Trav's Blog

Apparently the source code to an early build of Microsoft’s Codename Whistler Operating System (the OS that eventually became Windows XP) has leaked out onto the internet. [link] So this is what an MS spokesperson said:

From the BetaNews article:
“A source code leak would present multiple problems for Microsoft,” explained Wilcox. “First, the loss of valuable intellectual property worth hundreds of millions in development cost. Second, hackers could look for and exploit new security vulnerabilities. That could create credibility loss for Microsoft, as some businesses question the security of Windows. Finally, Windows NT and 2000 are the foundation of Windows XP.”

A comment posted by “thatwaltguy”:
“Second, hackers could look for and exploit new security vulnerabilities.

Let’s rewrite that.

Second, hackers could provide a much more reliable source for patches and bug fixes.”

This could be either very good or very bad for us and very good or very bad for MS.
On the one hand, there could be an operating system coming from the source that l337 hax0rz develop, unofficially officially codenamed “Windows XFree” by Katie. Granted, it wasn’t ALL the code, it was just a little bit of it. Only 13.5 million lines of code, as opposed to the 35-50 million rumored to be contained in the Windows 2000 source. So it’s only about 1/2 or 1/3 of the operating system… but it might be enough, to develop a Win32 operating system. Granted, I assume anyone found using it would get into some serious trouble…

Another possibility, CRACKERs, not hackers, may find new security holes and exploit them, leaving any windows user crippled and making MS lose credibility. My personal favorite possibility, because it would make Open Source development even just a little more mainstream. Bad for Windows users, good for anyone else.
OK let me rephrase that, I DON’T want every windows system to be crippled. I wouldn’t mind MS losing face though.

Could also lead to MS cracking down on any security holes that do exist, leading to a more stable Windows, and unfortunately, higher credibility for Microsoft. Good for Windows users, bad for anyone else.

Linux is believed to be on 2.8% of all computers out there, right behind Apple, at 3%, with Microsoft in the lead with, I imagine, most of the rest of the 94%. This could be just the thing that Linux and the open source community in general needs to get a little boost toward mainstream. Even if nothing happens of security holes, the fact that the source has leaked shows some incompetence on Microsoft’s part. The fact that there is a huge possibility of new security holes being found could make IT businesses make the switch because they can’t afford a security breach.

Meh. It’s all speculation now, but who knows what could happen? I seriously doubt anyone witll make an OS out of it, but the thought of new security holes (that we all know windows is full of) being found is scary… look at what people have found in the past year with blaster and mydoom, WITHOUT SOURCE!

So after all that, all I can say is switch to linux. *L*

-Travis-