Vista's Security concerns – For a common Man

Today,I happen to read a news-item which says ” Windows Vista security ‘rendered useless’ by researchers” which greatly reminded me of how this would affect the outlook of a common man who “just want to get a new PC”. To cite my concern, I would like to introduce you to Alex, whom I consider to be a typical average computer user. He is not tech-savy, but just wants things to done via his computer. More simply said, I would say he has traded ‘ His Notepad’ for ‘Notepad.exe’

Alex Finkelstein is a senior citizen who blogs his way happily about real-estate and related news content, after retirement. Unlike many senior members of our community who start out late with “computers”, he too had his share of roadblocks. His enthusiasm is infectious, and I get to see a regular stream of mails from Alex asking how to “make this work”, or “why this is not working” etc and I would respond accordingly. Slowly but steadily he gained more control over “things being done on a computer”, and now has fewer queries to clarify. This is the time, he was just about getting things right in XP. But as providence would have it, he too faced a hard-disk crash and had to go for a new desktop.

Eventually he did end up buying a Vista (as XP is no longer available). Lets bear in mind that he is a senior citizen, and has reached a certain comfort level with XP. Now forced to use Vista, he feels completely lost and the increasing delay in understanding how to go about folders and icons only added to his frustration. His requirements are minimal and, is certainly not interested in the frills and fireworks of vista.

Now, back to the article, ” Windows Vista security ‘rendered useless’ by researchers” . You can read the technical mumbo-jumbo in the original article, while I quote,

“The genius of this is that it’s completely reusable,” said Dino Dai Zovi, a well-known security researcher and author. “They have attacks that let them load chosen content to a chosen location with chosen permissions. That’s completely game over.

A common man like Alex may not have “sensitive information pertaining to national interest” on his desktop. Nevertheless, this piece of information cannot be ignored Going by the details, I presume, anyone with the appropriate knowledge can use an unsuspecting commoner’s PC/Laptop as a virtual command center for sensitive and perhaps malicious actions. All that is needed is to find an open Wifi-spot , with lot of unsuspecting commoners who are unwittingly taken for a ride.

Wonder what Microsoft has to say about this ?. Maybe I will just go in for Mac.