Microsoft Unveils Open Source Exploit Finder

Houston 2600 sends this excerpt from the Register about an open-source security assessment tool Microsoft presented at CanSecWest: "Microsoft on Friday released an open-source program designed to streamline the labor-intensive process of identifying security vulnerabilities in software while it's still under development. As its name suggests, !exploitable Crash Analyzer (pronounced 'bang exploitable crash analyzer') combs through bugs that cause a program to seize up, and assesses the likelihood of them being exploited by attackers. Dan Kaminsky, a well-known security expert who also provides consulting services to Microsoft, hailed the release a 'game changer' because it provides a reliable way for developers to sort through thousands of bugs to identify the several dozen that pose the greatest risk."

Comments

Re:This is M$ double speak for "Finding Free Sofwa

[DrSkwid]

yeah, FOSS exploits are cuddlier

But strange that in the 20 years I've been using Microsoft OSes, I've never had a virus or trojan or malware. I must be doing something wrong.

Re:This is M$ double speak for "Finding Free Sofwa

[multisync]

You know, I'm starting to take issue with comments that protest the use of the M$, Micro$oft etc. memes. I know how something can get on your tits - articles that identify companies by their stock symbols is a particular irritant of mine.

But being annoying to a given reader does not cause a comment to lose all credibility. I mean, you can judge a comment by any criteria you choose, even moderate that way if you like. But you and I can't have a conversation either, if at any time you might write off everything I've said because I violated some arbitrary boundary you have. It's like people who dismiss an otherwise intelligent comment because it was posted AC. Again, it's their prerogative, but it makes it hard for the rest of us to talk to them.

And I am not suggesting the comment you replied to was "otherwise intelligent." The comment you replied to was obviously a troll, and should be dismissed for that reason. I would agree that a user who says something like "Winblows" isn't making any kind of lucid point with that act, but he may just be really frustrated for a good reason. Let him vent - he "paid" for that right - then see if he has an actual point.

In defense of the use of M$ etc, I see it as sort of a short hand, like Garry Trudeau would do with politicians. A feather for Dan Qualye, a bomb for Newt Gingrich ... To a passionate free software advocate, M$ is a concise, efficient and - IMO - accurate moniker.

In two characters, the anonymous poster - who is probably Twitter - told us all we need to know about his opinion of Microsoft. I don't think an anti-Microsoft - or anti-Google/Linux/Apple bias for that matter - invalidates anyone's opinion. If it does, good grief we're all doomed.

BTW, I agree with you about the suicide remark.