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Zimmermann Enters Debate on Microsoft Encryption

Posted by michael on from the or-lack-of-it dept.

Golygydd Max writes "I didn't see much coverage of the RC4 flaw in Microsoft Office that was uncovered recently by a researcher, Hongjun Wu. Now, PGP creator Phil Zimmermann, dissatisfied with Microsoft's response, has joined in the debate. In an interview with Techworld he castigates Microsoft for their inadequate response: 'The lay user ought to be entitled to assume that the encryption produced by Microsoft is adequate. ... If Microsoft wants to earn the respect of the cryptographic community and the public it must rise to the occasion by producing competent security.' The cynic might ask, 'what respect', but should Microsoft have taken a flaw in some of its most popular programs more seriously?"

2 of 381 comments (clear)

  1. Chip... chip... chip... by blcamp · · Score: 0, Redundant


    That chipping sound is the slow but steady decline of market share, trust, user loyalty, revenues... ...the wall around Redmond is getting chipped away.

    It will eventually come down if they don't take issues of security, stability, usability, and bloat more seriously.

    And they need to take thier g@##@&% copyright enforcement crap and stab it up... they need to can it, already. They need to decide who thier clients are... John Q. Public, or Hollywood?

    --
    The problem with socialism is that they always run out of other people's money. - Margaret Thatcher
  2. Second rule of Microsoft encryption by pete-classic · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Do NOT use Microsoft encryption.

    In Tyler we trust.

    -Peter