Microsoft to Focus on Security

Anonymous Minion writes: "The Associated Press is reporting that Bill Gates announced to employees Wednesday a major strategy shift across all its products to emphasize security and privacy over new capabilities. In e-mail to employees, Gates referred to the new philosophy as "Trustworthy Computing" and called it the "highest priority". Gates said the new emphasis was "more important than any other part of our work."" People criticized Microsoft for treating security breaches as a public relations problem, so Bill Gates sent this email out to the Associated Press to prove them wrong. (rimshot!) Meanwhile, Richard Smith notes that the Globally Unique Identifier in every installation of Windows Media Player allows websites to universally track users, and Microsoft does not consider it a security problem.

Comments

Funny, I Don't Feel More Secure...

[The Spie]

Why does Microsoft saying they're going to focus on security remind me of the US government talking about campaign finance reform?

Is this like internet day?

[vondo]

Is this in the same vein as the day Bill Gates ordered everyone at MS to stop what they were working on and concentrate on how the Internet would affect their products?

Of course, by that I mean Microsoft finally understanding something several years after the rest of the world "gets it?"

Re:timing?

[daniel_isaacs]

Yes, it's all about timing. The rest of the email outlined thier other goals:

1. To workout more
2. To eat better
3. To be nicer to the people we love
4. To not drink so much

The email closed with a lamentation about how these beginning of the year resolutions never seem to work, followed by a humorous panel from the comic strip "Cathy".

Microsoft's Acceptable User Parameters

[i_am_nitrogen]

"Users should be in control of how their data is used" -- Bill Gates

Translation: [serious] Users should be made to think that our ideas of how their data should be used are also their ideas.

-or-

[humorous] Microsoft should be in control of how its users are used.

Seriously, though, all those who fit Microsoft's definition of user already think they are in control of their data. They believe that Microsoft provides them freedom to do what they want. Look at those Windows XP flying commercials. People actually believe that stuff. Just a thought.

Re:Do we Trust Bill on this?

[ryanr]

Of course. I hear they're going to make their software "unbreakabale."

Re:Standard Corporate Security Policy

[pHDNgell]

This is more like putting 5900 women in a room and trying to get a baby in one hour.

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I'm buying this video when it comes out.