Leader: Microsoft too popular for our own good

Symantec's CEO offered an interesting defence of Microsoft this week... and even managed to sound like he was putting the boot in while he did it.

John Thompson, CEO of Symantec, likened virus writers to graffiti artists – and the operating systems targeted as the surfaces they vandalise.

"If somebody writes graffiti they're not going to write it on a wall at the end of a dead-end alley. They're going to write it on a train that travels right through the city centre."

The analogy is clear. Microsoft is a victim of its own success. And so, therefore, are we. Because of the monopoly Microsoft has achieved on desktop software it has pretty much secured a monopoly on virus attacks.

But this wasn't Microsoft-bashing - it was a heavy dose of reality.

Thompson raised eyebrows, going so far as to say the perception of Linux as safer is purely "a myth". It's a good - if highly contentious - point. Linux is certainly perceived as safer because there are fewer attacks; because there isn't the same potential for maximum damage.

Speaking to silicon.com in London this week, Thompson betrayed a fondness for car analogies. So here's one right back. A run-down old car which never gets stolen isn't more secure per se than a BMW or Mercedes, it is simply a less desirable target. As defences go it's not much, but it is Microsoft's best shot.

It's certainly an issue which will see fur fly in the IT industry. The pro-Linux lobby will hit out at such a statement as being unfounded and ridiculous. The pro-Microsoft lobby will doubtless concur that with ubiquity and popularity comes susceptibility. (Neither will be able to conclusively prove their argument.)

Though it could also be argued, with an old cliché, that with great power comes great responsibility - and Microsoft could certainly be accused of failing in its responsibilities, despite the move towards its 'trustworthy computing' initiative.

Knocking Microsoft for its record on security is almost passé now. At times it seems too tired, lazy and predictable to write the words. But Thompson's take on matters is interesting - and refreshing to hear from somebody on his side of the fence.

Too many rivals would throw the name of Microsoft out there and give a look to the audience laden with 'tell me about it' sentiments regarding how remiss the software giant has been in recent years - but it doesn't really get us anywhere closer to secure computing.

To understand the specific challenges is far more constructive. Like it or not the majority of computer users are Microsoft customers. Hence the majority of malware is written to attack the Windows operating systems and specific Microsoft vulnerabilities.