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China Prepares To Examine MS Windows Code

Posted by timothy on from the and-yours-too-if-you'd-like dept.

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.

3 of 468 comments (clear)

  1. Whats the use? by zaroastra · · Score: 5, Interesting

    whats the use of inspecting some offsite code when you have ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY that the code you're looking at is the one that is delivered in your compiled version?
    In my language we have an expresion for that, that could be roughly tranlated to trying to stop the wind with a fork.

    --
    I'm trying to get modded "Interesting Flamebait Informative and Insightful Redundant Troll" *-* Please Help *-*
  2. Why would you think that? by Nijika · · Score: 5, Interesting
    While I'm sure that the NSA is no slouch when it comes to computer infiltration, I've never been one to believe that they've got some magical super powers outside the realm of known technical limitations. Let's not forget that most of what any government says it can do is a large percentage smoke and mirrors to keep the public feeling safe (PATRIOT missles) or unsafe (PATRIOT act) as it may be. On top of that the Chinese have never been pushovers when it comes to technology. They're in the asia pacific region, which is undoubtably a world hotspot for technological advances. Hell, the PC you're using right now is probably 60% chinese and 90% asian in manufacture and design.

    With all that in mind, I'd say any advantage the NSA can get, it would take. And with THAT in mind, I think it's perfectly reasonable for the Chinese government to fully inspect any operating system it may run.

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    Luck favors the prepared, darling.
  3. Funniest line in the article by Mark_in_Brazil · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Haw haw... Sorry, but there's a throwaway line in the article that just made me laugh:
    China--potentially a huge market for Microsoft, once the problem of software piracy is solved--
    Riiiiiiiight. And when, exactly will "the problem of software piracy" be solved? And how?
    I haven't seen anything reported on Slashdot or anywhere else that would "solve the problem of software piracy" and make China a huge market for Microsoft at the same time...

    --Mark
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    "It is nice to know that the computer understands the problem. But I would like to understand it too." --Eugene Wigner