From: "John Beamish" 

I did find the story.  Here's the full text:

[Johannesburg, 20 March 2003] - 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".



The ad under the spotlight. Its caption states: 'Microsoft software is
carefully designed to keep your company's valuable information in, and
unauthorised people and viruses out. Which means that your data couldn't
really be safer, even if you kept it in a safe. Which is great news for the
survival of your company. But tragic news for hackers.'



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advert to be withdrawn.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.

"Joe Barr"  wrote in message
news:3e7c8b67$1{at}w3.nls.net...
>
> In a lie so blatant it was probably penned by Richard Shupak, MS was
> telling consumers in South Africa that the new version of Windows  would
> bring about the extinction of hackers.
>
> SA said the ad "is to be pulled for being "unsubstantiated and
misleading".
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/business/2003/0303201315.asp?A=SFT&S=Software&T
=Section&O=FPSH
> --
>

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