Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[UpNDown]

wbmw, on virus targets

But that still doesn't attempt to explain why a hacker would settle for a massive impact in 80% of PCs when they could go for 100%.

[Don't know why I'm getting into this discussion, but WTH...]

There are some hackers that are out there just for fun. There are others that want to trash your computer or steal your credit cards. Supposing you want to steal credit card numbers, why would you attempt to find a new attack point for a day-0 virus in an NX-protected system, when a non-NX-protected system security hole would be easier to find and would still reap enough credit cards to make you a happy hacker? Wouldn't you think that buyers of NX-protected systems might also be more careful in the rest of their security?

Security holes have to be searched for. They don't just pop up. Since there will be more on a non-NX system, that will be the preferred target.

When you play golf, do you look for your ball in the deep woods or near the edge of the fairway? Answer: don't look where you don't want to find it! (This assumes you hit a good provisional, for those golf rules nuts out there.)