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[TheBoy]

The good news is that Microsoft is steadily losing ground to Linux with the smartphone/tablet market already lost and the majority of web servers using Linux. The desktop/laptop market is shrinking and I suspect that this trend will continue.

MS still rules the desktop, and Windows Server was only ever used where Windows offers something unique, and that still remains the case today.

Linux has ruled the world when it comes to medium performance LAMP style options. High performance unix style servers remain the domain of proper unix systems, as always.

Tablet sales have dropped off a cliff, and laptop sales increased, and the vast majority of these will be Windows.

[TheBoy]

This particular malware needed a human idiot to infect.

Only for the first infection within a properly firewalled enterprise, though.. after that, if unpatched, it could spread all by itself via the hole described by MS017-010. And I am willing to bet the NHS has a lot of unpatched machines, even if their patch programme is up to date..

Indeed, as with any targeted worm, once inside a network segment, then often you're screwed, as so many options to spread, either on OS flaws, application flaws, collaboration tools, file sharing, plus more idiots via email.


The NHS network is heavily segregated (and very piecemeal), so needed a lot of idiots.

[TheBoy]

I'd add, for all the anti MS brigade, MS provides the tools to ensure all MS products are automatically updated. System Center for big Enterprises, WSUS for SMEs, Windows Update for home users.

So no excuse not to be patched.


Linux is likewise, such as Spacewalk for bigger firms, and the bitty, inconsistent district unique tools for each district, the latter frequently being a manual chore.

[aaronjb]

The NHS network is heavily segregated (and very piecemeal), so needed a lot of idiots.

Unfortunately those are not in short supply!

(He says, still waiting for all the missed patches to install in his VM..)

[TheBoy]

VMs on desktop machines are a huge issue, no matter what OS for this very reason. Same with W7's XP Mode (which is just a VM under the hood)

[aaronjb]

Yeah - ours now get an auto-ban from the network if they're not powered on and connected to the domain every 30 days.. at least for the domain controlled VMs. Harder to control non-joined VMs and (given we are an engineer-heavy company) we have relatively few controls in place on what people can do on their local workstations (thankfully, from my perspective, though I know it is a permanent nightmare for the IT dept!)

[TD]

I'd add, for all the anti MS brigade, MS provides the tools to ensure all MS products are automatically updated. System Center for big Enterprises, WSUS for SMEs, Windows Update for home users.

So no excuse not to be patched.


Linux is likewise, such as Spacewalk for bigger firms, and the bitty, inconsistent district unique tools for each district, the latter frequently being a manual chore.

I agree with that for home users, but many moons ago when I worked in IT, I don't remember any company I worked for allowing automatic updates. IME the IT dept downloaded the patch and patched just the IT department and left it like that for about a month (to ensure the patch didn't break any programs) then pushed it out across the rest of the company. Even then after the patch was pushed out, it usually broke a few pc's (admittedly it was more than likely the pc was a couple of years old with probably non standard programs installed)

[TheBoy]

I'd add, for all the anti MS brigade, MS provides the tools to ensure all MS products are automatically updated. System Center for big Enterprises, WSUS for SMEs, Windows Update for home users.

So no excuse not to be patched.


Linux is likewise, such as Spacewalk for bigger firms, and the bitty, inconsistent district unique tools for each district, the latter frequently being a manual chore.

I agree with that for home users, but many moons ago when I worked in IT, I don't remember any company I worked for allowing automatic updates. IME the IT dept downloaded the patch and patched just the IT department and left it like that for about a month (to ensure the patch didn't break any programs) then pushed it out across the rest of the company. Even then after the patch was pushed out, it usually broke a few pc's (admittedly it was more than likely the pc was a couple of years old with probably non standard programs installed)

The network oriented tools allow for testing before approving for global deployment. SUS, WSUS and System Center have always had that capability. And IT departments get access to patching rollout reports etc.

There really is little excuse in this day and age, or really since MS started to be Internet aware back in the W2K days...

[TD]

I'd add, for all the anti MS brigade, MS provides the tools to ensure all MS products are automatically updated. System Center for big Enterprises, WSUS for SMEs, Windows Update for home users.

So no excuse not to be patched.


Linux is likewise, such as Spacewalk for bigger firms, and the bitty, inconsistent district unique tools for each district, the latter frequently being a manual chore.

I agree with that for home users, but many moons ago when I worked in IT, I don't remember any company I worked for allowing automatic updates. IME the IT dept downloaded the patch and patched just the IT department and left it like that for about a month (to ensure the patch didn't break any programs) then pushed it out across the rest of the company. Even then after the patch was pushed out, it usually broke a few pc's (admittedly it was more than likely the pc was a couple of years old with probably non standard programs installed)

The network oriented tools allow for testing before approving for global deployment. SUS, WSUS and System Center have always had that capability. And IT departments get access to patching rollout reports etc.

