Cybersecurity

Microsoft’s Old Software Is Dangerous. Is There a Duty to Fix It?

A global ransomware epidemic is winding down, but questions over the fallout are just beginning. Who's to blame for the crisis that hijacked hundreds of thousands of computers? And can anyone stop such criminals, whose victims included hospitals and police, from striking again?

These aren't easy questions, but one company, Microsoft, has more explaining to do than most. After all, it was flaws in Windows systems that allowed hackers to carry out the ransomware attacks, which also struck companies and governments. In some cases, like the U.K.'s National Health Service, the frozen computers put lives at risk.


If this was a different industry, Microsoft would likely face lawsuits for selling a faulty product. But its product is software, and suing over flawed software is difficult. This means the legal case against Microsoft is feeble—even if the moral one may be strong.