NationStates Jolt Archive

And if you are, why are you and why do I learn about that stuff only from the news, even I use e-mail and am connected to the Internet all day?

Never had problems with worms, viri or trojans, by virtue of using a Mac. Spam i get a lot, but i have finetuned my filters to about 95% efficiency, so it gets trashed directly.

My current hotmail addy gets no spam at all, but my old one which I still hold onto has to be emptied out every 2 days because it keeps getting spam msgs over 100k. I'm on windows '98 as well :(

My old Hotmail account got plagued by spam, but the new one is OK. I currently have a Yahoo account that I normally don't use because of the spam, although I must say I've found Yahoo to be very good regarding spam in the past. The only reason I can think as to why this one got targeted was that it was the address I used for correspondence through my website, so was quite public - could probably have been located by spammers' programmers.

Luckily, have only encountered a virus once and was able to fix it. While visiting a friend's guestbook recently, a trojan tried to download itself :mad: Some arse seems to have hacked his website, but at least my anti-virus software (AVG) prevented any trouble for me!

I'M INFESTED WITH ALL THREE!!!!

But the spam is low. :)

But I"ve also got nasty UNDELETABLE spyware problems! :(

I'M INFESTED WITH ALL THREE!!!!

But the spam is low. :)

But I"ve also got nasty UNDELETABLE spyware problems! :(

Have you looked to the online community for help with those "undeletable" problems? There are many forums that will ask you to post a HijackThis log and then talk you through removing many problems that common anti-spyware programs don't catch.

alt+ctrl+del and google all your running programmes. Its a start.

uhm..?

I'M INFESTED WITH ALL THREE!!!!

But the spam is low. :)

But I"ve also got nasty UNDELETABLE spyware problems! :(
Get GIANT spyware, its in "beta" now because microsoft bought it out from the companying creating it, but its free and is the best free one on the market and may just be the best one on the market period. Gets the nasty shit.

If you dont have: spybot s&d, lavasoft's ad-aware, MS GIANT, and Hijack this and complain about spyware problems, I laugh at you

SPAM IS EVERYWHERE, But if you have good virus protection then you can usually prevent getting a virus (providing you aren’t stupid and turn it off just so you an look at an email because it won't stop warning you :rolleyes: ). With spam though it's a constant war. Popup adds are a form of spam (just not email spam) addware the gets installed on your computer without you even knowing it. Of course there is email spam too but you can filter most of that out. Spam :mp5: Spam :sniper: Spam :gundge:

I'M INFESTED WITH ALL THREE!!!!

But the spam is low. :)

But I"ve also got nasty UNDELETABLE spyware problems! :(
Tried doing a scan in safe mode?

If not try spybot search and destroy and ad aware scan in safe mode
That don’t get it do a hijack this
And if that doesn’t work let me know cause I custom wrote some software to help :)

I recommend using Firefox for browsing the internet, except in cases where it doesn't work properly (I find Firefox does not work well with launch.com). That will almost stop you from getting spyware altogether.


As for solving your current spyware problems...generally I just format my computer...

Get GIANT spyware, its in "beta" now because microsoft bought it out from the companying creating it, but its free and is the best free one on the market and may just be the best one on the market period. Gets the nasty shit.

If you dont have: spybot s&d, lavasoft's ad-aware, MS GIANT, and Hijack this and complain about spyware problems, I laugh at you
Sorry to say there are already 4 + variants of a worm that take advantage of Microsoft’s new anti-spy ware tool … its sad *tear*

Get GIANT spyware, its in "beta" now because microsoft bought it out from the companying creating it, but its free and is the best free one on the market and may just be the best one on the market period. Gets the nasty shit.

If you dont have: spybot s&d, lavasoft's ad-aware, MS GIANT, and Hijack this and complain about spyware problems, I laugh at you

Most of the spyware programs can find the nasty shit it's being able to delete them that is the problem. Some times the program can't be deleted because it would be defying a license agreement or something and if the program deleted it would be an illegal program. Sometimes you just have to delete it manually.

SPYWARE :mp5: SPYWARE :sniper: SPYWARE :gundge:

I'M INFESTED WITH ALL THREE!!!!

But the spam is low. :)

But I"ve also got nasty UNDELETABLE spyware problems! :(

Some times the programs have to be deleted manually. Type the name of the spyware into your computers search function and delete them by hand. If it won't let it delete it by hand then I am sure someone has had a problem with it before so look for a program that you can get to delete it (NEVER from the same company that made it. Once I did that and I got infested with all kinds of spyware because of it).

i get spam all the time on some websites that i run, since the email has to be available to the public, and those sites get a lot of visitors, the spambots decide to visit as well.