There really is little excuse in this day and age, or really since MS started to be Internet aware back in the W2K days...

Ok, as I suspected, things have changed since I was in IT, around the late 90's early 2000's.
I still remember getting paid £1k for 6 hours playing pc games work on Jan 1st 2000 

[STEMO]

I'd add, for all the anti MS brigade, MS provides the tools to ensure all MS products are automatically updated. System Center for big Enterprises, WSUS for SMEs, Windows Update for home users.

So no excuse not to be patched.


Linux is likewise, such as Spacewalk for bigger firms, and the bitty, inconsistent district unique tools for each district, the latter frequently being a manual chore.

I agree with that for home users, but many moons ago when I worked in IT, I don't remember any company I worked for allowing automatic updates. IME the IT dept downloaded the patch and patched just the IT department and left it like that for about a month (to ensure the patch didn't break any programs) then pushed it out across the rest of the company. Even then after the patch was pushed out, it usually broke a few pc's (admittedly it was more than likely the pc was a couple of years old with probably non standard programs installed)

The network oriented tools allow for testing before approving for global deployment. SUS, WSUS and System Center have always had that capability. And IT departments get access to patching rollout reports etc.

There really is little excuse in this day and age, or really since MS started to be Internet aware back in the W2K days...

Ok, as I suspected, things have changed since I was in IT, around the late 90's early 2000's.
I still remember getting paid £1k for 6 hours playing pc games work on Jan 1st 2000 

Surely you could make that in four hours now.....with a long enough detour 

[Lizzie Zoom]

I found this out just last week when I went to Vodafone to renew my contract. No Nokia/Window phones are now offered by Vodafone. I have had Nokia, then Windows for ever, but the manager explained Windows and Apple are in decline and it is all down to the other main players like Samsung. Since Gates and Job left the scene those companies have lost their direction.

How things in IT change so quickly!

Windows phones are a dead duck now Lizzie, Microsoft kept threating about a possible new Surface Phone, but it probably wont happen or be any good for non Business use.

In a nut shell, Nokia are now free from MS, so all there new phones will be Android based, there current Nokia 6 in 64gb form is actually a nice spec'ed phone for the price, just under 250 quid with the Nokia 3 and 5 being budget versions. Any time now Nokia are launching the Nokia 8/9 which will be there revival Flagship models to compete with the likes of iPhone and Samsung models, surprised, or maybe not, that Vodafone never told you this.

Thanks zirk

No, all Vodafone said was something about an old phone of theirs being relaunched, but with a new operating system; the number, 6310 or was it 3110 (??) seemed very familiar, as a phone I once had years back. I love Nokia, and currently have a Nokia (Windows) Lumia 930, which is almost brand new after I made a warranty claim for the same phone. I will be hoping the new ones are available when I need it

Yes they're also re launching the 3310, but this time with a Colour Screen, about 50 quid Sim Free. No 3 or 4G Connectivity, but it doses make phone calls. Also has a low res 2mp Camera for taking those early 2001 style pictures, and if your Music or Film lover it has, wait for it, ......   a 16Mb internal memory, yes Mb.

That is interesting, and for those who still just want to make calls only, a winner I would think.  For me though I have got far too used to an iPhone to now go back in time

[zirk]

That is interesting, and for those who still just want to make calls only, a winner I would think.  For me though I have got far too used to an iPhone to now go back in time

Quote - "I have had Nokia, then Windows for ever"

And theirs me thinking you walked into Vodafone Store because you was an avid Nokia / Windows Phone User. 

[Lizzie Zoom]

That is interesting, and for those who still just want to make calls only, a winner I would think.  For me though I have got far too used to an iPhone to now go back in time

Quote - "I have had Nokia, then Windows for ever"

And theirs me thinking you walked into Vodafone Store because you was an avid Nokia / Windows Phone User. 

No, I walked into the Vodafone store to renew my contract as I / my company has dealt with that firm since 1990. I have had Nokia phones for much of that time, but recently it became a Windows Nokia, so I prefer their system, with also Windows 10 on my PC. I do not want to change, but by the sounds of it I will have to as IT has moved on with Windows being left behind in the phone market

Shame

[Doctor Gollum]

Either you have an iPhone or you don't    To be clear iPhone aren't made by Nokia, and they most certainly don't use Windows

[Lizzie Zoom]

Whatever people call IPhones,  my phone has a touch screen, I can view the Internet, send emails, have apps that give me all kinds of access to information, along with interaction and a digital camera.

It is not made by Apple, but why can't I still use the generic term then of "iPhone" for my all singing and dancing device that does all that an Apple phone does which experts tell me is fading from the market anyway. What is so special about what you believe an iPhone is?

Not being funny; just asking as I see little difference.

I have an Apple IPad so I know what functions that has, which actually my Nokia Windows Lumia 930 has on a smaller screen scale