Microsoft to give governments access to Windows code

Associated Press / SFGate

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[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The software company has already signed agreements with the Russian government and NATO to allow them to review for free the underlying programming instructions that Microsoft has long guarded as secret intellectual property.

It'll be on the internet, available for download in another 2 months.

Hurry and get your broadband connection now!

[potlatch]

Is this a GOOD thing??

[runningbear]

I hear Microsoft settled on the suit in Ca, of something in the figure of 5 billion dollars. Which means, that those entitled to the claim, will get about a $5.00 voucher....lol.. Guess who gets the rest of the mulla?
The attorneys! What a racket!

[rs79bm]

Microsoft to give governments access to Windows code

If I was the Government I wouldn't take it. Something may not work when you need it most.

[Barset]

Senator Daschle's first wife, Laurie Daschle Fulton, works for Williams and Connolly law firm in D.C., litigating for states suing Microsoft.

[Charlotte Corday]

This is probably the best thing that could happen to Microsoft corporate users who want to stay with MS. Once thousands of hackers get a chance to really pore through Windows (as you point out, that'll happen as soon as it hits those .ru domains) then the security holes will all come to light and the real fixes, as opposed to the bloated and inconclusive official "service packs", will start being generated by non-MS sources.

[TechJunkYard]

The decision will let governments evaluate for themselves the security of the Windows platform, Microsoft said.

I think it'd be great if a government programmer found some unchecked buffers...

"The basic business decision that we decided to make here is that Microsoft is willing to trust governments and willing to partner closely with them," Dandan said.

Well, I guess I could trust NATO.

[Karsus]

Serious Question. What do you think of this?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

then the security holes will all come to light and the real fixes, as opposed to the bloated and inconclusive official "service packs", will start being generated by non-MS sources.

Unfortunately, what happens next is that MS refuses to provide support to any customer that has horked his box by using one of these fixes rather than their own bloated and inconclusive SPs.

[Imal]

One look at that bloated, obfuscated spaghetti code and government software engineers will burn a trail on the carpet as they run to Linux.

Oh, wait, they're already doing that!

[Bush2000]

Serious Question. What do you think of this?

I agree with Gartner on this one. It's a smart move.

[Spirited]

I figure that's how he bought off the dogs on the suit the gov't was bringing.

Who did not know this was going to happen?

[eno_]

You are right. Currently Microsoft really has NO strategy for dealing with Linux. Even this is a rearguard. Microsoft is very good at learning from mistakes, and once they figure out how to benefit from greater openness, they may develop a comprehensive approach to source code openness.

[An.American.Expatriate]

This was my initial thought even before reading the entire article. It has been "scary" enough having to worry about hackers & co discovering the holes. Now they (and several governments not exactly freindly to us as well as our own super snoopers) will have access to ALL of it.

I'm not sure I like that idea.

[thisiskubrick]

That doesn't mean that it won't be available, it just won't be available to the good guys (except for the governments). Terrorists, professional computer criminals, drug lords and rogue countries will have the source code, but everyday citizens won't.

That is a really good point! Hackers will have a much easier time writing exploits, gov't snoops will have an easier time spying on you. Agggh.... but the bright side is, uh, someone help me..

Also, the paranoiac in me doesn't trust CHINA with the Windows code. I wouldn't be surprised if they used it to develop software viruses as a potential weapon against western economies..

[thisiskubrick]

Microsoft's strategy against Linux is .NET.