My strangest one with virus is that every so often I get a 'undeliverable msg' from Hotmail saying it had a virus. I never sent the msg, and I don't have a virus on my computer. It also is always to someone in Taiwan, which is odd. For a while it was almost every day, but lately I haven't had any. I changed my password a couple of months back, so maybe that's why.

I had big spyware probs before downloading Giant. I also recommend dolling out a bit of cash and getting Nortons Firewall. I didn't used to have a firewall installed and a few weeks ago a program I downloaded of Shareaza up and installed dozens of spyware, instead of what it was meant to do. Giant kicked in, but the constant running of all the spyware overloaded my system and somehow totally screwed my internet connection.
Eventually after trying everything I had to reformat and reload, which was a pain in the butt (losing everything like that, including 2 Gig of downloaded music).
I now have Giant and Norton Firewall on, and haven't had a problem in the last month with anything.

And if you are, why are you and why do I learn about that stuff only from the news, even I use e-mail and am connected to the Internet all day?
Try surfing the porn sites and crack sites. Then you'll get to know all about spyware and viruses.

My old Hotmail account got plagued by spam, but the new one is OK. I currently have a Yahoo account that I normally don't use because of the spam, although I must say I've found Yahoo to be very good regarding spam in the past. The only reason I can think as to why this one got targeted was that it was the address I used for correspondence through my website, so was quite public - could probably have been located by spammers' programmers.

Luckily, have only encountered a virus once and was able to fix it. While visiting a friend's guestbook recently, a trojan tried to download itself :mad: Some arse seems to have hacked his website, but at least my anti-virus software (AVG) prevented any trouble for me!

Yea one site tried to download a keylogger on my computer once but my anti virus warned me of the danger and prevented it from getting on my computer.

Keyloggers :mp5: Keyloggers :sniper: Keyloggers :gundge:

My strangest one with virus is that every so often I get a 'undeliverable msg' from Hotmail saying it had a virus. I never sent the msg, and I don't have a virus on my computer. It also is always to someone in Taiwan, which is odd. For a while it was almost every day, but lately I haven't had any. I changed my password a couple of months back, so maybe that's why.

I had big spyware probs before downloading Giant. I also recommend dolling out a bit of cash and getting Nortons Firewall. I didn't used to have a firewall installed and a few weeks ago a program I downloaded of Shareaza up and installed dozens of spyware, instead of what it was meant to do. Giant kicked in, but the constant running of all the spyware overloaded my system and somehow totally screwed my internet connection.
Eventually after trying everything I had to reformat and reload, which was a pain in the butt (losing everything like that, including 2 Gig of downloaded music).
I now have Giant and Norton Firewall on, and haven't had a problem in the last month with anything.
Didn't your computer let you back up all your stuff onto cd's or something?

Right, first and formost, backup any data you want keeping, either by emailing it to something like a gmail account or to CD, next, download and write to cd zone alarm for firewalling ad-aware for killing this stuff before it embeds itself, and avg for general virus killing, next and I do recommend not skipping this, format the drive, as others have said even if you remove this stuff you will likely cripple your OS in the process. Re install windows and install at the very least zone alarm before you get anywhere near the net again. Drop IE like a stone, its sole use from here on in should be for windows update and if you can setup the automatic update facility then do that. Use Firefox for web browsing and Thunderbird for your email needs.

DO NOT USE microsofts own anti spyware suite, its worse then useless, indeed its ruddy dangerous - not only does it recomend to users to not use the far superior Firefox and Opera browsers over the bug ridden Internet Explorer. It actually has been known to remove microsoft's own products! I know some of you may like it, but really, use Adaware or spyblaster or indeed ANYTHING but microsofts own seriously, you'll be better off in the long run.

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ For Adaware
http://www.grisoft.com/ For AVG
http://www.zonelabs.com/ For Zone Alarm
http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ For Firefox and Thunderbird

Didn't your computer let you back up all your stuff onto cd's or something?
I was going to, but I just couldn't be bothered to be honest. I was also a bit worried that I might also save the spyware as well and just get the same problem.

You don't get virii by surfing on NS.
Try using some file sharing software, download executables, surf on porn sites... that kind of stuff.

