Every single time the topic of Microsoft's security track record has come up on HN, I've waded in to point out what a great job Microsoft has done. Here's one of my highest rated comments from several years ago:
Now, I don't disagree with your general point: Microsoft gets more scrutiny than Apple does on HN about security, and Apple enjoys an inflated perception of platform security here --- I attribute that to a general Unix bias, by the way, and not to Apple fandom.
But please be careful to note that I'm not a part of that phenomenon. You will, if you dig, find comments of mine that are critical of Apple security; you will probably not find comments critical of Microsoft's security practices.
(To be clear: securing a whole platform is an incredibly difficult job, and platform software security talent is some of the hardest to find in the whole industry; both Apple and Microsoft take this stuff seriously and, compared to 2002, both do a fantastic job. Also: the security of the iOS platform is a different story than of the OS X platform.)
I don't see how comment history makes a separate comment more truthful. If anything, it makes people less likely to have proper critical thinking because they know you.
Which is exactly what he points out about your comment, but related to Apple. You know Apple thus you're less likely to criticize them properly.
It doesn't mean what you wrote is entirely wrong, but I think he has a point. MS is very harshly criticized for any security issue, no matter how small, and hey, that's probably a good thing.
For Apple if there's any possibility we find them.. excuses.. really? (and the "I don't know anyone who used file vault before!" sounds terrible, to be honest)
tptacek has been the most prominent defender of Microsoft's security practices on HN for years. Everything you guys are saying about how Apple get off easy while MS get slammed, he has said repeatedly and more coherently. And out of direct experience to boot.
It just didn't happen to be - and still isn't - relevant here.
My point is that it doesn't matter.
For example if you follow my thread of comments some are going to be rated way up and actually be pretty insightful.
You'll notice sometimes I'm also wrong and make errors. You could get a strong opinion of me either way (good, or bad) by reading that.
If we were to know pretty well each person (like they do in smaller forums or places where the nickname and history is highlighted), we'd always agree and disagree with the same persons in general (there's always exceptions).
And the person's reply was made on a single post, which I think is the way to go.
I don't know if HN nicks are small and history not as easy to follow as in some other sites on purpose, but I like it.
Now, I've been way off topic, sorry :)
Slightly more on topic tho: MS ain't perfect security wise either, even thus they've made huge progress. Microsoft research also has very interesting attempts such as Singularity or Gazelle. I don't know any other company doing that. That's one place I'd want to work for MS.
Microsoft may be pretty good in reacting to security issues,
but many of the holes are results of mind-bogglingly stupid
design decisions that are in a class of their own. ActiveX, anyone?
http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=577684
Now, I don't disagree with your general point: Microsoft gets more scrutiny than Apple does on HN about security, and Apple enjoys an inflated perception of platform security here --- I attribute that to a general Unix bias, by the way, and not to Apple fandom.
But please be careful to note that I'm not a part of that phenomenon. You will, if you dig, find comments of mine that are critical of Apple security; you will probably not find comments critical of Microsoft's security practices.
(To be clear: securing a whole platform is an incredibly difficult job, and platform software security talent is some of the hardest to find in the whole industry; both Apple and Microsoft take this stuff seriously and, compared to 2002, both do a fantastic job. Also: the security of the iOS platform is a different story than of the OS X platform.)