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Google ditches Windows on security concerns

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Re: Google ditches Windows on security concerns

#21

Post by clark-kent »

Zak wrote: post #13
desigooner wrote: post #9

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.

Google is getting in to the OS business. I suspect this is as much about dogfood as security, but hammering on security is instant bad press for Microsoft.

Well Google is also competing with Apple's OS business. The bigger point is that Windows doesn't offer users any advantage over Linux or OS X anymore. Its not like the old days when Windows had the most applications and driver support.

Re: Google ditches Windows on security concerns

#22

Post by desigooner »

moe wrote: post #12
desigooner wrote: post #9

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.

That's why they're ditching not IE but windows altogether. Doesn't seem knee-jerk to me when you look at the security track record of the various platforms.

It's simple economics as far as the malware/security track record goes. Since windows holds the most marketshare in OS business, most of the effort in terms of malware or virus creation is directed towards windows systems. It's been shown at Pwn2Own that Macs can be easier to break into vs. Windows esp. Vista onwards.

If you were a hacker and you wanted that data, it wouldn't have stopped you if the target used Mac OSX ... you could just target some other unpublicized exploit. I mean all you need is Flash to do some damage.

Re: Google ditches Windows on security concerns

#24

Post by maukdaddy »

xpaulbettsx wrote: post #15

"Many people have been moved away from [Windows] PCs, mostly towards Mac OS, following the China hacking attacks" Wait, so they're phasing out Windows for security reasons, and moving to Mac instead? It at least made sense when they were moving to Linux or ChromeOS, but OS X's security track record as of late is far worse than Windows.

Citation? I haven't seen anything near the equivalent of Windows flaws on OS X. How many remotely exploitable OS X vulnerabilities have there been in the last 2 years?

Re: Google ditches Windows on security concerns

#25

Post by jrockway »

samstokes wrote: post #17

"Getting a new Windows machine now requires CIO approval," said another employee. I really hope that's quoted out of context (e.g. maybe it's really getting a second machine, regardless of OS, that requires CIO approval?). I doubt we're getting the whole story here. I'm sure there are everyday tasks that can be done more effectively on Windows (I've been Linux-only for a couple of years now, so I can't imagine what t…

This is how big companies work. They want even the smallest task (like, "viewing documentation for the product we just bought") to take days and require multiple levels of managerial approval. Because I guess it's cheaper to have 10 employees doing the same job than it is to get sued if one employee posts confidential information to a blog, or something. (If you've ever wondered why you only get 0.00025% interest on your savings account... now you know.)

(This is being downmodded, but it's really true, at least where I work. The IT system is set up for HR people and bank tellers, not programmers. So the programmers just have to deal, because the system isn't setup for "average joe" employees to do anything useful. The good news is, we bought some company that says they won't be able to continue doing business if this stuff doesn't change, and the company we bought is more prestigious than we are ;)

Re: Google ditches Windows on security concerns

#26

Post by desigooner »

desigooner wrote: post #10
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.

also, the infected URL was sent through MSN Messenger and upon being clicked, it launched the infected page. That would mean, correct me if I'm wrong, that the default browser was still IE.

Also, are IT policies applied consistently throughout the world or different regions have a diff. IT policy?

Re: Google ditches Windows on security concerns

#28

Post by dmn001 »

xpaulbettsx wrote: post #15

"Many people have been moved away from [Windows] PCs, mostly towards Mac OS, following the China hacking attacks" Wait, so they're phasing out Windows for security reasons, and moving to Mac instead? It at least made sense when they were moving to Linux or ChromeOS, but OS X's security track record as of late is far worse than Windows.

Regardless of the security record, it is often the case that hackers and virus writers target the most popular OS. So I don't see how all switching to the same OS is a good idea for security.
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