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SSH Secure Services on Windows 2K/XP?
jstockdale asks: "Lately I've been working on the security of the few Windows boxes I administer, specifically XP and 2000 stations. I havn't had much of a problem finding decent solutions for file/email/disk encryption (besides the fact that PGP is no longer selling their products), or for smartcard or smartcard+biometric solutions (besides the limitations on key size (2048-bit RSA maximum) and flexability). However when it comes to SSH services for remote administration, windows filesharing, and SFTP for file transfers I have hit a dead end. I have looked into SSH but their SSH for Windows Servers only runs on 2000, and costs $565. I ask what solutions have /.er's found in the realm of ssh network encryption, and also in integrating all these components simply and effectively."
I've been thinking about this question as well. Here is what I currently believe:
There are two main reasons people code. One is money. The second one is the appreciation of the theory and algorithms behind it.
As a result, we have Microsoft which I see as full of people in it for the money. This leaves crappy code and security holes since as long as everybody gets their paycheck they do whatever it takes to keep them from getting fired (ie, Office Space the movie)
Those people really don't care about the code, and so won't spend their free time contributing free software to the community. If they do write something, it will be for win32 and they will charge money so they can make a few dollars. They figure everything else costs money so why should theirs be free?
On the other hand, we have people who like to code, and don't care so much about the money as much as the respect of their peers and for the beauty of the code. Therefore we have a lot of free stuff in linux. Sure, some of it also has win32 ports, but are there any free office suites and full fledged graphics packages soley for win32? The answer is no (I would imagine) because win32 has such a huge user base. With something like 90% of the desktop, somebody is bound to pay for your product, so why should anybody write a free application for win32?
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It's OK to be social, just don't tell anyone about it.
Here's how you get Windoze programming help:
- Get out your credit card(s)
- Clear your calendar for the next week
- Call Micro$oft
- Sign up for MSDN (make sure your credit cards(s) have a high limit)
- Wait for a large box full of disks (are they still using CD's or have they switched to DVD's?)
- Try something (it wil fail)
- Call M$, goto previous line forever