Face it, Microsoft gets a pretty raw deal at times when it comes to criticism. With the enviable revenue stream that Windows earns the Redmond giant comes the rather unenviable responsibility to keep 90% of the world's computers secure. It's a well known fact that Windows has improved its security situation, and that with a decent amount of security savvy and the proper settings, most Windows installs can stay virus-free for years.

In spite of Microsoft's efforts, though, the ciriticism has not only lingered, but in recent months increased due to both the increasing value of Internet crime (which for the most part explot things entirely outside of Microsoft's controls, such as phishing) and the coverage that Mac OS X and Linux has garnered due to their better security situations (and somewhat more educated userbases).  I would argue, however, that any true fan of Microsoft should thank the critics, because if anything, it has made the company take the security of its products much more seriously than in times past.

If it wants to truly move past the its shortcomings, though, it should embrace the open source philosophy that places users ahead of business: otherwise, nothing will ever silence its critics.