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No Backdoor in Vista

mytrip wrote to mention a C|Net article stating that Vista will not have a security backdoor after all. From the article: "'The suggestion is that we are working with governments to create a back door so that they can always access BitLocker-encrypted data,' Niels Ferguson, a developer and cryptographer at Microsoft, wrote Thursday on a corporate blog. 'Over my dead body,' he wrote in his post titled Back-door nonsense."

21 of 269 comments (clear)

  1. is Niels Ferguson.. by Pavel+Stratil · · Score: 5, Funny

    going to die soon? (nothing personal)

    1. Re:is Niels Ferguson.. by bj8rn · · Score: 4, Funny

      Let's see. Your comment was modded redundant. This could mean that there's no point in asking this question, as Ferguson is going to die soon. At the same time, however, it could also mean "He's not going to die! Stop asking these stupid questions!" So I really don't know whether he is going to die soon or not. The information you (and the mods) have provided me with is insufficient to determine the this. Sorry.

      --
      Hell is not other people; it is yourself. - Ludwig Wittgenstein
    2. Re:is Niels Ferguson.. by tomhudson · · Score: 4, Funny

      People didn't get it ... he said it would happen ...

      "Over my dead body"

      We're talking Bush administration here. Talk about painting a target on your back! They'd WANT to get rid of anyone who can point a finger. Disposing of the body is no big deal.

      Heck, they don't even have to "terminate with extreme sanction" any more. Just drop a hint to Balmer that he's going to work for google, and let a random chair take him out.

      Speaking of which, if google wanted to throw up a few roadblocks, they could "hint/spread rumours/FUD" that a few critical microsoft developers have accepted/will accept/are in secret talks to accept to jump switch, and watch the body count in Redmond rise like the kill score in Alien 2, from the "pre-emptive kills".

    3. Re:is Niels Ferguson.. by gnarlin · · Score: 5, Funny

      Steve Balmer, in the converence room, with the chair!

      --
      A bad analogy is like a leaky screwdriver.
  2. Balmer Says... by aragod · · Score: 5, Funny

    I believe that can be arranged...

  3. Ballmer to his secretary: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    - Get me Ferguson... tell him we're going hunting. Yes, hunting. With Cheney.

    1. Re:Ballmer to his secretary: by iphayd · · Score: 3, Funny

      Ballmer's going hunting with Cheney? That's the best news of the year.

  4. Dead Body? by OverflowingBitBucket · · Score: 4, Funny

    'Over my dead body,' he wrote

    "Your terms are acceptable" reply the NSA.

  5. Damn straight! by Linegod · · Score: 4, Funny

    Let the government wait a week for someone to find a backdoor, just like the rest of us....

    --
    -- I care not for your foolish signatures.
  6. No backdoor in Vista by vandelais · · Score: 3, Funny

    strangely silent on the topic of Internet Hearts.

    --
    Game: Player 'Donald J Trump' now has AI skill level 'experimental'.
    1. Re: No Backdoor in Vista by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      This should have read:

      Microsoft operating systems have never really needed a back door since the WINDOWS were left wide open.

      It's way funnier that way.

  7. Re:Prove it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I demand that you give me ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

    Failure to give me one million dollars will be considered
    an explicit admission by you that you rape babies.

  8. There Are Ways of Making That Happen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    'Over my dead body,'

    Better watch out for flying chairs, Mr. Ferguson.

  9. No Backdoor in Vista by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    microsoft operating systems begining with windows 95 have never really needed a backdoor, especially since the front door is left wide open.

  10. Part of the quote is missing! by TPS+Report · · Score: 3, Funny
    The suggestion is that we are working with governments to create a back door so that they can always access BitLocker-encrypted data,' Niels Ferguson, a developer and cryptographer at Microsoft, wrote Thursday on a corporate blog. 'Over my dead body,' he wrote in his post titled Back-door nonsense.

    But they left out the rest of his quote.

    Niels then put his feet up on the desk and went on to say, "Off the record, you should note my careful use of the word 'always' in the above sentence", he said, with a slight grin on his face. "Context is everything. If I allow them occasional or intermittent access, I'm still being honest, right?" Niels then laughed and pointed to his "Honorary member of the DoD" plaque on his office wall.
    --
    I was told that I could listen to the radio at a reasonable volume from nine to eleven...
  11. It will have a lot of security portals though by smartin · · Score: 2, Funny

    After all they don't call it windows for nothing.

    --
    The difference between Canada and the USA is that in Canada healthcare is a right and gun ownership is a privilege.
  12. "Over my dead body" by ScrewMaster · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Your proposal is acceptable."

    --
    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  13. Correction by Opportunist · · Score: 2, Funny

    There won't be a backdoor in Vista that they KNOW about. I bet they'll manage to build some in unintentionally.

    I mean, why should it be different in Vista than it was 'til now?

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  14. He'll give him 'The Chair'... by Shark · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... as it is common Microsoft lore that Balmer can be deadly with furniture.

    --
    Mind the frickin' laser...
  15. Re:Right. by Reziac · · Score: 2, Funny

    Somehow this reminds me of the old joke,

    "REAL programmers use COPY CON PROGRAM.ZIP"

    --
    ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
  16. Re:Right. by uradu · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, I don't know either Niels or Bruce, but I trained Bruce's dog to fetch when it was still a puppy, and I will take this association as sufficient to assure me of Bruce's dog's owner's ex-associate's honest intent.