Google ditches Windows on security concerns

#1

Post by martian » Mon, May 31, 2010, 11:22 PM UTC

Google ditches Windows on security concerns
ft.com

Re: Google ditches Windows on security concerns

#2

Post by Zak » Mon, May 31, 2010, 11:46 PM UTC

I'm a bit surprised that there was significant internal use of Windows at Google. I had the impression that most PCs there ran Linux.

Re: Google ditches Windows on security concerns

#3

Post by ghurlman » Mon, May 31, 2010, 11:48 PM UTC

Zak wrote: post #2

I'm a bit surprised that there was significant internal use of Windows at Google. I had the impression that most PCs there ran Linux.

Something tells me that the senior staff at Google was also surprised, and somebody's making this move (or was told to make this move) to save their job.

Re: Google ditches Windows on security concerns

#4

Post by brown9-2 » Mon, May 31, 2010, 11:50 PM UTC

Zak wrote: post #2

I'm a bit surprised that there was significant internal use of Windows at Google. I had the impression that most PCs there ran Linux.

Let's not ignore non-technical employees.

Re: Google ditches Windows on security concerns

#5

Post by viraptor » Mon, May 31, 2010, 11:51 PM UTC

> which employs more than 10,000 workers internationally

I thought the number was higher. Wikipedia says 20,621 (2010)... still thought it was higher.

Re: Google ditches Windows on security concerns

#6

Post by jonknee » Mon, May 31, 2010, 11:55 PM UTC

Zak wrote: post #2

I'm a bit surprised that there was significant internal use of Windows at Google. I had the impression that most PCs there ran Linux.

Well they did introduce their browser as Windows only at first... They have a lot of non-technical people who probably opt to use at whatever they used before (Windows).

Re: Google ditches Windows on security concerns

#7

Post by melling » Mon, May 31, 2010, 11:56 PM UTC

Lots of new Mac and Linux users. Hopefully, some of the people will be dedicating some of their 20% time to improving the Mac and Linux platforms.

Re: Google ditches Windows on security concerns

#8

Post by redstripe » Mon, May 31, 2010, 11:56 PM UTC

The big hack was apparently based on a zero day IE flaw. http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/01/hack-of-adob

Wouldn't it be easier to make their employees use chrome?

Re: Google ditches Windows on security concerns

#9

Post by desigooner » Mon, May 31, 2010, 11:58 PM UTC

so what happens when an exploit other than IE is used in the future when something goes down at Google?

Seems like a decision taken in haste and more of a knee-jerk reaction.

Re: Google ditches Windows on security concerns

#10

Post by desigooner » Mon, May 31, 2010, 11:58 PM UTC

redstripe wrote: post #8

The big hack was apparently based on a zero day IE flaw. http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/01/hack-of-adob Wouldn't it be easier to make their employees use chrome?

I'd have assumed that Google Chrome or Firefox would have been default browsers at Google considering their involvement.