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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]
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.
Actually its
--
One by one the penguins steal my sanity...
... 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.
Switched to Linux, I see?
-Splat