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Thanks to FReeper amigatec for the heads-up!!
Posted on 06/24/2017 4:10:06 PM PDT by dayglored
Exclusive A massive trove of Microsoft's internal Windows operating system builds and chunks of its core source code have leaked online.
The data – some 32TB of official and non-public installation images and software blueprints that compress down to 8TB – were uploaded to betaarchive.com, the latest load of files provided just earlier this week. It is believed the confidential data in this dump was exfiltrated from Microsoft's in-house systems around March this year.
The leaked code is Microsoft's Shared Source Kit: according to people who have seen its contents, it includes the source to the base Windows 10 hardware drivers plus Redmond's PnP code, its USB and Wi-Fi stacks, its storage drivers, and ARM-specific OneCore kernel code.
Anyone who has this information can scour it for security vulnerabilities, which could be exploited to hack Windows systems worldwide. The code runs at the heart of the operating system, at some of its most trusted levels. It is supposed to be for Microsoft, hardware manufacturers, and select customers' eyes only.
Leaked ... Screenshot of a Beta Archives posting announcing on Monday, June 19, the addition of Microsoft's confidential source code archive
In addition to this, top-secret builds of Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016, none of which have been released to the public, have been leaked among copies of officially released versions. The confidential Windows team-only internal builds were created by Microsoft engineers for bug-hunting and testing purposes, and include private debugging symbols that are usually stripped out for public releases.
This software includes, for example, prerelease Windows 10 "Redstone" builds and unreleased 64-bit ARM flavors of Windows. There are, we think, too many versions now dumped online for Microsoft to revoke via its Secure Boot mechanism, meaning the tech giant can't use its firmware security mechanisms to prevent people booting the prerelease operating systems.
Also in the leak are multiple versions of Microsoft's Windows 10 Mobile Adaptation Kit, a confidential software toolset to get the operating system running on various portable and mobile devices.
Netizens with access to Beta Archive's private repo of material can, even now, still get hold of the divulged data completely for free. It is being described by some as a bigger leak than the Windows 2000 source code blab in 2004.
A spokesperson for Microsoft said: "Our review confirms that these files are actually a portion of the source code from the Shared Source Initiative and is used by OEMs and partners." ®
Beta Archive's administrators are in the process of removing non-public Microsoft components and builds from its FTP server and its forums.
For example, all mention of the Shared Source Kit has been erased from its June 19 post. We took some screenshots before any material was scrubbed from sight. You'll notice from the screenshot above in the article and the forum post that the source kit has disappeared between the Microsoft Windows 10 Debug Symbols and Diamond Monster 3D II Starter Pack.
The source kit is supposed to be available to only "qualified customers, enterprises, governments, and partners for debugging and reference purposes."
In a statement, Beta Archive said: "The 'Shared Source Kit' folder did exist on the FTP until [The Register's] article came to light. We have removed it from our FTP and listings pending further review just in case we missed something in our initial release. We currently have no plans to restore it until a full review of its contents is carried out and it is deemed acceptable under our rules."
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Thanks to FReeper amigatec for the heads-up!!
Hard to believe they ran it out over a network without some alarms going off -- sounds like somebody loaded a NAS and snuck it out after "working late".
"Shared Source Initiative", eh?
"Three people can keep a secret -- but only if two of them are dead." -- Some Wise Guy
Open source Windows at last!
I’m going to ask an uber-dumb question of you and the Computer Experts (Yeah, I first wrote, ‘Geeks,’ LOL!) visiting this thread...
I just got a new computer. It’s a Dell and uses Windows as it’s operating system.
Of course I was THRILLED that I could set it up myself (I have a background in Army IT, for what THAT is worth!) and the printer works and my wireless WiFi works, etc. A freakin’ MIRACLE!
BUT - this machine has NO GAMES! I mean, I KNOW that computers are TOOLS and not TOYS, but once in a while a gal NEEDS her Solitaire or her Mahjong! COME ON!
So, where can I get the ‘classic’ Windows games that come with EVERY computer on the planet - except for the one *I* bought?
Help...
Is it Windows 10?
Hi Diana,
Just go on Google and type in “Where are the games in Windows 10” There are a whole bunch of suggestions that may help you.
Click on the Windows symbol at the lower left hand corner.
Then click on “Store”. Then click “Games”. You’ll find paid and free games there.
Wonder if anyone will bother to download it /s
If by "classic" you mean the games in Windows XP, you can play those in Win 10 if you put the file "cards.dll" in the same folder as the XP game's *.exe files. e.g. sol.exe. However, the game window will look small in a typical large modern monitor.
Not a computer specialist, either, but in Windows 10 it is all apps. There is a game app, Wild Tanget, I think, but if I am correct, you have to be logged on your Microsoft account and that means Microsoft gets a look at all that you do.
It will be a must-have for Windows hackers.
It’s not the Windows games, but there’s a lot of games for a decent price here: https://www.gog.com
If you have Windows 10 and want Windows 7 games, check out the following website: http://winaero.com/blog/get-windows-7-games-for-windows-10/
If I'm not mistaken, the link TChad sent you will take you to the link above as one of the options. These are NOT the XP games, but Windows 7 games.
LOL!
>> Wonder if anyone will bother to download it /s
>
>
> It will be a must-have for Windows hackers.
You got that right — though, in an interesting/ironic twist MS Research’s blog posted something on the security of compilers just two days ago (1) and there actually **is** an OS developed by MS Research that is based on the sort of provability mentioned in the article called Verve (2/3).
It would be quite interesting if this was the impetus for them to base the next Windows system on Verve.
1 — https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/getting-compilers-right-secure-software/
2 — https://channel9.msdn.com/Shows/Going+Deep/Verve-A-Type-Safe-Operating-System
3 — https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/publication/safe-to-the-last-instruction-automated-verification-of-a-type-safe-operating-system/
THANKS, EVERYONE! I’m on it. :)
THANKS, EVERYONE! I’m on it. :)
THANKS, EVERYONE! I’m on it. :)
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