Windows leaked?

[Roger's head 0]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3484545.stm

 

So what does this mean then? Tons more shit for us poor PC users??

 

---

 

Computer software giant Microsoft says parts of the tightly guarded blueprints of its Windows operating system have been leaked over the internet.

Microsoft spokesman Tom Pilla said the company did not know how much of the source code had been leaked, or how many people may have access to it.

 

Hackers with the code could exploit the operating system and access machines running Windows.

 

It is the second major security headache for Microsoft in a week.

 

Hackers

 

On Tuesday, it said there was a flaw in its latest Windows operating systems that could allow hackers access to many of the hundreds of millions of computers worldwide using those systems.

 

The company could not immediately pinpoint the source of leak, and has contacted law enforcement authorities.

 

It is thought to comprise parts of the source code for Windows 2000 and Windows NT.

 

Mr Pilla said there was no indication the code leak was a result of a breach of Microsoft's corporate network.

 

There was no known immediate impact to Microsoft customers, he said.

 

But the other threat to Microsoft is the fact that such access could provide a competitive edge to its rivals, who would gain a much better understanding of the inner workings of Microsoft's technology.

 

[veronica 2]

Please no....

[brit-gob 9]

How "big" is Windows? (size of code??)

[enderzero 0]

BIG. Competitors?! Just who are they talking about? Do they really think Mac OS programmers or Linux heads are going to be able to get something from the NT source that they will really use?

 

I seriously doubt this will affect the average end user.

[brit-gob 9]

By "big", I meant how many MB of code.

[enderzero 0]

Many

 

Code is measured in lines...and I think that is undisclosed. But I could be wrong.

[fantastic 0]

Found this:

 

Q&A: Microsoft source code leaked

 

Microsoft has admitted that some of the source code for its widely used operating systems have been leaked on to the internet. BBC News Online explains what has happened and what the consequences will be.

 

 

The leak of Windows code is a huge embarassment

What has happened?

 

Some of the core computer code for Microsoft's Windows NT 4 and Windows 2000 products has been found circulating online. The files are reportedly proving very popular on file-sharing networks such as Kazaa and chat nets such as IRC.

 

What is source code?

 

It is the raw computer language written by programmers as they put together an application. When a program is compiled to become a working program this code is scrambled and becomes unreadable.

 

Commercial software firms guard source code for their products very carefully because rivals that get access to it could find out how their products work and copy them. A software company's source code is the equivalent to Coke's recipe for its fizzy drink.

 

What has been leaked?

 

So far there are only details about the leak of source code for Windows 2000, even though Microsoft has said that some of the code for NT4 is also online.

 

The Windows 2000 code is a 203MB chunk that expands to about 600MB - enough to fill one CD.

 

Microsoft has said that this represents about 15% of the total source code for the operating system. It is not enough to recreate the operating system.

 

The leaked chunk contains library and text files, scripts, executable programs and raw computer code. It seems to date from 25 July 2000.

 

Why is this a problem for Microsoft?

 

 

Code for Windows 2000 and NT4 has been leaked

For several reasons.

 

Firstly, it is yet another security lapse during a month that has seen the appearance of the fastest spreading virus ever as well as the discovery of yet another critical vulnerability in the Windows operating system.

 

Secondly, Microsoft's growth has come about because of its tight control of its intellectual property - the source code of its products. This has helped it maintain a stranglehold on the desktop computer market. That hold has been demonstrably loosened now. Rivals could use it to get a better idea of how Windows works and help them compete against Microsoft.

 

Thirdly, it might be the last straw for people tired of the security headaches that Windows creates.

 

Fourthly, for Microsoft to have this code paraded in public is hugely embarrassing. Not least because the code is littered with profanity and might show that many Microsoft programmers do not do a very good job.

 

In the past independent programmers that have deconstructed other Microsoft applications have been shocked at what they found within the code. Rivals and critics will be able to see exactly how Microsoft staff do their work.

 

Is this going to mean more security problems for Microsoft products?

 

It is too soon to say. Certainly knowing exactly how something works will be useful to anyone that wants to attack it, but few malicious hackers need an intimate knowledge of Windows to create havoc. Many of the viruses doing the rounds are simply copycat versions of older pernicious programs.

 

Virus writers tend to be lazy and build on the efforts of others. Few are likely to trawl through the millions of lines of code and go to the trouble of working out where new vulnerabilities can be found.

 

However, it just takes one dedicated vandal to do the work and the tools will be available to all

 

Microsoft has said it is more an intellectual property problem than it is a security issue.

 

Who has access to Windows source code?

 

Windows XP builds on the leaked code

Lots of people in thousands of organisations. Microsoft runs the Shared Source Initiative that lets researchers and key customers and business partners get a look at the basic code for many of its products. Up to 90% of the source code for Windows products has been shared over the years.

 

The only parts that Microsoft does not let anyone see are the bits dealing with product activation, its use of cryptography and code from other firms it cannot license directly.

 

This initiative was started to counter the success of the open source movement which is based around the freedom to inspect and play with the source code of computer programs.

 

Is this the first time this has happened?

 

It is the first leak of Windows source code though early releases of the various versions of Windows regularly circulate before they are official unveiled.

 

This leak is not thought to be related to the hack attack on Microsoft's corporate network that took place in October 2000.

 

Also, years ago code to version 6.22 of DOS was leaked online but no-one cared because it was so old.

[enderzero 0]

from zdnet:

 

The 203MB file expands to just under 660MB. The entire source code is believed to be about 40GB, meaning that the file circulating would be only a fraction of the full code base--if it is authentic.

 

from eweek.com:

 

BetaNews has learned that Thursday's leak of the Windows 2000 source code originated not from Microsoft, but from long-time Redmond partner Mainsoft. The leaked code includes 30,915 files and was apparently removed from a Linux computer used by Mainsoft for development purposes. Dated July 25, 2000, the source code represents Windows 2000 Service Pack 1.

[oldspice 0]

And what exactly can people do with that leaked part?

[Plucky 0]

It's nothing to worry about. Seriously, don't even give it a second thought. It will not affect you.

 

May help db's Mac stock though.....

 

Unfortunately, the US has the world wrapped around their little finger in this. Mac vs. Windows vs. Linux = Bush vs Kerry vs Edwards. No matter what happens, we all eventually lose.

 

Sorry guys, but when will some other country step up and do something? Still waiting for it to happen. Change is good, but bitching is not going to get anyone anywhere. I'd love to see a new OS but who the hell is going to come up with it? I'm sorry, and a bit out of line here, but how bout some other country do something and quit riding the coatails of this supposedly 'horrible' regime?

 

Just a thought.

[enderzero 0]

Linux was created by a man from Finland. Does that count?

[Plucky 0]

That counts. That was all tongue in cheek. I forgot the smiley face at the end.

 

I read up a little more on this. Doesn't seem it will affect us endusers, but it's still not a great thing for Microsoft. Too bad more people aren't into the Unix thing. So much better.