According to IT World Canada, "Microsoft Corp. has quietly released an update to Windows XP to fix a potentially serious configuration problem in the firewall that ships as part of Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). Users who installed SP2 on their Windows XP machines and also have file and printer sharing enabled may have been sharing their files and printers with the entire Internet, according to Microsoft."

As tempting as it might be to slag Microsith over this, I do understand that they are caught in a fundamental contradiction. Microsoft grew fat and happy on providing 'easy' and 'convenient' software for a mass market. Enterprise priorities are different. And now you add to the mix that people SAY they want security, but ACT and BUY for price and convenience. What's a company based on old style, pre-Cluetrain marketing to do?

I don't know, but I do know that until we have some general consensus on how to understand and specify our individual and corporate requirements on privacy, security, and ease of use software companies are going to continue to be caught between a rock and a hard place. On the other hand, sitting on the pile of cash that they are, even the that place has to be pretty comfortable for Microsoft.

¶ 1:18 p.m.