From: guninski at guninski.com (Georgi Guninski)
Subject: Microsoft runs early April Fools ad

IMHO it is dumb for them to trouble troubles before troubles trouble them.

Georgi

yossarian wrote:
> They've run similar ads in the Netherlands. No one objected though. Finding
> an independent specialist to prove or disprove it will be hard, i guess,
> since either you say it is secure, and you lose your credibility, or you say
> it is insecure, and when people stop using MS, you lose a major part of the
> business.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Richard M. Smith" <rms@...puterbytesman.com>
> To: <full-disclosure@...ts.netsys.com>
> Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2003 5:01 AM
> Subject: [Full-Disclosure] Microsoft runs early April Fools ad
> 
> 
> 
>>http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/business/2003/0303201315.asp?A=SFT&S=Sof
>>tware&T=Section&O=FPSH
>>
>>Microsoft ad pulled by ASA
>>
>>The Advertising Standards Authority of SA (ASA) has ordered that a
>>Microsoft ad implying that its software will bring about the extinction
>>of the hacker is to be pulled for being "unsubstantiated and
>>misleading".
>>
>>An objection was lodged by freelance journalist Richard Clarke, in his
>>personal capacity, who complained that the advert was untrue. He claimed
>>Microsoft software is littered with vulnerabilities.
>>
>>The advert depicts a dodo, a woolly mammoth, a sabre tooth tiger and a
>>hacker. The caption claims that not everyone benefits from Microsoft
>>software and that with it, a customer's data couldn't be safer even if
>>it was kept in a safe. It was published in the November issues of ITWeb
>>Brainstorm and Time Magazine.
>>
>>"Microsoft's software is littered with vulnerabilities," Clarke says in
>>his submission.
>>
>>Microsoft was asked by the ASA to provide information, substantiated by
>>an independent, credible expert, on the degree of security of its
>>software in accordance with Code of Advertising Practices. Microsoft was
>>also asked to defend the advert against Clarke's claim that the advert
>>was misleading.
>>
>>Microsoft submitted documentation to substantiate its claims about the
>>security of the software and said the advert was not designed to mislead
>>the consumer, but was merely a tongue in cheek dramatisation that the
>>software would threaten the survival of hackers.
>>
>>After reviewing both parties' submissions, the ASA ruled that
>>Microsoft's claims about the security of its software were
>>unsubstantiated as it had not been evaluated by an independent entity.
>>The ASA ruling said because the claim was unsubstantiated, it was
>>therefore misleading and ordered the advert to be withdrawn.
>>
>>Steyn Laubscher, Microsoft account director at Lowe Bull Advertising
>>agency, says Microsoft is in the process of having Windows XP
>>Professional and Windows .Net server 2003 evaluated by independent
>>experts against the common criteria.
>>
>>"Substantial information was submitted from our US office, backing up
>>the claims. Our survey data are still in the process of being evaluated
>>by independent experts and we informed the ASA of that. However, the ASA
>>still ordered the ad withdrawn."
>>
>>Laubscher says despite the decision, Microsoft fully maintains that its
>>software is able to fulfil the task of keeping hackers and viruses out,
>>making the customers' data safer than if kept in a safe.
>>
>>Clarke described Microsoft's claim as "laughable".
>>
>>The advert was to be run this year in a number of broad-reaching
>>business publications, including Business Day, the Financial Mail and
>>Business Report.
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Full-Disclosure - We believe in it.
>>Charter: http://lists.netsys.com/full-disclosure-charter.html
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Full-Disclosure - We believe in it.
> Charter: http://lists.netsys.com/full-disclosure-charter.html
> 
> 

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