SCO tries to improve image
January 28, 2004 10:24 AM Subscribe
Is SCO, the most hated company in tech attempting to improve it's image by offering a bounty for the creator of MyDoom virus? Now being considered the fastest growing virus ever. Can companies with a similarly low public perception *cough* win favor by similar good deeds?
well considering that the virus is programmed to DDoS SCO's website its hardly a 'good deed'
posted by MrLint at 10:34 AM on January 28, 2004
posted by MrLint at 10:34 AM on January 28, 2004
The only reason SCO is offering a bounty is because the virus installs a trojan that will DDOS sco.com on the 1st of Feb.
posted by PenDevil at 10:35 AM on January 28, 2004
posted by PenDevil at 10:35 AM on January 28, 2004
It's important to note that MyDoom turns infected hosts into DDoS drones that launch an attack on SCOG's website. (on preview, like everyone else says.)
Also, SCOG CEO Darl McBride has taken this opportunity to imply in the press that MyDoom was written solely to attack poor li'l ole SCO by the legion of innovation-hating intellectual-property-stealing Linux-using communist bastards, while it appears much more likely that the SCOG DDoS is a diversion to keep people from paying attention to MyDoom's real zombie effect - turning infected hosts into spam drones.
posted by Vetinari at 10:37 AM on January 28, 2004
Also, SCOG CEO Darl McBride has taken this opportunity to imply in the press that MyDoom was written solely to attack poor li'l ole SCO by the legion of innovation-hating intellectual-property-stealing Linux-using communist bastards, while it appears much more likely that the SCOG DDoS is a diversion to keep people from paying attention to MyDoom's real zombie effect - turning infected hosts into spam drones.
posted by Vetinari at 10:37 AM on January 28, 2004
But, to add to the echoes, Microsoft is not being all that selfless either, seeing as the viri in question are blatant and public demonstrations of how bad their software is:
Microsoft has suffered declining sales and widespread criticism because Blaster and some other computer bugs exploit holes in its Windows operating system.
posted by badstone at 10:58 AM on January 28, 2004
Microsoft has suffered declining sales and widespread criticism because Blaster and some other computer bugs exploit holes in its Windows operating system.
posted by badstone at 10:58 AM on January 28, 2004
The Internet has begun to see the Canopy Group as damage and it attempting to route around them . . .
posted by Ryvar at 11:33 AM on January 28, 2004
posted by Ryvar at 11:33 AM on January 28, 2004
SCO did this to themselves, the virus attacks them and they want to be lauded for attempting to fight back against the backlash of their stupid attempts to derail Linux?
I saw push them back under and watch them flounder some more.
I think, if anything, their reaction will encourage more virus writing wankers to target companies with bad images like MS, the RIAA, Big Tobacco and others.
posted by fenriq at 11:33 AM on January 28, 2004
I saw push them back under and watch them flounder some more.
I think, if anything, their reaction will encourage more virus writing wankers to target companies with bad images like MS, the RIAA, Big Tobacco and others.
posted by fenriq at 11:33 AM on January 28, 2004
Viruses do work to change peoples choice in software. Case in point, My Aunts computer is infected with a virus that every time she runs Outlook the modem disconnects. Rather than fool with trying to find and get rid of it, I just had her use Mozzila. Because I know so many viruses target Outlook, and not because i have any love of Mozzila, but why fight it. I imagine this happens a lot.
posted by stbalbach at 11:35 AM on January 28, 2004
posted by stbalbach at 11:35 AM on January 28, 2004
SCO did this to themselves, the virus attacks them and they want to be lauded for attempting to fight back against the backlash of their stupid attempts to derail Linux?
The problem is, this cuts both ways. The emergence of this virus supports SCO's idea that Linux users / programmers are just a bunch of thieving script kiddies. Which is rubbish, of course, but that's the line they will be taking.
posted by Jimbob at 11:39 AM on January 28, 2004
The problem is, this cuts both ways. The emergence of this virus supports SCO's idea that Linux users / programmers are just a bunch of thieving script kiddies. Which is rubbish, of course, but that's the line they will be taking.
posted by Jimbob at 11:39 AM on January 28, 2004
The only reason SCO is offering a bounty is because they know they'll be bankrupt in a few months and they won't have to pay.
Would you take a check from these losers?
posted by y6y6y6 at 11:54 AM on January 28, 2004
Would you take a check from these losers?
posted by y6y6y6 at 11:54 AM on January 28, 2004
Would you take a check from these losers?
I'll take their money.
posted by vbfg at 12:18 PM on January 28, 2004
I'll take their money.
posted by vbfg at 12:18 PM on January 28, 2004
"Yeah! They were asking for it! It's OK to perform a criminal act, because we don't like the way they do business!"