I would also suggest that in the long term you start to consider the idea of using something other then Microsoft Windows, I know its not a pretty thought, having to learn it all over again, but quite frankly in an age where Microsofts windows from fresh install to installing updates without a damned good firewall will end up owned within minutes, you do have to wonder at the cost of having to maintain so much ancilery software and such just to keep it in a seriviceable state.

Myself, I use BeOS and Linux, for 5 years I've used them, in that time I've not had a single virus or been rooted. But on my logs I see at least 100 - 150 random attempts by comprimised systems right around the world attempting to propigate whatever owned them this week.

I wish I could be more optimistic about Microsoft, but time and again they have proven themselves incapable of dishing out a decent OS that isn't of the consistancy of swiss cheese in its approach to security. Honestly, the only reason to keep Microsoft windows in your house these days is if the application you want to use wont run under WINE.

I was going to, but I just couldn't be bothered to be honest. I was also a bit worried that I might also save the spyware as well and just get the same problem.

Using AVG an adaware you could scan your CD's before you copy them back, so you shouldn't really worry about anything.

Im not affected by any of the above at home by virtue of using linux and keeping myself up to date. At work though, those types of things are what I deal with all day long. Malware is extremely prevalent and worms are constantly trying to get into the network.

Use spam filters.
Use a firewall.
Use spyware killing programs.
Use a good anti-virus program.

No problem.

I use knoppix to surf the internet.
It is 100% safe. I challenge anyone to put a virus on my computer. I can give you my ip adress and I can even give you the root password. You can do nothing to my computer.
Even if you put a virus on my computer (which is impossible), I'll reboot and the virus is gone.

Sorry to say there are already 4 + variants of a worm that take advantage of Microsoft’s new anti-spy ware tool … its sad *tear*
What are they then

I would also suggest that in the long term you start to consider the idea of using something other then Microsoft Windows, I know its not a pretty thought, having to learn it all over again, but quite frankly in an age where Microsofts windows from fresh install to installing updates without a damned good firewall will end up owned within minutes, you do have to wonder at the cost of having to maintain so much ancilery software and such just to keep it in a seriviceable state.

Myself, I use BeOS and Linux, for 5 years I've used them, in that time I've not had a single virus or been rooted. But on my logs I see at least 100 - 150 random attempts by comprimised systems right around the world attempting to propigate whatever owned them this week.

I wish I could be more optimistic about Microsoft, but time and again they have proven themselves incapable of dishing out a decent OS that isn't of the consistancy of swiss cheese in its approach to security. Honestly, the only reason to keep Microsoft windows in your house these days is if the application you want to use wont run under WINE.

And guess what would happen if Linux or whatever you use that isn't windows became the main OS because microsoft got downed by spyware or something. TONS of virii would be tailored to attack THAT OS. One of the main reasons they attack windows is because its the main OS, why bother making tons of virii to attack Mac or Linux when several times as many people use windows than those two combined

I use knoppix to surf the internet.
It is 100% safe. I challenge anyone to put a virus on my computer. I can give you my ip adress and I can even give you the root password. You can do nothing to my computer.
Even if you put a virus on my computer (which is impossible), I'll reboot and the virus is gone.

Dont be silly, someone might take you up on the offer. What if I give you a virus that implants its self into your mbr? Then whenever you boot up into Windows to play a game, it gets infected.

One thing it is important for everyone here to consider is to get a good router with a NAT (network address translation) firewall. Since the router operates on proprietary firmware, virus executables can not run in the router like they would on a server. Plus, you can define what ports you wish to have open, and this protects all the subnet computers from various things including:

Hacking (manually)
Spyware/Malware (the content ports it uses are blocked)
Viruses (can't propogate without open ports)

You still have to be vigilant about not downloading software likely to contain virii and trojans.

Dont be silly, someone might take you up on the offer. What if I give you a virus that implants its self into your mbr? Then whenever you boot up into Windows to play a game, it gets infected.
ha ha ha. I don't have a hard drive. Come on bring it on.

Since the router operates on proprietary firmware, virus executables can not run in the router like they would on a server.
My router uses linux and it is safe (it is an usr 9106)

ha ha ha. I don't have a hard drive. Come on bring it on.

Ok, so what if someone writes a virus that flashes garbage into your bios?

Ok, so what if someone writes a virus that flashes garbage into your bios?
Oops...

