What Linux can learn from Windows

In three months, Microsoft users will finally reap benefits from the company’s new focus on security. The release of the second major update to
Windows XP answers many long-standing design criticisms of its operating system.

But this was not a pain-free learning exercise. Indeed, Microsoft paid a steep price in the coin of user dissatisfaction–and in some cases, lasting
mistrust.

In September 2001, the Nimda worm spread throughout networks worldwide, leading corporate customers–including many financial firms–to chastise
Microsoft for failing to plug vulnerabilities in its code.