Feh. Nothing like social acceptance of vigilantism. Would any of you in favor of this action set fire to a Ford dealership because their cars suck? Or blow up a Denny's because they can't figure out how to serve decent french fries?
posted by FormlessOne at 12:42 PM on January 28, 2004
Feh. Nothing like social acceptance of vigilantism. Would any of you in favor of this action set fire to a Ford dealership because their cars suck? Or blow up a Denny's because they can't figure out how to serve decent french fries?
posted by FormlessOne at 12:42 PM on January 28, 2004
While I do think this virus is a terrible way to approach the problem, it does seem to be pushing the whole SCO debacle into the general public consciousness for the first time.
posted by ph00dz at 1:11 PM on January 28, 2004
posted by ph00dz at 1:11 PM on January 28, 2004
Formless, L.A. has an eco-vigilante-terrorist group that sets fire to Hummer dealerships. But around here, you have to expect that kind of extremism... and I'm talking about the Hummer dealers.
Strangely, about 80% of the spam I've gotten at wendellwit.com in the last week are trojancondoms horses carrying MyDoom .zip files. The last time I saw so many "Error Messages" in my inbox, a pornspammer had spoofed my yahoo address to do a Paris Hilton mass-mailing... It's things like these that make me feel connected to the internet culture...
posted by wendell at 1:13 PM on January 28, 2004
Strangely, about 80% of the spam I've gotten at wendellwit.com in the last week are trojan
posted by wendell at 1:13 PM on January 28, 2004
...a similarly low public perception...
omidius, I find that Microsoft only has a low public perception among Linux zeolots who are dedicated to destroying it. The perception of the company among businesses, and especially among average users, is fairly high.
Would any of you in favor of this action set fire to a Ford dealership because their cars suck? Or blow up a Denny's because they can't figure out how to serve decent french fries?
FormlessOne, I agree that this stupid virus is the worst form of protest. However, your examples above don't quite match up. People are angry at SCO not because they don't like their products, but because the company is essentially trying to destroy the concept of open source software through frivolous litigation. Aside from litigation, some would argue that SCO doesn't even really have a business anymore.
posted by tirade at 1:14 PM on January 28, 2004
omidius, I find that Microsoft only has a low public perception among Linux zeolots who are dedicated to destroying it. The perception of the company among businesses, and especially among average users, is fairly high.
Would any of you in favor of this action set fire to a Ford dealership because their cars suck? Or blow up a Denny's because they can't figure out how to serve decent french fries?
FormlessOne, I agree that this stupid virus is the worst form of protest. However, your examples above don't quite match up. People are angry at SCO not because they don't like their products, but because the company is essentially trying to destroy the concept of open source software through frivolous litigation. Aside from litigation, some would argue that SCO doesn't even really have a business anymore.
posted by tirade at 1:14 PM on January 28, 2004
The perception of the company among businesses, and especially among average users, is fairly high.
Where are you from, tirade? My experiences run counter to that claim. Many of the companies I've come into contact with view MS as a necessary evil (at best), others as a price-gouging 800 lb. gorilla. And I'm sure the ones with the "fairly high perceptions" have never been visited by the BSA.
The average user doesn't know any better and uses whatever comes installed on their PC; they have very little perception of MS, period.
But you're right about SCO's business.
posted by tommasz at 1:32 PM on January 28, 2004
Where are you from, tirade? My experiences run counter to that claim. Many of the companies I've come into contact with view MS as a necessary evil (at best), others as a price-gouging 800 lb. gorilla. And I'm sure the ones with the "fairly high perceptions" have never been visited by the BSA.
The average user doesn't know any better and uses whatever comes installed on their PC; they have very little perception of MS, period.
But you're right about SCO's business.
posted by tommasz at 1:32 PM on January 28, 2004
don't have time to read the above comments: SCO isn't offering the bounty out of niceness, the mydoom virus is set to DDOS their domain on feb 12.
posted by Tryptophan-5ht at 2:17 PM on January 28, 2004
posted by Tryptophan-5ht at 2:17 PM on January 28, 2004
damn, just read the *first* post... ignore me.
posted by Tryptophan-5ht at 2:19 PM on January 28, 2004
posted by Tryptophan-5ht at 2:19 PM on January 28, 2004
Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating virus writing or attacking any company who's policies someone doesn't agree with. Or person, for that matter. But I will admit to chuckling a bit that someone out there is outraged enough to do so.
But the fact is that SCO has brought all of this heat upon themselves by attacking the Linux and Open Source pre-emptively in a mad rush of greed.
