[NCLUG] Cringely on Microsoft's plan for the Internet

[Evelyn Mitchell]

The interesting part is the discussion of how MS could take over
TCP/IP without anyone being able to stop them. - efm

The Death of TCP/IP
Why the Age of Internet Innocence is Over
By Robert X. Cringely

As events of the last several weeks have shown, Microsoft Windows, e-mail
and the Internet create the perfect breeding ground for virus attacks. They
don't even have to exploit Windows flaws to be effective. Any Visual BASIC
programmer with a good understanding of how Windows works can write a virus.
All that is needed is a cleverly titled file attachment payload, and almost
anyone can be induced to open it, spreading the contagion. It is too darned
easy to create these programs that can do billions in damage. The only sure
way to fix the problem is to re-stripe the playing field, to change the game
to one with all new rules. Some might argue that such a rule change calls
for the elimination of Microsoft software, but that simply isn't likely to
happen. It's true that Linux and Apache are generally safer than Windows
2000 and IIS, but Microsoft products aren't going to go away. I promised you
an answer to how to secure the Internet, and I mean to come through. First,
we'll start with the way I would do it, then follow with a rumor I have
heard about one way Microsoft might want to do it.

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20010802.html