Microsoft Opens Guarded Source Code to Governments
[quote]Microsoft Opens Guarded Source Code to Governments
By REUTERS
Filed at 10:58 p.m. ET
SEATTLE (Reuters) - In an unprecedented move, Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O) said on Tuesday that it would open its source code -- the software giant's closely guarded blueprints for programs -- to governments and international organizations worldwide.
Under the initiative, called the Government Security Program, the world's largest software maker said governments and their agencies would be able to examine its source code to enhance the security of their software, used for tasks such as tracking personal data, taxes and ensuring national security.
The move is aimed at strengthening Microsoft's position in government markets where it is already the largest or second-largest government supplier of software.
``We have a business interest in having people feel completely comfortable with our software, whether it is mission critical or not,'' Craig Mundie, Microsoft's Chief Technology Officer, told Reuters.
The NATO defense alliance, as well as Russia, have already agreed to participate in the program, and discussions with more than 60 other governments and agencies are being held, Mundie said, adding that any cooperation with Microsoft would be disclosed at the discretion of each government agency.
<hr></blockquote>
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/technology/tech-tech-microsoft-government.html" target="_blank">http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/technology/tech-tech-microsoft-government.html</a>
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the 2 things that leapt to my mind:
first was "whoa" and second was "hmm..."
By REUTERS
Filed at 10:58 p.m. ET
SEATTLE (Reuters) - In an unprecedented move, Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O) said on Tuesday that it would open its source code -- the software giant's closely guarded blueprints for programs -- to governments and international organizations worldwide.
Under the initiative, called the Government Security Program, the world's largest software maker said governments and their agencies would be able to examine its source code to enhance the security of their software, used for tasks such as tracking personal data, taxes and ensuring national security.
The move is aimed at strengthening Microsoft's position in government markets where it is already the largest or second-largest government supplier of software.
``We have a business interest in having people feel completely comfortable with our software, whether it is mission critical or not,'' Craig Mundie, Microsoft's Chief Technology Officer, told Reuters.
The NATO defense alliance, as well as Russia, have already agreed to participate in the program, and discussions with more than 60 other governments and agencies are being held, Mundie said, adding that any cooperation with Microsoft would be disclosed at the discretion of each government agency.
<hr></blockquote>
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/technology/tech-tech-microsoft-government.html" target="_blank">http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/technology/tech-tech-microsoft-government.html</a>
[free registration required ]
the 2 things that leapt to my mind:
first was "whoa" and second was "hmm..."
Comments
<strong>the 2 things that leapt to my mind:
first was "whoa" and second was "hmm..."</strong><hr></blockquote>
"hmm..." was first, for me
It's the usual MS marketing nonsense, read this for more info:
<a href="http://212.100.234.54/content/4/28869.html" target="_blank">http://212.100.234.54/content/4/28869.html</a>
edit: I don't know why it's an ip address, it's the register.
[ 01-15-2003: Message edited by: stupider...likeafox ]</p>
:eek: <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
Sorry. I think the whole thing could explode in their face. Literally...
Who knows? The sheer terror of actually seeing MS code might drive the adoption of alternative platforms to new highs! At least if you see an ugly patch of code in Linux you can write and submit a better one, and patch your local copy...
<strong>Perhaps now we'll find out if what I heard from some DEC engineers is true, and Windows really does contain "the worst code they've ever seen" (they'd been on the team that ported NT to Alpha).
Who knows? The sheer terror of actually seeing MS code might drive the adoption of alternative platforms to new highs! At least if you see an ugly patch of code in Linux you can write and submit a better one, and patch your local copy...</strong><hr></blockquote>
haha, wouldn't that be grand if people spoke out about how horrile the code was
...MS's code is obviously buggy, why would they be showing it?
Microsoft Giving Russia Access to Code
MOSCOW (AP) -- Software giant Microsoft is giving the Russian government access to its secret source code for Windows operating systems as part of a global effort to improve information security, company officials said Monday.
``This is a very big step,'' said Olga Dergunova, managing director of Microsoft's Moscow office. The company will reveal the ``architecture and principles'' behind Windows, she said, in what analysts say is an effort to keep governments from switching to cheaper alternatives. <hr></blockquote>
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Russia-Microsoft.html" target="_blank">http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Russia-Microsoft.html</a>
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