NationStates Jolt Archive

Yes, I know they wouldn't try it for fear of the US army storming their offices, but could it be done theoretically?

After all, a very large fraction of the world's computers run on Windows and are connected to the Internet. They could build into Windows a feature that users (I'm thinking business/government more than home users, here) have to keep up to date or lose access the Internet (apart from the updates themselves). Then they could release an update that stopped all the computers working. People would have to comply to their demands if they wanted their computers to work again.

Yes, they could just use another operating system, but the switchover could be a long and difficult process. For example, they might have data stored in a proprietary format that could only be understood by a particular Windows program.

It would be simplified with a secondary harddrive.

If it's in a format understoo by only Windows, if it's text, you can save it as a .txt file and transfer it over and do the same for other types of files by using a universal format.

It would be simplified with a secondary harddrive.

If it's in a format understoo by only Windows, if it's text, you can save it as a .txt file and transfer it over and do the same for other types of files by using a universal format.

But what if Starbucks joined in? How would anybody think of this without the necessary caffeine to entice them to get out of bed?

It would be simplified with a secondary harddrive.

If it's in a format understoo by only Windows, if it's text, you can save it as a .txt file and transfer it over and do the same for other types of files by using a universal format.

How can you save the data if your computer doesn't work?

Attention-grabbing title... relatively short OP... interesting subject... yet so little interest. Weird.

How can you save the data if your computer doesn't work?Put in a bootable linux CD-ROM
They can't stop the computer working, they can only stop their software working.

Put in a bootable linux CD-ROM
They can't stop the computer working, they can only stop their software working.

But then you can't access the data in the human-readable/non-encrypted/whatever format because you can't use the Windows program.

Yes, I know they wouldn't try it for fear of the US army storming their offices, but could it be done theoretically?

After all, a very large fraction of the world's computers run on Windows and are connected to the Internet. They could build into Windows a feature that users (I'm thinking business/government more than home users, here) have to keep up to date or lose access the Internet (apart from the updates themselves). Then they could release an update that stopped all the computers working. People would have to comply to their demands if they wanted their computers to work again.

Yes, they could just use another operating system, but the switchover could be a long and difficult process. For example, they might have data stored in a proprietary format that could only be understood by a particular Windows program.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LINUX

It work for a while (ie as long as it takes to take the blood thing to future shop). There is alternatives out there, and a stunt as dickish as this would drastically affect MS's market share.

Luckily, European governments are starting to switch over to Linux, and important shit (ie the US Department of Defence) has already been using it for a while. So while the post office may take even longer to get shit done, allot of countries would still have functioning governments. Some (ie USA, Canada), would certainly be screwed more than others (Netherlands, France) but home users would be shafted the hardest.

But then you can't access the data in the human-readable/non-encrypted/whatever format because you can't use the Windows program.

Unless it is data for a video game, you will probably be able to open it. It may not be legal in all cases, but it can be done.

In a month, everyone would use Mac or Linux.

Seeing the number of companies and governments migrating to actual OSes (Linux)... no! :)

Still: they could try, better install your penguin now!

In a month, everyone would use Mac or Linux.
Which would be great.:rolleyes:

The last thing we need is Steve Jobs with market share.

But then you can't access the data in the human-readable/non-encrypted/whatever format because you can't use the Windows program.I rarely ever had any problem reading any of the data I have under windows when I boot udner linux. So unless they first forcefulyl distribute a program to encode everything such that it can only work under windows, that wouldnt' be a problem.
And the moment they'd try to force that on me, I'd say goodbye to them and work from my latest backups.

Yes, yes, I know there are alternate operating systems, but imagine a big multinational corporation, having to make an emergency switch-over, whilst unable to perform any of their normal business, unable to earn any money, unable to pay their employees' salaries...

But what if Starbucks joined in? How would anybody think of this without the necessary caffeine to entice them to get out of bed?

Whoa! Super-conspiratorial power!

Linux users would use open source thermonuclear warheads to take out Microsoft.

Yes, yes, I know there are alternate operating systems, but imagine a big multinational corporation, having to make an emergency switch-over, whilst unable to perform any of their normal business, unable to earn any money, unable to pay their employees' salaries...



Whoa! Super-conspiratorial power!It is there fault for choosing to buy low quality software from a company with a shady business history. The ones already using the alternatives (which is much higher than you'd imagine in the business word) would be rewarded for there decision while the rest would have to take a day off while installing RHEL or SLED onto their computers.

It is there fault for choosing to buy low quality software from a company with a shady business history.
Of course.

