Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft Pressures Testers After Software Leak
narramissic writes "ITworld reports that Microsoft is 'taking tough measures to find out who leaked a Community Technology Preview (CTP) of Windows Home Server to The Hotfix.net blog.' The software preview was posted on the site by a user named 'Richard' soon after it was released to a small group of testers. In an e-mail to MVPs whose names contain 'Richard,' Kevin Beares, the Windows Home Server community lead at Microsoft, wrote: 'For right now, you have no access to the beta until I can find the Richard who posted the WHS (Windows Home Server) CTP on this site.... I will work with the Connect Admin team to determine which one of you is the real culprit of this leak.'"
If this was Apple we would get many posts defending their right and need to do this. Since it is MS we won't. -Larry
foreach (Tester ReallyUnluckyGuy in GetTestersByName("Richard"))
{
ReallyUnluckyGuy.DenyAccess(Now);
ReallyUnluckyGuy.AskQuestions(Later);
}
The leaker was arrogant/foolish enough to use his real name.
:)
Probably, at least. Granted, you'd think he was just being a Richard and it needn't have anything to do with his name, but think about--someone leaked MS's follow-up email to people named Richard. Might it have been the Richard we're looking for?
...the whole class being kept behind at school until they found the culprit.
"Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
"The software preview was posted on the site by a user named 'Richard' soon after it was released to a small group of testers."
I'd think that Microsoft's bigger question whether someone this dimwitted should allowed to work with their code. Why would I not be surprised if "Richard" really was the guy's name. Talk about poor judgment.
Three Squirrels
...for leaking the letter too.
Translation, "Are you the Dick who leaked?"
[
Sheesh,
this is about as well-thought out as the no-fly list "algorithm". Well, Abdul looks a bit like Andrew so you're a suspect, eh?
If they didn't watermark, or put some other individual identifying marks in each of the CTPs handed out, then they have no clue who leaked it, and punishing the innocent is not going to improve their chances.
Dear Slashdot,
Thankyou for agreeing to help publicize our new products by spreading information about our phoney leak. You have my personal assurance that if we ever find this "Richard" character, I will be certain to punish him very severely for creating public awareness of our super-innovative new server software. Gosh, I do hope no-one downloads a pirate version and sees how awesome it is!
Also, thanks for your good work on the Xbox 360. Who would have thought so many Linux dorks would be willing to buy into our wall-to-wall DRM and platform lockin?
-- Bill Gates
(This is a private email, right? IE is doing something strange....)
Oh...
And I wonder why Kevin Beares thinks it was a Richard who leaked this. If I was doing such a thing, especially when there are only a small group of testers, I would use a pseudonym. Richard is as good a one as any other.
Also, I wonder how he thinks he can work it out? Contacting the ISPs perhaps? (From the article it seems as if the webmaster for the site where the leak was posted will help.) I'm sure all the testers will deny being "Richard" of leaking fame.
This whole thing seems like a big beat up.
I wank in the shower.
The next time this guy decides to leak something under a false name I suggest he try 'Bill' instead of 'Richard'.
Bill
Could it be Richard Stallman in the conservatory with the wrench?
Which one of you Bills is abusing your monopoly?
Well for starters:
1) Single instance store automatic differential backups. none of this shitty "dd" stuff; this compares each 4 kb block with a database on the server and only uploads ones that have a different hash. Very efficient and very nice.
2) Automatic warnings if any Windows machine on your network has AV or AntiSpyware turned off.
3) Automatic warnings if any of your machines has not backed up in the last several days. (and the software will wake machines from sleep mode to do the backup and then have them go back to sleep).
4) Ability to serve as a remote control gateway to your computers (where you go to the website of the server and can initiate secured remote desktop sessions to your other machines from there with only 2 ports forwarded to the server and none to any other machines.
But then again, I have actually tried the beta instead of just making shit up about it.
Did they ever stop to consider the fact that besides these testers, undoubtedly lots of people on the inside will have had access to the leaked version?
GAAH! MY PRINTER IS ON FIRE!!! PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT!
"Dick leaks, causes embarassment."
That's not really front page news now, is it?
Wouldn't it be funny if all of them contacted MS, claiming to be this Richard?
Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
"Intended for users who have never seen or touched a server OS."
Yeah, that's the supposed Idea. I remember when they pitched that line for NT, too.
"Redundant storage and hot pluggable drives for those for whom RAID is an insect spray can."
If you don't know what RAID is, why would you bother specing a home-pc with hot swappable drives?
"To add storage just slip in another drive and you are good to go."