The best way to show displeasure in a company is to pay it no attention.
posted by fenriq at 3:22 PM on January 28, 2004
But the fact is that SCO has brought all of this heat upon themselves by attacking the Linux and Open Source pre-emptively in a mad rush of greed.
The best way to show displeasure in a company is to pay it no attention.
posted by fenriq at 3:22 PM on January 28, 2004
My experiences run counter to that claim. Many of the companies I've come into contact with view MS as a necessary evil (at best), others as a price-gouging 800 lb. gorilla.
Well, I'm not saying everyone out there is cheerleading for Microsoft, but I don't see much severe dissatisfaction with Office or Windows, either. Certainly not enough to get people switching to Mac/Linux in droves. ...At least until the aforementioned BSA comes knocking.
The average user doesn't know any better and uses whatever comes installed on their PC; they have very little perception of MS, period.
I find they have a perception that Microsoft stuff is the stuff to get. It's not an informed perception, but it's definitely a perception, or they'd probably be selling more Macs.
posted by tirade at 4:07 PM on January 28, 2004
Well, I'm not saying everyone out there is cheerleading for Microsoft, but I don't see much severe dissatisfaction with Office or Windows, either. Certainly not enough to get people switching to Mac/Linux in droves. ...At least until the aforementioned BSA comes knocking.
The average user doesn't know any better and uses whatever comes installed on their PC; they have very little perception of MS, period.
I find they have a perception that Microsoft stuff is the stuff to get. It's not an informed perception, but it's definitely a perception, or they'd probably be selling more Macs.
posted by tirade at 4:07 PM on January 28, 2004
Seems somebody's developed time travel. The first link points to an article dated February 2nd 2004 :)
posted by kaemaril at 4:37 PM on January 28, 2004
posted by kaemaril at 4:37 PM on January 28, 2004
I find that Microsoft only has a low public perception among Linux zeolots who are dedicated to destroying it.
Study: Small businesses wary of Microsoft
posted by inpHilltr8r at 4:58 PM on January 28, 2004
Study: Small businesses wary of Microsoft
posted by inpHilltr8r at 4:58 PM on January 28, 2004
Hey! Isn't that virus supposed to attack SCO servers??
Did anyone mention that?
I hope they catch them after the date, that way SCO loses their server, and then loses their money.
Will the shareholders demand that money back after their ridiculous case falls through and their stock-price plummets?
posted by cinderful at 5:24 PM on January 28, 2004
Did anyone mention that?
I hope they catch them after the date, that way SCO loses their server, and then loses their money.
Will the shareholders demand that money back after their ridiculous case falls through and their stock-price plummets?
posted by cinderful at 5:24 PM on January 28, 2004
I find that Microsoft only has a low public perception among Linux zeolots who are dedicated to destroying it.
Don't confuse the productive Linux development community with the loudmouths on web forums who bag on MS all day. They aren't the same people. Most of the skilled and competent open-source developers who are actually doing productive work are not in it to "destroy" anyone; the two enthusiasms are not compatible and are rarely found in the same person. A great many Linux developers dislike MS, often for good and sound reasons, but you don't write code to "destroy" someone, you write code because you want software that works the way you think it should work.
posted by George_Spiggott at 5:28 PM on January 28, 2004
Don't confuse the productive Linux development community with the loudmouths on web forums who bag on MS all day. They aren't the same people. Most of the skilled and competent open-source developers who are actually doing productive work are not in it to "destroy" anyone; the two enthusiasms are not compatible and are rarely found in the same person. A great many Linux developers dislike MS, often for good and sound reasons, but you don't write code to "destroy" someone, you write code because you want software that works the way you think it should work.
posted by George_Spiggott at 5:28 PM on January 28, 2004
Don't confuse the productive Linux development community with the loudmouths on web forums who bag on MS all day. They aren't the same people.
I'm well aware, and I didn't mean to give that impression. I've just noticed that there seems to be a strong contingent in the open source community that spends more time obsessing over Microsoft than writing software. For those people, its not enough that Linux grows, Microsoft must also fail.
To me, a lot of the real open source hackers seem pretty indifferent to Microsoft. But at the end of the day they probably have a negative impression as well, so you're right.
posted by tirade at 6:12 PM on January 28, 2004
I'm well aware, and I didn't mean to give that impression. I've just noticed that there seems to be a strong contingent in the open source community that spends more time obsessing over Microsoft than writing software. For those people, its not enough that Linux grows, Microsoft must also fail.
To me, a lot of the real open source hackers seem pretty indifferent to Microsoft. But at the end of the day they probably have a negative impression as well, so you're right.
posted by tirade at 6:12 PM on January 28, 2004
I find that Microsoft only has a good public image among Microsoft zealots who are dedicated to making money off it.
