Microsoft Source Code Leaked Over Net (Confirmed! From AP)

[htuttle]

By ALLISON LINN, AP Business Writer
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=&e=5&u=/ap/20040213/ap_on_hi_te/microsoft_source_code

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. said late Thursday that portions of its Windows source code — the tightly guarded blueprint of its dominant computer operating system — had been leaked over the Internet.

Microsoft spokesman Tom Pilla said in an interview with The Associated Press that some incomplete portions of the Windows 2000 (news - web sites) and Windows NT4 source code had been "illegally made available on the Internet."

(snip)

The company was made aware of the leak Thursday and was investigating, Pilla said. He did not know how much of the code had been leaked, when the leak occurred or how many people might have gained access to it. The company could not immediately pinpoint the source of the leak, and has contacted law enforcement authorities, he said.

(more at link)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=&e=5&u=/ap/20040213/ap_on_hi_te/microsoft_source_code


(cue trombone)

Wah Wah!

[bobthedrummer]

1. I'm ok got Windows 98

eom

[rusty charly]

2. i'm really ok

i got MAC

[JaySherman]

3. Oh boo hoo. Poor Biwwy.

:nopity: Nothing in me can feel the least bit sorry for Monopoly$oft.

[TrogL]

4. This may be a threat to the open source community

Microsoft can try and claim that any open source software is stolen Microsoft code and demand royalties.

Maybe this is their stealth campaign against linux.

[Walt Starr]

7. I doubt that

But it could be the beginning of the end for outsourcing IT jobs to India. Those companies that have outsourced their IT will be hardest hit if this plays out with multiple viruses/

Look at SQL Slammer. It exploited a bug in SQL Server that Microsoft patched. If you build a new machine and place SQL Server on that machine without the patch, then give it direct internet access (such as in a Starbucks), it'll be infected with SQL Slammer within five minutes even if you have Anti-Virus software in place. It's memory resident and a fast spreader, only the proper patch combats it.

Now think of a bug currently unknown to Microsoft that somebody who has this code discovers. If they write something similar to Slammer that takes advantage of this bug, 90% of the Windows NT, 2000, and XP machines in the world could become infected within a matter of a couple of hours. It will bring Information Techology to a standstill worldwide until Microsoft finds the bug and patches it, a process that could take days and possibly weeks.

Not a pretty scenario.

[dbt]

8. It would also serve to keep bu$h off the Front Page, wouldn't it?

By way of crippling every newsroom in the country, no?

:freak:
dbt

[Mari333]

11. bartcop mentioned this on his site the other day

and I downloaded all the packages that could cover my butt..I went thru the mydoom and blaster worms and it cost me plenty to have them fixed..Im not sure what I downloaded will save me on this one tho

[Merlin]

12. Very interesting, Walt. A couple of questions, please.

First, at a Starbucks, you're behind a wireless router. Doesn't this give you protection from the kind of infestation you describe?

Second, why do you think none of the virus detectors are able to stop this kind of thing? Any ideas?

I have SQL Server 7 on my main pc for some development work I intend to do. I really appreciate the heads up on this.

[david_vincent]

9. They're already underwriting this stratagem

through SCO.
Sounds like they should've gotten somebody's paycheck
in the mail a bit sooner...
I, too, find it impossible to feel bad for M$ whatsoever.
BeOS here.

[gandalf]

10. TrogL, you indulge in conspiracy theories?

I am shocked.

However, I think it could be indeed an explanation.

[Walt Starr]

5. I'll bet it was them durned Lunix hackerz!

If this results in a new slue of viruses, companies which have outsourced thie IT will be hardest hit.

[tedzbear]

6. Does it look like this???

10001111010101011100101000111101011010100101010011111001010101000011001010101001010101010100000000000110100101010111111...

:kick:

[Nihil]

13. WooHoo

Hey dude, you wanna get the site closed down or somethin'?

Posting hot code like that is bound to upset the FBI ... dammit, it
doesn't compile - must be encrypted, gimme a minute ...

:crazy:

[SquireJons]

14. Competitors have wanted open souce code for years

My initial reaction is Wa-Hoo!

Yes, there will inevitably be attempts to attack Windows, but that already exists, and an open source code could actually help protect users by allowing anti-virus companies to write better software. Given the illegal and heavy handed tactics Microsoft has used with regards to it's operating systems, I doubt many people will ever feel sorry for Gates. If this were Apple or Sun, you would see a very different reaction.

[htuttle]

15. Regarding Apple,

You can download most of the code to Mac OS X from here:
http://developer.apple.com/darwin/

Much of Mac OS X is already open source.

[Atlant]

16. Regarding Sun Solaris...

The Sun Solaris source code can be licensed as well.
I have it.

Atlant

[rman]

17. MS security depends on obscurity

MS uses this argumant against open source: "if everyone knows your source code, then anyone can hack your software". This is a reason why they are concerned about this leak.
It may seem to make sense, but Linux demonstrates that a system can be designed so that you can't hack it even if you do know the design (source code). Which isn't to say Linux never has any security issues, but those are far and few between compared to MS software, and those are not the result of the fact that everyone has access to Linux source code.
MS seems to think that if they keep their source code secret, no one wil be able to figure out the vulnerabilities of the system - in practice they are proven wrong time and time again.