The ones already using the alternatives (which is much higher than you'd imagine in the business word) would be rewarded for there decision while the rest would have to take a day off while installing RHEL or SLED onto their computers.

So it wouldn't be a good laugh :( ... uh.. I mean disaster ...

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/8540/jobskchingbk3.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/8540/jobskchingbk3.jpg
Creepy

Not me!
*chuckles and strokes Macbook*

The idea of holding something for ransom heavily involves having some sort of safe haven. After you have threatened every country in the world, where are you going to hide?

The idea of holding something for ransom heavily involves having some sort of safe haven. After you have threatened every country in the world, where are you going to hide?

Guam.

Maybe Tuvulu.

The idea of holding something for ransom heavily involves having some sort of safe haven. After you have threatened every country in the world, where are you going to hide?

exactly. since there is no where to go, the plot is doomed to failure. (unless bill gates has cut a deal with space aliens)

the world would play along, pay out, get their computers fixed, and fry his ass.

The idea of holding something for ransom heavily involves having some sort of safe haven. After you have threatened every country in the world, where are you going to hide?

Antarctica?

Yes, I know they wouldn't try it for fear of the US army storming their offices, but could it be done theoretically?

After all, a very large fraction of the world's computers run on Windows and are connected to the Internet. They could build into Windows a feature that users (I'm thinking business/government more than home users, here) have to keep up to date or lose access the Internet (apart from the updates themselves). Then they could release an update that stopped all the computers working. People would have to comply to their demands if they wanted their computers to work again.

Yes, they could just use another operating system, but the switchover could be a long and difficult process. For example, they might have data stored in a proprietary format that could only be understood by a particular Windows program.

There's always Linux.

Antarctica?

yeah that would be a great outcome to ransom.

Yes, I know they wouldn't try it for fear of the US army storming their offices, but could it be done theoretically?

*snip*

Technically, no it can't be done. A timebomb which checks the internet to ask if Windows can keep running (ala WGA, but with self-destruct) would be easily spoofed, a date-based timebomb could be defeated by setting an old date and reinstalling, and in general, despite the advantage of knowing the codebase, MS would have their asses handed to them by hackers.

Commercially, no it can't be done. You'd have to stack the board and all senior positions at MS with people bent on decimating the company's share price and destroying its reputation. Given that it's the richest company on earth and attracts a lot of attention from it's millions of shareholders, I don't see how you'd do that.

Legally, no it can't be done. It's a blatant exploitation of what is already legally recognized as an unfair monopoly position. MS tries by legal prohibition to stop people using its product, even huge companies will flout the law until it's overturned, which won't be long. They try to do it by illegal means (eg releasing millions of varieties of worm and virus through updates) and they'll get their door kicked in.

MS held off attempts to unseat their monopoly, but it's hard to imagine that governments aren't envious of the power MS has. They'll have that, thankyou.

Internet Explorer != The Internet

Unless MS bought out the DSL companies?

No.

No.

Gee, I wasted a lot of words saying that, didn't I?
Your answer is also more correct.

No.

No it couldn't. If they are so dumb to try such operation, I imagine following scenario:
Day 1. Microsoft stops most of world's computers from working.
Day 2. EC, USA and other governments cancel any and all Microsoft's copyrights/licenses/patents.
Day 3. Hackers crack that feature that stops Windows from working and releases patch.
Next week. People update their computers and everything is back to normal.

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/8540/jobskchingbk3.jpg

Somehow I doubt apps like SAP or JDEE2 will run on a Mac.

No it couldn't. If they are so dumb to try such operation, I imagine following scenario:
Day 1. Microsoft stops most of world's computers from working.
Late Day 1. Hackers crack that feature that stops Windows from working and releases patch.
Day 2. EC, USA and other governments cancel any and all Microsoft's copyrights/licenses/patents.
Next week. People update their computers and everything is back to normal.

Fixed.

I can't believe nobody has said this yet: DON'T GIVE THEM ANY IDEAS! :eek:

Guam.

Maybe Tuvulu.Even more secret than Tuvalu! Come now, stay forever!

Microsoft has become stinking rich by being "good enough". If they were dumb enough to try blatant blackmail (as opposed to subtle blackmail), they would no longer be "good enough". Businesses, who don't like to be on the recieving end of such tactics, would switch to Linux. As soon as vendors like Dell & Gateway started pre-installing Linux instead of Windows, Microsoft would be dead,dead,dead.

