PC users point the finger at Microsoft over latest virus outbreak

By Stuart Finlayson

Aug 19, 2005: Almost as many people blame Microsoft for this week's worm attacks against businesses across the globe, which exploit a newly discovered vulnerability in the software giant's code, as the virus writers themselves.

A web poll of more than 1,000 business PC users, carried out by anti-virus software vendor Sophos, has revealed that 35 percent of respondents blame Microsoft for the outbreak, compared to the 45 percent that hold the virus writers responsible for the 19 worms, which all take advantage of the same flaw. Systems administrators are also feeling the wrath, with 20 percent of respondents blaming them for not patching systems quickly enough.

"The majority of users believe that the virus writer has to take the ultimate blame for deliberately creating and unleashing this worm to wreak havoc on poorly protected businesses," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. "But what is most surprising is that so many people blame Microsoft for having the software flaw in the first place. Users' anger is perhaps understandable as Microsoft's security problems and their consequences are felt by businesses the world over. Many respondents appear to be incredibly frustrated by the constant need to roll-out emergency patches across their organisations."

Cluley acknowledges that Microsoft often find themselves having to deal with a catch 22-type situation when it comes to dealing with such threats.

"Microsoft is stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to vulnerabilities. When it goes public about its security holes, a virus can be written to exploit them and many businesses may not have rolled out the patch. If it kept quiet, someone could still write a virus and everyone would ask why Microsoft hadn't warned anyone of the vulnerability."

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