08.25.08
Eye on Microsoft: Broken Patches Downplayed by Microsoft
This was already mentioned a few days ago. Having realised that an almost-monthly occurrence/recurrence of broken patches made no exception this month, Microsoft once again used ‘propaganda’ terms like “reliability updates”. Words like “reliability” and sometimes “performance” sound better than “crashes”, “data corruption”, and “botnet”.
Anyway, here is one report that’s merely echoing Microsoft.
Microsoft Patch Re-released
The initial version that was posted was incomplete, missing “important security and reliability updates.”
They always downplay the severity of the issues. Here is an older example:
- Microsoft DNS fix causes trouble for some
- Microsoft Customers Irate over Daylight-Saving Time Woes
- No Saving Time in Microsoft DST Patches?
- Microsoft customers melting down over Daylight Saving patches
In addition, Microsoft hides and twists the number of vulnerabilities in its software. It’s done for vanity purposes. It lies for PR gains at the expense of security of the customers’ systems. Examples:
- Critical Vulnerability in Microsoft Metrics
- Skeletons in Microsoft’s Patch Day closet
- Beware of undisclosed Microsoft patches
- Microsoft is Counting Bugs Again
Despite the fact that Windows Vista is claimed less secure than Windows 2000, Microsoft is insanely protective of the security image (perception) of Windows Vista. We previously showed how the company uses its media placements and analysts to lie in public about Vista security. █
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.