Considering the way most hacker groups work Arabeska, what with insiders and all, I think this is more appropriate

No it couldn't. If they are so dumb to try such operation, I imagine following scenario:
Day 0.5 Hackers crack that feature that stops Windows from working and releases patch.
Day 1. Microsoft stops most of world's computers from working.
Day 1.2 Hacker community laughs at MS's attempts
Day 2. EC, USA and other governments cancel any and all Microsoft's copyrights/licenses/patents.
Next week. People update their computers and everything is back to normal.

No, MicroSob couldn't hold the world for ransom. There's no incentive to do so. The only two things it would accomplish, is the destruction of MicroSob and a hell of a lot of lost money for the world in general. Actual downtime of critical infrastructure would be negligible, and it'd primarily hit end-users and small privates with shoddy security.

So, ransom's out of the question. It'd kill all future business prospects. And at most, it'd get the management some time in prison. If they were a bunch of 10 year old kids, it might be argued there's some shits & giggles to be had from being a major pain for everyone, but they aren't even that.

They should do it.

It's about the only thing that'd make games developers primarily develop for Linux, and therefore the only thing that'll stop DirectX10 eventually becoming mandatory for gaming, so it'll mean I won't have to bother pirating Vista at some point.

They should do it.

It's about the only thing that'd make games developers primarily develop for Linux, and therefore the only thing that'll stop DirectX10 eventually becoming mandatory for gaming, so it'll mean I won't have to bother pirating Vista at some point.You win the thread.

Yes, I know they wouldn't try it for fear of the US army storming their offices, but could it be done theoretically?

After all, a very large fraction of the world's computers run on Windows and are connected to the Internet. They could build into Windows a feature that users (I'm thinking business/government more than home users, here) have to keep up to date or lose access the Internet (apart from the updates themselves). Then they could release an update that stopped all the computers working. People would have to comply to their demands if they wanted their computers to work again.

Yes, they could just use another operating system, but the switchover could be a long and difficult process. For example, they might have data stored in a proprietary format that could only be understood by a particular Windows program.

Well, considering how dependent the USArmy has become on MS's Powerpoint softeware to do their planning an briefings, I wouldn't count on that being the stopping factor.

(This is maybe an appropriate place to mention the criticisms of the reliance of the US military on Powerpoint, especially it's disasterous usage by the "powerpoint rangers" in the planning of Iraq.)

Well, considering how dependent the USArmy has become on MS's Powerpoint softeware to do their planning an briefings, I wouldn't count on that being the stopping factor.

(This is maybe an appropriate place to mention the criticisms of the reliance of the US military on Powerpoint, especially it's disasterous usage by the "powerpoint rangers" in the planning of Iraq.)

I am really weening myself off powerpoint. It seems people don't listen properly when doing a ppt presentation.

Actually....POWERPOINT MUST DIE!

I am really weening myself off powerpoint. It seems people don't listen properly when doing a ppt presentation.

Actually....POWERPOINT MUST DIE!

I couldn't agree more. The "new guy" who's been the gaijin face of the personnel dept. at the company/school where I work has taken to doing the annual "personnel workshops" all in powerpoint, and they seriously suck.

You win the thread.

Hurrah! :D

How would we be able to tell that Microsoft software had stopped working properly by design rather than just being a normal occurrence?

I couldn't agree more. The "new guy" who's been the gaijin face of the personnel dept. at the company/school where I work has taken to doing the annual "personnel workshops" all in powerpoint, and they seriously suck.

yeah...there are few more converts I've run into. Couple of CEO's and CIO's...they hate ppt as well...

I am thinking that in my next on site job I will insist that no one in my dept uses power point.

How would we be able to tell that Microsoft software had stopped working properly by design rather than just being a normal occurrence?

LOL True, true.

Yes, I know they wouldn't try it for fear of the US army storming their offices, but could it be done theoretically?

After all, a very large fraction of the world's computers run on Windows and are connected to the Internet. They could build into Windows a feature that users (I'm thinking business/government more than home users, here) have to keep up to date or lose access the Internet (apart from the updates themselves). Then they could release an update that stopped all the computers working. People would have to comply to their demands if they wanted their computers to work again.


Isn't that pretty much what they do now?

Well, considering how dependent the USArmy has become on MS's Powerpoint softeware to do their planning an briefings, I wouldn't count on that being the stopping factor.

(This is maybe an appropriate place to mention the criticisms of the reliance of the US military on Powerpoint, especially it's disasterous usage by the "powerpoint rangers" in the planning of Iraq.)
OpenOffice.org fully supports powerpoint presentations.