__/ [ B Gruff ] on Friday 12 January 2007 17:15 \__
> On Friday 12 January 2007 10:12 Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>
>> Windows Vista: Intercontinental Ballistic Software
>>
>> ,----[ Quote ]
>> | "With Windows Vista and potentially Office 2007 that changes --
>> | the activation system will occasionally check if the product key
>> | is still 'legal'. If Microsoft decides that the product key for
>> | your software has been stolen and misused then your copy of Vista
>> | or possibly Office 2007 can be disabled remotely (after a
>> | warning period)."
>> |
>> | [...]
>> |
>> | Frankly it?s hard to imagine why any sensible foreign government
>> | would allow Vista to be installed on any PC in their country. If
>> | I were France, China, Iran, Canada, Venezuela, or anybody else, I
>> | think I'd be looking at a country-wide migration to Linux.
>> |
>> | Some nations are starting to worry about this. China is one of
>> | the most likely targets of a U.S.-Microsoft cyber-attack,
>> | and they're probably further along than anyone in preparing to
>> | defend against it. However, I don?t think they're ready yet.
>> | They have not taken the logical step of flat-out banning the
>> | installation of foreign-controlled closed source software.
>> `----
>>
>>
>
http://www.elharo.com/blog/politics/2007/01/10/windows-vista-intercontinental-ballistic-software/
>> http://tinyurl.com/ylu8g8
>
> Thanks for that one.
>
> It's not being paranoid - it's the first lesson in security, "Security of
> Supply".
> Non-U.S. countries ignore it at their peril.
> Note how quick the U.S. was to ban China-manufactured PCs from the
> Pentagon?
Can you imagine a war involving the United States? America could immobilise
every computer that is connected on enemy lines. Even if disconnected (which
makes it utterly useless), validation could be forced that requires going
online. All of this stuff is embedded in binary blobs, so there's no way
around it. It is not at all surprising that some countries consider
migrations to Linux a case of national security. As for hardware
manufacturers, think embedded design without open designs, as well as binary
drivers. Groklaw has begun a push against binary blobs and lenient, foolish
acceptance. Making Linux more like Mac OS and Windows is the last thing you
want, especially if Linux that mimics the closed-source model pulls users
from the purists' side. It's a compromise that probably can't be afforded
and Canonical is pushing the limits at the moment.
--
~~ Best regards
For governments that eavesdrop, here is a quick list of tags: Communism,
Hawaiian shirts, China, Suitcase, Martha Stewart, Encryption, Prison,
Stalin. Thanks for tuning in.
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