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El Reg published a story that quotes GNU evangelist and free-software advocate saying just about what we would expect him to say today about the current state of technology:
LinuxGNU firebrand Richard Stallman says Windows and Mac OS are malware, Amazon is Orwellian, and anyone who trusts the internet-of-things is an ass. In a column for The Guardian, Stallman preaches to the non-technical masses about the evils of proprietary software and vendor lock-in, and how closed-door coding facilitates clandestine deals with nation state spy agencies."What kinds of programs constitute malware? Operating systems, first of all," Stallman testifies.
"Apple systems are malware too: MacOS snoops and shackles; iOS snoops, shackles, censors apps and has a backdoor.
"Even Android contains malware in a non-free component: a back door for remote forcible installation or de-installation of any app."
Stallman references a a Bloomberg report in saying Microsoft "sabotages" Windows users by disclosing vulnerabilities to the NSA before patches are released. It isn't just Windows and MacOS that Stallman brands malware: Barbie dolls, smart TVs, and cars also earn his ire thanks to the potential for marketers to secretly pry on a child's worst fears or listen in to lounge room conversations.
I'm not sure that I'm going to worry about Barbie dolls listening on conversations, but I understand his concerns. I have often wondered about the expansion of sophisticated computer technology into all aspects of life, such as in HDTVs and cars. The possibilities for abuse are many, and we have learned over recent years governments are not immune from exploiting vulnerabilities to commit serious crimes and violations of our civil liberties.
[Editor's Comment: Original Submission]
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Nerdfest on Tuesday May 26 2015, @04:50PM
If you read what I said, you'll notice that I'm not blaming them for the bugs, I'm blaming them for 'marketing' them, to try and cause distrust of FOSS. It is fair game as there have been a couple of serious bugs, but they are in a somewhat glass house (especially given the near certainly of back-doors), or they would be if FOSS developers had the millions in marketing dollars to spread feat about Windows bugs.
Feel free to continue your rant though, just be aware that the people who discovered the bugs (a Google researcher for HeartBleed, I think) didn't *name* them "Heartbleed" or "ShellShock". Have a look into who did.
(Score: 2) by Hairyfeet on Thursday May 28 2015, @01:42AM
They didn't have to "market" shit, bugs like Heartbleed and Shellshock cost billions to clean up and anytime you cost billions when you fuck up? It IS gonna be big news friend, that is the kind of shit that grabs headlines.
Besides you want to give Linux bad press you don't need bugs, all you have to do is look at its self appointed "prophet" RMS who thinks its perfectly acceptable to yank off his socks on stage and eat some toe funk [youtube.com] like some crazy bum. Can you even imagine Cook, Nadella, or Torvalds doing anything so fucking disgusting on fricking stage no less? If I was trying to sell a company a MSFT OS over Linux all I would do is show a clip of Nadella presenting along with a list of his accomplishments and then that video of RMS along with his quotes about being a "squatter" and how "voluntary" pedophilia is okay and just say "now which person would YOU like bringing publicity about the operating system YOUR company is gonna be using?". Bet I'd be cashing the check before the presentation was over, and I wouldn't need any "corporate conspiracy" from "teh ebil M$" to pull it off either.
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.