China looks into Windows code

SpinnerSpinner Birmingham, UK
edited September 2003 in Science & Tech
The Chinese government has set up a lab to study Microsoft's Windows source code. This news comes after the software giant reached a deal with the Chinese government, which gave them the right to browse through the source code of its operating systems.
The Source Code Browsing Lab--set up in Beijing last week--is part of an existing government-run software site, the China Testing and Certification Center for Information Security Products, according a report in the People's Daily newspaper.

Microsoft is the first commercial software company to have signed an agreement for the browsing of its operating system source code with the Chinese government, said the report, which hinted that the lab is also open to other commercial software companies that wish to have their products certified for security.

The report stressed the need for checking Windows source code for security loopholes, especially in light of recent attacks. PCs running Windows software were recently the target of high-profile attacks by the Slammer and MSBlast viruses.

However, previous reports have said that the search for backdoors installed by national intelligence agencies is also among the aims of the agreement.

China--potentially a huge market for Microsoft, once the problem of software piracy is solved--has seen wholehearted government support for open-source operating systems such as Linux. In response, Microsoft has drawn up policies to develop closer ties with officials and to open up its Windows source code for inspection.

In February, the government-run China Information Technology Security Certification Center (CNITSEC) signed an agreement with Microsoft to participate in Microsoft's Government Security Program (GSP).

Under the GSP plan, Microsoft will share the source code underlying its Windows operating system with several international governments, a move designed to address concerns about the security of the operating system.

Microsoft has announced GSP agreements with Russia, NATO and the United Kingdom. The Redmond, Wash.-based software maker is in discussions with more than 30 countries, territories and organizations regarding their interest in the program.
Source - CNET

Comments

  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Clinton sells nuclear secrets, and Redmond forks over one of capitalism's most lucrative single products...

    We're ****ed.
  • TemplarTemplar You first.
    edited September 2003
    We're ****ed.
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Of ALL COUNTRIES to trust - China! This is just asanine.
    However, previous reports have said that the search for backdoors installed by national intelligence agencies is also among the aims of the agreement.

    Perhaps that would be better phrased, "...to give foreign governments' national intelligence agencies more opportunities to find back doors for their own nations' nefarious use..."

    Why don't we just them the keys to our major internet hubs and ISPs while we're at it!
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited September 2003
    If our major ISPs run Windows, we're F**ked anyhow.
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