[geeks] "Patch previews"

[Patrick Giagnocavo]

Phil Stracchino wrote:
> On 05/19/10 20:45, der Mouse wrote:
>> You appear to be operating under the misconception that the purpose of
>> this move was to improve security on the net in general.  I don't
>> believe that for a moment; I fully expect that this, like damn near
>> everything Microsoft does, was done for precisely one reason: to
>> increase their bottom line.
>>
>> I don't know _why_ Microsoft thinks that not doing this is likely to
>> cost them more than the (doubtless significant) costs of arranging the
>> access, but I'm quite sure they do, or they wouldn't've done it.
> 
> The question I'm really asking here is, if they're making that advance
> technical information available to the government and to whoever
> Microsoft thinks is a "crucial" service provider who needs it, does it
> really cost any more to just give *everyone* access to it?
> 
> 

Isn't a more likely case that MS is more than happy to have "beta
testers" for free?

Imagine, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars, of free
testing, some (.gov) paid for by your tax dollars, for MS to fix their
broken and insecure software.

--Patrick