Yeah, assuming you got a server chassis with hot swappable drives. Which, by definition, the end-user this is targeted at doesn't.
"Automated backups for every system on the net. Recover older versions of files. Single instance storage"
Yeah, that's a good pitch, too. So far? Vapor-ware!
"Remote access and administration. Remote control over the web --- again, intended for users who have no experience in any of this."
Oh, there's a security hole just waiting for a portscan to come along!
This is aimed at Fanbois who just don't have the brains to make the leap to Ubuntu or Fedora.
IOW, A cute toy.
Technology -- No Place For Wimps! Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Chatroom -- http://www.wemissjerry.org
I hate to break it to you, MS, but the higher-end linksys routers (for about $100) now have a usb port where I can stick a hard drive and share it with all the network even if I'm not real computer literate. Likewise, the airport extreme from apple does the same.
I'm not sure what all your "home server" does, but coming from you it probably uses far more hardware than most people want to buy for the purpose and it probably locks me into using one of your buggy, insecure operating systems to access it. Put another way, you're going to have a tough time convincing people who want to have a hard drive shared on the network (probably 99.99% of all people who would want a "server" in the house) to go with your buggy crap rather than the linksys router.
I might be wrong, and laugh at me in 10 years if I am, but I really think you guys are getting in a huff because someone leaked your latest "Microsoft Bob" to the world.
By the way, the people who downloaded it probably didn't do so to use it; it was probably most hackers getting their paws on it to figure out how to break into it.
Do you have ESP?
1) Single instance store automatic differential backups. none of this shitty "dd" stuff; this compares each 4 kb block with a database on the server and only uploads ones that have a different hash. Very efficient and very nice.
Sort of like rsync, bacula, amanda?
2) Automatic warnings if any Windows machine on your network has AV or AntiSpyware turned off.
With *nix, we have essential services started automatically at boot time. I'd be interested to know if it checks for Microsoft AV and antispyware software only, or any companies. If MS only, possible antitrust violation here.
3) Automatic warnings if any of your machines has not backed up in the last several days. (and the software will wake machines from sleep mode to do the backup and then have them go back to sleep).
Easily set up on Linux, I presume *BSD also.
4) Ability to serve as a remote control gateway to your computers (where you go to the website of the server and can initiate secured remote desktop sessions to your other machines from there with only 2 ports forwarded to the server and none to any other machines.
Remember the GP's request? "Please tell us what features Microsoft Home Server has that are not available for free and already in widespread use on the net under Linux." Why would you even bring up remote desktop sessions?
But then again, I have actually tried the beta instead of just making shit up about it.
Yes, but you didn't mention any useful features not available in linux/*BSD for free. 1,3 and 4 are available and included in mainstream linux disto's (again, I presume *BSD also, but easily obtainable if not). Without further info, 2 seems possibly aimed at increasing Microsoft marketshare of security products, despite (so I hear) being among the worst available, and even if it isn't, it doesn't seem very useful. Set up your AV etc to run as desired.
http://marriedmansexlife.com/
For right now, you have no access to the beta until I can find the Richard who posted the WHS (Windows Home Server) CTP on this site.... I will work with the Connect Admin team to determine which one of you is the real culprit of this leak.'
It's great to know that a corporation always has plenty of funds for a witch-hunt even if product security is sacrificed due to "budget constraints"...
Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
That was my first reaction.
Msft: Who leaked this onto a newsgroup?
Lackey: The username on the account was "Richard."
Msft: Richard who?
Lackey: We don't know. The account name is just "Richard."
Msft: Suspend all priveledges to anyone with a "Richard" in their name!
Lackey: Sir, yes sir!
Msft: Man, this Richard guy is a real dick.
Lackey: *snickers*
Msft: What?
Well, what can we say?
The typical Microsoft=Evil bash aside, their response was rather understandable and logical. They have beta-software, and they have low number of people who a previewing/testing that software. That software ends up leaked on the internet. Thus the only logical conclusion is that (at least) one of those people is responsible for the leak.
Assuming that leaks is not what you want and that somebody who leaked software before, will do so again, it is best to freeze the entire process until the one(s) responsible has been found. Also assuming that they accepted a NDA (the usual stuff forfeiting your propery, soul, and firstborn) this one guy or gal will not be in a happy place.
So, all in all, its nothing extraordinary.
+++ MELON MELON MELON +++ Out of Cheese Error +++ redo from start +++
Exactly, it's offtopic, mod everyone named Larry Offtopic!
Under the influence of Post-Cyberpunk Gonzo Journalism