(Of course, they're much better-liked than SCO will ever be.)
posted by sfenders at 6:53 PM on January 28, 2004
(Of course, they're much better-liked than SCO will ever be.)
posted by sfenders at 6:53 PM on January 28, 2004
I don't see much severe dissatisfaction with Office or Windows
If you want to confirm this, just have a look at the job ads in your local paper and how many of them require skills with MS applications. If there was any real dissatisfaction (which is not always the opposite of satisfaction), this would not be the case.
posted by dg at 9:26 PM on January 28, 2004
If you want to confirm this, just have a look at the job ads in your local paper and how many of them require skills with MS applications. If there was any real dissatisfaction (which is not always the opposite of satisfaction), this would not be the case.
posted by dg at 9:26 PM on January 28, 2004
So does Linux contain 800,000 lines of SCO code? If it does it should be removed, if it doesn't then the law suite will fail.
Its amazing that the the Open Source community should get so annoyed about someone trying to maintain copyright when the whole basis of that same community is the GPL.
posted by lilburne at 4:29 AM on January 29, 2004
Its amazing that the the Open Source community should get so annoyed about someone trying to maintain copyright when the whole basis of that same community is the GPL.
posted by lilburne at 4:29 AM on January 29, 2004
lilburne - "Its amazing that the the Open Source community should get so annoyed about someone trying to maintain copyright when the whole basis of that same community is the GPL."
Actually, the Open Source community is annoyed because SCO has been making wild claims and refusing to provide any evidence. One recent example would be claiming copyright on files that Linus Torvalds himself wrote, when he hadn't ever seen Unix code.
SCO's lawsuit will fail (they're getting severely slapped around in court by IBM right now), but in the meantime they're pissing off the Open Source community by a) trying to steal work that isn't theirs, b) defaming Open Source developers, c) violating the GPL, and d) spreading lies about the GPL.
I write proprietary software, not open source software, but SCO has still pissed me off with their behavior. I don't want to see them get DDoS'ed though, I just want to see them get crushed in court.
posted by tdismukes at 6:10 AM on January 29, 2004
Actually, the Open Source community is annoyed because SCO has been making wild claims and refusing to provide any evidence. One recent example would be claiming copyright on files that Linus Torvalds himself wrote, when he hadn't ever seen Unix code.
SCO's lawsuit will fail (they're getting severely slapped around in court by IBM right now), but in the meantime they're pissing off the Open Source community by a) trying to steal work that isn't theirs, b) defaming Open Source developers, c) violating the GPL, and d) spreading lies about the GPL.
I write proprietary software, not open source software, but SCO has still pissed me off with their behavior. I don't want to see them get DDoS'ed though, I just want to see them get crushed in court.
posted by tdismukes at 6:10 AM on January 29, 2004
So does Linux contain 800,000 lines of SCO code?
No, it doesn't.
It seems like they came up with that number by counting all the lines in every file in which the string "@ibm.com" appears, or some equally silly technique. Their latest list of files is much smaller, but no less ludicrous, as tdismukes mentioned.
Not that this latest email worm has anything to do with that. It's just another internet pathogen of the usual kind. McBride's attempt to link it to freaky Linux loyalists has just furthered SCO's image of dishonesty and malice, since the actual evidence now points elsewhere.
posted by sfenders at 8:55 AM on January 29, 2004
No, it doesn't.
It seems like they came up with that number by counting all the lines in every file in which the string "@ibm.com" appears, or some equally silly technique. Their latest list of files is much smaller, but no less ludicrous, as tdismukes mentioned.
Not that this latest email worm has anything to do with that. It's just another internet pathogen of the usual kind. McBride's attempt to link it to freaky Linux loyalists has just furthered SCO's image of dishonesty and malice, since the actual evidence now points elsewhere.
posted by sfenders at 8:55 AM on January 29, 2004
If you want to confirm this, just have a look at the job ads in your local paper and how many of them require skills with MS applications. If there was any real dissatisfaction (which is not always the opposite of satisfaction), this would not be the case.
Someone is missing the concept of "lock-in" and "monopoly".
posted by inpHilltr8r at 11:19 AM on January 29, 2004
Someone is missing the concept of "lock-in" and "monopoly".
posted by inpHilltr8r at 11:19 AM on January 29, 2004
Not missing the concepts at all - just looking at the situation realistically and without rose-tinted glasses. Whether or not this situation is a good thing is a whole other discussion.
posted by dg at 7:24 PM on January 29, 2004
posted by dg at 7:24 PM on January 29, 2004
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posted by machaus at 10:33 AM on January 28, 2004