"Danny Boy" blathered...
I didn't know that it's a spreadsheet because I didn't download it to find out. It was in a ZIP file.
I could make my own. I can handle data from any source. Spreadsheet, database, XML, you name it. If it's data, I can access it, parse it, chop it up 50 different ways and spew it back at you.
You made an incorrect assumption about my knowledge of computers.
Not only were you wrong, you were loud and wrong.
I have been in the computer industry for over 15 years myself. The last 8 at Microsoft as a developer. You may not like Microsoft's business practices or some of the management-level decisions regarding our products, but I believe that most people in the industry would agree that as developers, we ain't too shabby.
spreadsheet from Open Office Org.
Don't need it, thanks for offering. I've got real software.
experience with computers.
Not using any sort of anti-virus software (which your statement implied) is like playing Russian Roulette. With your experience, you should know that a virus can strike anyone, anytime, anywhere. Does "Code Red" or "Melissa" ring a bell. I even heard recently that there is a new virus that gets imbedded into JPG files. If that is true (I have not confirmed it), then all of the Internet is vulnerable. All you'd have to do is go to the web site. You wouldn't even have to download anything. Or just one piece of spam gets thru you filters and boom.
I never said that this company (NirvanaTec) was in any way being malicious or less than honest. I simply said that, as users, we should perform our due diligence in trying to mitigate the "potential" threat. I have no way of knowing if NirvanaTec's web host implements good security practices.
I do think that, as a company, as much information as possible (i.e. screen shots, etc) should be available on their web site in order for customers to determine if a product is meets their needs before ever having to download a single file. Just good practice. Saves bandwidth (which a lot of web host charge for), saves customer time (don't have to download, install, evaluate, uninstall, etc), and it reduce the possibility for virus exchange (good for all parties).
Security issues on the Internet have been sorely lacking for a long time. As the honeymoon is over, it's time for everyone to do their part to correct this.
Businesses (large and small) need to consider good security practices to be a value-add for whatever product or service they provide.
Consumers need to realize that their data and identity are at risk with every mouse click and do what they can by installing and using anti-virus software in addition to firewall/anti-intrusion software.
This is not war people. To win this, everyone must support it. And everyone must participate.
I am here at Microsoft, doing my part to fix security issues in my product and to keep others motivated to do the same.
So, going to a website (suggested out of the blue by someone you have never heard of before) to download and run software from a unknown company is perfectly safe, eh? Was your "quarter century of experience" in sales or marketing?
Thought so. Pity.
I'd love to stay and make you cry some more. but I gotta go. Someone brought in Krispy Kremes.
codepath