Do you love conspiracy theories? Well, try to debunk this one.
Microsoft makes money solely from the license of its windows software which can be easily pirated. Apple does not suffer from this problem because Apple forces you to buy overpriced hardware, -like buying motor-oil in a gas station, and since you can't buy the hardware without software, so Apple does not have to worry about piracy. But for Microsoft this is a huge problem. OK, so far I am just stating facts. Obviously, Microsoft has a problem, -much like Hollywood, -it has to stop the piracy.
The conspiracy theory: Some genius in Microsoft came up with a brilliant plan. Microsoft will unleash viruses which will be utilizing holes in its browser (IE) and annoy users. And Microsoft will then release patches and fixes, .... but .... only after verifying the license! So Microsoft will effectively sabotage unlicensed versions by making them slow.
Why do I think Microsoft created the viruses?
1. Well, if you are a software engineer (which I am) you quickly realize that writing a virus (which is actually just a program that exploits a hole) is not easy, -at least not for a software that goes through as much quality testing as Microsoft does. The virus writer needs to know intricate details of the operating system and the browser application, knowledge that is not available in books, -but well known to Microsoft employees in the appropriate areas. And there are not too many experts outside Microsoft who know these details, -even game and application developers do not need to know these details.
2. For every virus, Microsoft has a fix. This is very unusual. As a software engineer, you also know that some holes, if discovered too late, are impossible to fix without huge changes to the software. But Microsoft has been fixing holes on a surprisingly predictable and reliable pace.
3. Why write a virus if there is no money in it. To date, not a single virus has actually made any money for the author (rumors aside). There has been instances of 'phishing', but that is not using virus, thats just fooling people into actually giving their credentials. So the only motivation for the writer, other than the sick joy of annoying thousands of strangers, is with Microsoft, -which is hoping to annoy pirated copy users to buy a license and get the fixes.
But Microsoft's plan backfired. It gave the company the reputation of creating virus-prone software, which Apple took advantage of, presenting itself as 'robust'. The Internet is by design, robust, -all one has to do is to not open up holes. So Apple doesn't even have to do anything!
So Microsoft has stopped the virus campaign, for now.
There you have it. A conspiracy theory involving a big company, a righteous need to protect itself and unforeseen consequences that the conspirators never imagined!
Go ahead, -try to debunk it.
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