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64-Bit Vista Kernel Will Be a "Black Box"
ryanskev writes with news from RSA Europe, where a Microsoft VP spoke bluntly about the lock-down that will apply to 64-bit Vista. From the article: "Microsoft will operate 64-bit versions of Windows Vista as a tabernacle, with the kernel as the holy of holies, where only its own high priests of security may venture." While Microsoft has seemed to be making some concessions to the likes of Symantec and McAfee, considerable doubt remains as to their ultimate future.
Sounds like the right approach to me. We will soon find out whether Symantec and McAfee are helping or hindering security.
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Am I the only one who read the line "Making concessions to Symantec and McAffee," and the first concessions that popped into my mind were "Just a little security hole here, buffer overflow there, ect."
I'm no fan of MS, especially when it comes to their horrible security track record. However, if they really can manage to get it right (or even significantly better) in Vista, they shouldn't be going and making concessions to the people who've been making a living off the things that were broken in their last OS.
The only way to run kernel code is drivers, 32 bit drivers are currently only sometimes signed. ALL 64 bit drivers must be signed, or they won't be loaded. This is why there is a distinction between 32 bit and 64 bit Vista.
The main reasons they aren't implementing the same thing in 32-bit Windows is because of "limitations of the 32-bit architecture" that apparently don't let them do what they want, and since a lot of programs already patch the syscall table in 32-bit windows, it'd break compatibility with a lot of software to change it now. Binary compatibility for drivers that patch the syscall table on 64-bit Windows isn't an issue because 64-bit Windows for AMD64 has always prevented syscall patching. They figure that the 32->64 bit change is big enough to pile on some more changes, like this.
This has more to do with system stability than it does for security. Many syscall interceptors are not multiproc safe or do bad things: if the computer bluescreens because of a poorly written syscall interceptor, Microsoft gets blamed for writing unstable software. The syscall interface is considered an internal interface, not to be tampered with by outside parties because its behavior has subtleties not documented, and could change. This is a technical enforcement of that policy.
Isn't this just another variation of security by obscurity?
Which everyone by now should have learned does *not* work.
Microsoft also warned 32-Bit users to be careful, because if you run the 32-Bit version, you're screwed
If it will stop crapware like StarForce and the Sony rootkit from sneaking extra drivers in, bring on the kibosh. People who want to tinker can use one of the fine Open Source operating system kernels that run on 64-bit Intel machines. Those that just want to play games or run Office can feel a little bit safer from malware.
Sorry Symantec, but after dealing with the disaster that is Norton Internet Security, I won't shed a tear when I read that you've filed for Chapter 7.
0 1 - just my two bits
..to release a 32-bit version of Vista?
Every week, I hear about a new thing that will "only be in 64-bit Vista". First it was HDTV content only on 64-bit for DRM reasons. Now, we're hearing the reasoning that Windows will be more secure if we don't let third parties in the kernel. Fine, whatever. If we were to assume that makes it more secure, then so be it.
But why bother to release an inferior 32-bit version? Under the presumption that closing the 64-bit kernel off will make things better, why not use the same strict security policies in 32-bit? Surely, there can't be any technical reason for all of this. It's all marketing, right? ("Microsoft recommends a 64-bit PC.")
Or is there some real reason why it feels like 32-bit Vista and 64-bit Vista are two entirely different operating systems?
For 32-bit versions of Vista, it'll be mostly as you were on security
Translation: You're screwed! Upgrade to 64 bit ASAP (P.S. some of your software won't work)
Defender has already become the most popular download ever from Microsoft
If I was MS, I certainly wouldn't brag about anti-malware being the most popular application.
referring to third parties being able to patch 64 bit Vista - "It's just not the way the box was designed...we're putting a stop to that."
Great. What happens when MS doesn't quickly put out a patch... no choice on using the good samaritan patches anymore, you just have to sit and twiddle your thumbs.
referring to ever being able to secure 32 bit Windows - "That train has left the station."
I think it's more like the Windows train has left the station. Why bother to convert to 64 bit Windows? Switch to something else as soon as possible.
For those of you who don't speak "Microsoft"... "Microsoft will operate 64-bit versions of Windows Vista as a tabernacle, with the kernel as the holy of holies, where only its own high priests of security may venture." roughly translates to "It will have a password."