What are they then
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/pwsteal.bankash.a.html


4 variants of that at least ... there is a new variant that not only disables it but uses a stack overflow on it to gain root lvl ... I cant remember the name (there has been 50 new viruses/worms/trojens since the begining of feb ... they are geting lost in the clutter)

I use knoppix to surf the internet.
It is 100% safe. I challenge anyone to put a virus on my computer. I can give you my ip adress and I can even give you the root password. You can do nothing to my computer.
Even if you put a virus on my computer (which is impossible), I'll reboot and the virus is gone.
Using STD version?

Using STD version?
I made my own iso bewause I need some extra stuff and the latest version of gaim.

And guess what would happen if Linux or whatever you use that isn't windows became the main OS because microsoft got downed by spyware or something. TONS of virii would be tailored to attack THAT OS. One of the main reasons they attack windows is because its the main OS, why bother making tons of virii to attack Mac or Linux when several times as many people use windows than those two combined

That's rubbish, I'm afraid. The reason Macs don't get virii (I can't say for Linux, I don't know enough about it) is that they happen to have a secure OS. It's got nothing to do with market share or anything else.

You probably don't believe me, but there's a site out there you might be interested in...(can't remember the link, I'm on a library computer at the moment). It's basically details of a challenge a few years ago; a straight-out-of the box Mac was plugged straight into the internet, a web-site was created on it, and $15,000 was offered to someone who could change the site. They never managed.

Bear in mind that was running Mac OS 9, which is far inferior to the current Mac OS X.

I don't have a problem with any of the things listed. I don't have a Hotmail account, and I don't run Windows. Why people continue to put up with it is, frankly, beyond me.

That's rubbish, I'm afraid. The reason Macs don't get virii (I can't say for Linux, I don't know enough about it) is that they happen to have a secure OS.
Ditto for Linux.

I get loads of virii and such, mostly since Norton never works for me. I don't have much of a problem with spam or spyware anymore though.

I made my own iso bewause I need some extra stuff and the latest version of gaim.
Cool I did that with BSD

Ditto for Linux.

I suspected so. Microsoft is the only company in the world who gets away with things like that.

That's rubbish, I'm afraid. The reason Macs don't get virii (I can't say for Linux, I don't know enough about it) is that they happen to have a secure OS. It's got nothing to do with market share or anything else.

You probably don't believe me, but there's a site out there you might be interested in...(can't remember the link, I'm on a library computer at the moment). It's basically details of a challenge a few years ago; a straight-out-of the box Mac was plugged straight into the internet, a web-site was created on it, and $15,000 was offered to someone who could change the site. They never managed.

Bear in mind that was running Mac OS 9, which is far inferior to the current Mac OS X.

I don't have a problem with any of the things listed. I don't have a Hotmail account, and I don't run Windows. Why people continue to put up with it is, frankly, beyond me.


Not correct

OS10 and OSX run off of a BSD core running a Darwin kernel (BSD being … well think if it as a UNIX but it is a non system V derivative) As such there are massive holes

Don’t worry it is a newb mistake everyone makes it. The reason there is not many *nix viruses currently is because they are not a BIG target

What do you think the market share of windows OS is? If I remember right 80 + percent (which makes them a massive target)

(not to mention that generally the people who use windows do not know how to take advantage of their security but most *nix users have a more advanced background in it)

Ok I am getting confusing

Moral of the story is that Mac is NOT more secure … nor is Linux. In fact Linux has some of the biggest holes in it I have yet seen IF YOU DON’T CONFIGURE IT CORRECTLY

The difference is *nix users are more advanced generally and take the time making sure things are secure. That and they are a small target next to the mass that is windows.

Now as for site security .. that has VERY LITTLE to do with the OS it is on … generally hacks take advantage of the WEB SERVER that it is running on (I am guessing it was apache) (so yes I don’t believe you because it has almost nothing to do with os security)

In the end it comes down to this:
Windows has to deal with a Varity of idiotic users (so they have to automate which adds more code to take advantage of) who also do not know how to secure their system. On top of that there are a LOT of them

*nix is a small target populated by more advanced users that secure their software better and update more often

Mac is a *nix system and is a small target (though they automate more, which generally is a bad thing but they are a very small target)

So basically there are not enough Mac users for virus writers to care about

Ditto for Linux.
Sorry neo I have to disagree *nix systems have some massive holes in them … but the people who use them generally spend more time making sure they secure


That and they are a small target that is hard to write for (unless you are taking advantage of one of the bigger apps or shells … ie. Bash … or an app like grep or something of that sort which is on all *nix systems)

There are thousands … possibly hundred of thousands of variants of *nix … makes it hard to write for them
(though been hearing of some redhat worms lately)

