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China Prepares To Examine MS Windows Code
Stargoat writes "CNet reports that China is looking into MS's source code for Windows. They are looking both to increase security as well as perhaps create a Chinese version of Linux. Or are they perhaps concerned with rumors of deliberate holes left in the software for the NSA to exploit?" Here's an earlier Slashdot post about the Microsoft-China agreement.
looking at Windows source code help with a Chinese version of Linux?
When I am king, you will be first against the wall.
reports have said that the search for backdoors installed by national intelligence agencies is also among the aims of the agreement.
MS drone Bob: Did you remember to send those CDs of the source code to the Chinese?
MS drone Dave: Yes, I did it this morning. Posted it Express delivery!
MS drone Bob: You did remember to send the version with the backdoors taken out, didn't you?
MS drone Dave: D'oh! [Slaps forehead]
Regards,
P Whilfumsher, Esq.
Mother is the best bet and don't let Satan draw you too fast.
Exactly. The security problem with the closed source model doesn't go away because they show you SOME source code. So what? They can show you whatever they please and you'll never be the wiser. The only way around that would be if they allowed the Chinese government to handle distribution as well. That would be interesting.
Hmm. There ya go. Give the Chinese government the Windows source code and let them distribute it for free. And then, they could let people modify it and enhance it without costing Redmond a thing. It would be like a global coperative effort. We'll call it distributed source. No, something more like free source. No let's see there's got to be a good name for this.
Soon to be chinese linux advertisements with phrases like... "The System Operating your computer to run good make!"
*There's Klingons on the starboard bow, scrape em off Jim!*
Actually its
--
One by one the penguins steal my sanity...
Sure the Chinese invented noodles, but only Italians can truly appreciate spagetti code at its finest.
From excellent karma to terible karma with a single +5 funny post...
Does any country REALLY think they are getting the full source code? Hmm, lets look at some of the steps of the MS OS govt. release procedures
...
1. Remove nsa.c
2. Remove sendMSInfo.c
3. Remove
MS said that "some" code is removed for "security" reason. So any govt. that looks at the code and gives it the OK, does not really know what that missing code is doing when they use the commercial OS. Now if the govt. was allowed to build their own version of MS Windows based on the code the were given, then I think more govts would be a little more at ease over the deal. I personally think China will look at the code to try to make their Red Flag Linux more compatible with proprietary MS protocols.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land,
it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. -James Madison
... China laughs.
Bill Gates would be like, "it wasn't supposed to be funny!"
But it is.
j.
"But what could Microsoft do? Sue China?"
I bet that doesn't seem as ludicrous to Bill Gates.
How long? You didn't get the Windows 2000 source when it was floating around?
Switched to Linux, I see?
-Splat