RE: [Full-Disclosure] Microsoft prepares security assault on Linux

["Russ" <Russ.Cooper@rc.on.ca>]

Jason said;

>I wrote an information security book last year under contract with 
>Microsoft Press. The book was never published -- among other things it 
>explains truthfully the poor security condition of Windows and offers 
>detailed instructions and advice for defending against Microsoft's bad 
>business practices and incorrect security decisions.

Because maybe a book isn't needed to describe what I describe in 3 pages, 10 
points, keystroke by keystroke, button click by button click, documentation. 
Assuming the requisite files are on hand, it takes less than an hour to 
"harden" an IIS box against all of this years attacks, and the document was 
written 2 years ago.

Fine, my 3 pages doesn't help "to educate developers of Web applications so 
that fewer new vulnerabilities would have been created.", but at least mine got 
published to our customers...;-]

>Microsoft suppresses awareness of vulnerabilities in order to profit.

Funny how they've always encouraged me with NTBugtraq, that would seem to be at 
odds with your perception of their position. Funny how I once tried to convince 
them to bury a vulnerability patch in a service pack rather than release a 
security bulletin, and there was no way they would have it.

The old adage, "You catch more flies with honey" seems to often be the opinion 
of publishers, one reason I've never written a book (no publisher wants to 
publish a book written the way I write...;-]) Since they're putting the money 
up, I have to assume they have good stats on the demographics of who will buy 
it and what the buyer expects. Its their audience, write it for yourself, 
publish it yourself (as you've done.) That they thought it wasn't going to be 
profitable (from a publishing perspective) doesn't necessarily mean Microsoft 
is trying to "suppress awareness of vulnerabilities", it could just mean they 
didn't think it would sell.

Cheers,
Russ - Surgeon General of TruSecure Corporation/NTBugtraq Editor

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