I suspected so. Microsoft is the only company in the world who gets away with things like that.
The Linux kernal is not company owned ... so you cant compare what "company's" get away with in the software world when you are comparing

(dont get me wrong there are *nix companys but they generaly make applications shells and interfaces they dont deal with the kernal)

Sorry neo I have to disagree *nix systems have some massive holes in them … but the people who use them generally spend more time making sure they secure


That and they are a small target that is hard to write for (unless you are taking advantage of one of the bigger apps or shells … ie. Bash … or an app like grep or something of that sort which is on all *nix systems)

There are thousands … possibly hundred of thousands of variants of *nix … makes it hard to write for them
(though been hearing of some redhat worms lately)
Damn, I must have outdated info.

The Linux kernal is not company owned ... so you cant compare what "company's" get away with in the software world when you are comparing

(dont get me wrong there are *nix companys but they generaly make applications shells and interfaces they dont deal with the kernal)

What I meant was that there would be very, very few users of Linux if it was as crap as Windows.

Now, I'm a bit out of my depth here (I'm always far too honest in these debates. I should just act like an expert) but I've done some research and everything I've read has said that *nix is very secure. This seems reasonable, as, as it says, *nix has been out for 30 or so years, and so has had every decent programmer having a go at it.

Like I said, I don't know enough about all this. All I know is that Windows is crap, and I like Mac OS.

Damn, I must have outdated info.
Naw … most people who run a box run it securely … so most are run secure

They just start out with big holes … you can make them VERY secure if you spend the time … but that is more about what you do and what choices you make then actual software security.

You can make anything secure if you do things right (Microsoft makes it hard to do real low level changes and I don’t like their user rights options which are much more customizable in a *nix system)

But there are simple steps you can take to securing your windows machine

1) Turn of file and print sharing when not in use
2) Create passwords (secure) non dictionary words that also combine alpha and numeric components
3) Updates both of system and running programs
4) Only one admin account which you do not log into while surfing the net (a program started from an admin account has admin privileges)

So on and so forth :)

no spyware or viruses :D i resentll put anew hard drive so its all clean but my hot mail account useto get a $#!7 load of spam but now i only get a few per day which is pretty managable.

What I meant was that there would be very, very few users of Linux if it was as crap as Windows.

Now, I'm a bit out of my depth here (I'm always far too honest in these debates. I should just act like an expert) but I've done some research and everything I've read has said that *nix is very secure. This seems reasonable, as, as it says, *nix has been out for 30 or so years, and so has had every decent programmer having a go at it.

Like I said, I don't know enough about all this. All I know is that Windows is crap, and I like Mac OS.
Ok we are getting terms confused here (and better to admit it … cause I am sort of an expert so I will call ya out on it whether you like it or not :D)

So lets take on objective look at each os

Windows: Highly automated system that does a good job at doing the basics for non advanced users. While doing a lot at advancing usability and portability it is still a young os(as you correctly pointed out) in pushing for those two it has fallen a bit behind in reliability (actual reliability not viruii issues) though with advances in 2000 server and XP they have taken leaps ahead there.

Pros: they are highly usable and their software ports well with each other

Cons: not as customizable as some of the other operating systems and still some reliability issues.
Also a big target (but that’s not really an issue with the os)
Also automation leaves some bigger loopholes then non automation


*nix (this covers Linux UNIX BSD and all their derivatives)
Small efficient os’s that are great for reliability. Does not do much in the way of automation but in its heart it is an os that tries to keep things small. As an operating system that focuses on customizability and performance they tend to lack in usability and portability. Their customizability makes them able to be come very secure if you do the right thing with your freedom … but it does not save you from making big mistakes also.

Pros: fast efficient and stable … as well as being customizable


Cons: Difficult to get to use and getting all the separate programs you need to do what you want to do.

All in all great potential but you have to take advantage of it.


They have different focuses … and different drawbacks such is life … everything has a cost

www.lavasoft.com
http://security.kolla.de
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com
www.avgfree.com


Four great free programs.

www.lavasoft.com
http://security.kolla.de
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com
www.avgfree.com


Four great free programs.
I deffinatly back up the first (lava) and avg ... though avg can be gotten at grisoft.com as well

Linux is inherently more secure than Windows because it is opensource. Opensource software evolves much faster than closed source software.
Compare IPTABLES (or even the older IPCHAINS) with whatever exist in windows. The most you can do is to check the "use a firewall" box.

