God I hate Bill Gates

If there is any group or organization that combines hubris and incompetence to as dangerous level as the Bush administration it would be Bill Gates and Microsoft. This morning we find out that 90% of the worlds computers are compromised.
Windows Security Flaw Is 'Severe'

A previously unknown flaw in Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system is leaving computer users vulnerable to spyware, viruses and other programs that could overtake their machines and has sent the company scrambling to come up with a fix.

Microsoft said in a statement yesterday that it is investigating the vulnerability and plans to issue a software patch to fix the problem. The company could not say how soon that patch would be available.

In the past users had to do something stupid before their computers would be infected but not now. Just surfing the web or reading your email will do it.

Unlike with previously revealed vulnerabilities, computers can be infected simply by visiting one of the Web sites or viewing an infected image in an e-mail through the preview pane in older versions of Microsoft Outlook, even if users did not click on anything or open any files. Operating system versions ranging from the current Windows XP to Windows 98 are affected.

Other operating systems like MAC OS and Linux are not impacted but in all honesty that may simply be because with less than 10% of the world's computers using them they are simply not worth the effort. I quit using Outlook for email years ago and I suggest that everyone else does to. I have for the most part switched from IE to Netscape, Firefox or Opera as my web browser. This points out the problem with Microsoft's virtual monopoly on the worlds computers. It is time to look at multiple but compatible operating systems. Microsoft won't like it but there is too much at stake.