A Los Angeles woman who fell victim to hackers has sued
Microsoft seeking damages and an order requiring the supplier to
improve its security notification system.
The suit claims that Microsoft's "eclipsing dominance in desktop
software has created a global security risk" as the world's
computer networks are now susceptible to "massive, cascading
failures".
The software company is charged with violating California laws
by "unfair and deceptive business practices".
The case was filed on behalf of the Los Angeles woman, but a
request has been entered to certify the case as a class action,
said Dana Taschner, the plaintiff's lawyer.
"We represented an individual plaintiff who is also seeking to
be a class representative on behalf of all US purchasers of
Microsoft operating system software," he said.
Microsoft spokeswoman Stacy Drake said the company received the
complaint and is reviewing it. Based on an initial review,
Microsoft plans to fight the attempt to certify the suit as a class
action, Drake said.
Microsoft also said the lawsuit "misses the point", because the
problems are caused by viruses and hackers, which are the result of
criminal acts by the people who write viruses and break into
computers.
The Los Angeles woman suing Microsoft was a victim of identity
theft, Taschner said.
"She works on her home computer and somehow her system was
hacked and her name and social security number were used to access
bank accounts and other services," he said.
Microsoft makes it too hard for consumers like the plaintiff to
secure their systems, Taschner said.
"We are asking the court to issue an order requiring Microsoft
to give better notice. The hackers are faster on the uptake than
the consumer; in a strange way, the Microsoft alerts are actually
causing more harm than good."
Microsoft's Drake said the company has made security a top
priority and is committed to developing the most secure software
possible and making it easier for customers to protect themselves
against attacks "launched by malicious law-breakers".
Joris Evers writes for IDG News Service