Linux is inherently more secure than Windows because it is opensource. Opensource software evolves much faster than closed source software.
Compare IPTABLES (or even the older IPCHAINS) with whatever exist in windows. The most you can do is to check the "use a firewall" box.
But that is not because it is in windows nor open source ... for a fair comparison you would have to compare iptables to WHATEVER you could install in windows ... not just the preinstalles (otherwise you would be working with your hosts.allow as your only controll method)
You are placing a limitation on the windows machine (pre installed software) that you are not with the nix boxes ... its not fair comparison

But that is not because it is in windows nor open source ... for a fair comparison you would have to compare iptables to WHATEVER you could install in windows ... not just the preinstalles (otherwise you would be working with your hosts.allow as your only controll method)
You are placing a limitation on the windows machine (pre installed software) that you are not with the nix boxes ... its not fair comparisonBut they are built in the kernel. You can't have that with closed source software without loosing processing power.

That's rubbish, I'm afraid. The reason Macs don't get virii (I can't say for Linux, I don't know enough about it) is that they happen to have a secure OS. It's got nothing to do with market share or anything else.

There are at least a dozen Mac virii

Mac is not targetted (same with linux) most of the time because they are not the MAIN OS.

But they are built in the kernel. You can't have that with closed source software without loosing processing power.
Yes you can … just because Microsoft picks different priorities other then performance does not mean ALL closed software companies do such (just the ones that pander to “usability” for laypersons )

They have a different focus (not saying that there are not advantages to open source rather performance is not dependant on licensing)

There are at least a dozen Mac virii

Mac is not targetted (same with linux) most of the time because they are not the MAIN OS.
Thank you… been trying to say the same thing (not saying that is the WHOLE reason there are more pc’ viruii but rather that it is a massive factor in the sheer amount that have been hitting the internet)

Yes you can … just because Microsoft picks different priorities other then performance does not mean ALL closed software companies do such (just the ones that pander to “usability” for laypersons )

They have a different focus (not saying that there are not advantages to open source rather performance is not dependant on licensing)But it will be a layer on top of Microsoft code, won't it? I don't think you can remove Microsoft code from Windows for routing and everything, or can you?

BTW I believe performance is dependant on the availability of the source code, because you always get better performance when the compilation is specifically optimized for your hardware.

But it will be a layer on top of Microsoft code, won't it?
In most cases yes but Microsoft for example (if they still used a true kernel) could incorporate a fully featured firewall into the kernel and still be closed source

Open source software does not mean automatic integration into kernel level … rather it is easier to compile your kernel with those features (something’s you don’t want run in kernel level… too much run there makes it a resource hog)

There is probability of incorporation yes … open source is more likely to let you be able to compile something into your kernel but it is by no means a guarantee.

In most cases yes but Microsoft for example (if they still used a true kernel) could incorporate a fully featured firewall into the kernel and still be closed source

Open source software does not mean automatic integration into kernel level … rather it is easier to compile your kernel with those features (something’s you don’t want run in kernel level… too much run there makes it a resource hog)

There is probability of incorporation yes … open source is more likely to let you be able to compile something into your kernel but it is by no means a guarantee.But at least you know what is there and what isn't there.
With closed source, you can just hope that Microsoft is kind enough to make their code secure, but you will never know, although their financial interests are in direct conflict with providing secure software.

But at least you know what is there and what isn't there.
With closed source, you can just hope that Microsoft is kind enough to make their code secure, but you will never know, although their financial interests are in direct conflict with providing secure software.
How in DIRECT conflict with providing secure software?

How in DIRECT conflict with providing secure software?
Well first off, providing secure software costs because they have to pay people to work on it.
Secondly, they sell additional security software and security is the new trendy money making cow.
Thridly they want to know what's on your computer, if you paid your license like a good consumer sheep and everything. It conflicts with the idea of securing your computer from unwanted intrusion. That's what they had in mind when they made their activix non-sense available on ie and outlook or their hardware activation bullshit on XP.
4thly, they have to sell the next version. So they will have to find selling arguments. What about mandatory security upgrade (update or your computer will be dead by virii in a week).
5thly nobody will now if their software is secure or not anyway. They can always say that is because they're #1 and people will believe everything the richest man of the world say.

And anyway, saying "my software is secure but I can't show you" is not security. Security is only security when you are sure it is or it is not security at all. Nobody can argue that gambling is secure. Who can guarantee Microsoft is not putting a trojan on your computer?