS Office they are.

Upcoming versions of Office won't work on these older OSes so (now here's a shock) -- you'll have no option but to upgrade.

Readers Say (updated irregularly) Win2K security evaluation... - Andy Whoa!... - Scott Windows 2000... - LTY Have Your Say

Don't you just love the way the Redmond money-machine works?

Of course there's always the very tiny risk that people will say "stuff this" and jump from Windows/Office onto the OSS bandwagon -- but I think Billy's co-villains know just how far they can push people before they'd jump.

And now the obligatory mention of the Microsoft Xbox so that I can go into a competition to win a trip to the USA next year.

Oh -- didn't you know?

Microsoft is so keen to see stories written and published about the Xbox that they're offering journos a chance to win just such a trip.

Yes, every time a story is published, the writer gets another entry into the draw from which some lucky hack with calloused fingers will be chosen.

So, when you read another article extolling the virtues of the Xbox in a local rag, please bear in mind that their may be just a tiny degree of self-interest going on in the background.

Of course, being the Aardvark, I still call a spade a spade and won't be entering today's column in that raffle. My goodness, how embarrassing it would be if the winning story was actually critical of Billy's box :-)

Ah, you've got to love Microsoft, sometimes they behave like people used to in the good old days of the Net -- outrageously!

Hello, What's Going On Here?
Just in -- a tip-off from a reader.

Apparently, on page C12 of the NZ Infotech (Oct 28 edition), there's a job ad for an "IT Security Manager" at the GCSB. Applications for this position are said to close on 8 November 2002.

However, a check of this page on the GCSB website says "There are no vacancies".

Hmmm... is someone expecting a kickback for placing job-ads with Infotech rather than advertising them on the website, could it be (as my informant suggests) simply a case of going through the motions because there's already someone lined up for the job -- or is the website's "Current Vacancies" just a bit of a joke?

Ain't e-Government grand -- look how much money it can save the taxpayer!

If you want to have your say on the contents of today's column then please do so. Only comments marked "For Publication" will (if I have time) be published in the readers' comments section.

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