"Everyone Wants to 'Own' Your PC"

Direct Link To Article: http://www.wired.com/politics/security/commentary/securitymatters/2006/05/70802?currentPage=1

"There is enormous political and economic power behind the idea that you shouldn't truly own your computer or your software, despite having paid for it."  People believe that buying a computer, makes it theirs. You are made to believe that what you do with your computer, is up to you. You can play music, play movies, use the Internet, do work, and much more. What many people don't realize, however, is that many of the systems and programs on computers are used to limit what you can do.

In the article from Wired called "Everyone Wants to 'Own' Your PC", they explain how all the different programs attempt to "own" your computer. The entertainment on computers is a huge way for companies to attempt to "own" a computer. One example of a company that restricted what you could do with a CD you purchased, was Sony. They put out Cd's with a rootkit, which secretly installed software onto computers restricting what you could do with the music. Itunes is similar in the way that you can only use purchased Itunes songs on an Ipod. The rootkit was originally used by hackers that wanted to control others' PCs. What is really surprising, is that some antivirus systems, mainly Symantec, did not find the rootkits, simply because Sony said not to. Even the spyware on your computer is someone trying to own your PC, letting whoever made the software know everything you do on your computer.

With the internet, Microsoft can let you block spam from your email, but not Microsoft's advertising. With internet explorer Microsoft has built-in pop-up blockers and cookie handling, but it sells advertising as well. The new Windows Vista even ships off their firewall systems with nearly half of the protection off. Microsoft claims it is what enterprises demand, but the most likely real reason is so DRM and Adware aren't automatically blocked. The people to buy the PC will half to go find the settings for them and actually turn on the firewalls. Just trusting companies with the automatic updates on PC's makes it easier for them to attempt "ownership". 

The worst thing about all of these different companies trying to assume ownership is that the more they try to limit what you can do on your computer, or what you can use with which software, the less security you have on your PC. All of the attempted control makes it so you don't even know what's going on. This makes it easier for hackers to stroll upon your computer and actually send all kinds of viruses or spam without you knowing why. As the article says, "(it) will transform your computer into a glorified boob tube." With all of the different programs trying to do what they want, you don't know what's going on and they can interact badly, and make it so many people can see what you are doing.