[Register]MS denies Win 7 backdoor rumours - Overclock.net

5entinel · 11-22-09

Quote:

Microsoft has once again denied rumours that it built a backdoor into Windows 7.
Long standing conspiracy theories that Redmond outfits Windows with a covert entry point for law enforcement resurfaced after a senior National Security Agency (NSA) official told Congress it had worked with Redmond on the operating system.

Richard Schaeffer, the NSA's information assurance director, told a Senate homeland security sub-committee on Tuesday that the agency had worked with developers on Windows 7's operating system security guide. He added that the NSA has worked with Microsoft as well as Apple, Sun, and RedHat in the past in developing "secure baselines for their products".

Quote:

Microsoft categorically denied this on Thursday. 'Microsoft has not and will not put 'backdoors' into Windows 7," a spokeswoman told Computerworld. "The work being discussed here is purely in conjunction with our Security Compliance Management Toolkit."
A Windows 7 version of the Toolkit, which provides a guide to hardening Windows-based networks, was released last month.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11...ckdoor_denial/

T3h_Ch33z_Muncha · 11-22-09

i wouldn't be surprised.

Diabolical999 · 11-22-09

Quote:

National Security Agency (NSA) official told Congress it had worked with Redmond on the operating system.

Don't see any reason why he'd lie about that - informing Congress no less that they worked with Microsoft. Big Brother simply wants to keep track of all your terrorist activities, via Windows 7. The FBI, CIA, NSA crack down on potential "terrorist" forums/sites all the time, so it shouldn't come as any surprise if your very operating system can now be used as one of their little "tools" to spy on people's computer activity. The Patriot Act knows NO limits, unfortunately. "The patriot Act increases the ability of law enforcement agencies to search telephone, e-mail communications, medical, financial, and other records." So you can now add "computer operating systems" to that list.

Parthian · 11-22-09

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSAKEY

SonicJoe · 11-22-09

I tend to believe MS on this one. Anyone who believes the government is installing backdoors into OS's without real proof is being paranoid. It's in the government's best interest to ensure that all computers connected to the internet are as secure as possible, because any exposed computer on the network provides a window for foreign governments to bring down the whole US Internet infrastructure. This is why the NSA was involved with the development process.

Besides, if the governemt wants in to your computer, they'll get in. Do you really think they need to go as far as to install a backdoor into the OS?

OpTicaL · 11-22-09

I thought all Windows since the dawn of Windows had backdoors.

Vagrant Storm · 11-22-09

LOL Do you really think something as horendous as a back door could be put into an operating system without some one finding it?

No way...

Plus if they only "worked with" the NSA that means they could have just basically done nothing more than have coffee with each other and discuss some OS security tactics. going off of the information given, the NSA had no direct involvement with the making of any OS's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OpTicaL

I thought all Windows since the dawn of Windows had backdoors.

Depends what you call a back door...in many ways Windows Update would be a back door since it gets access to your system and is allowed to make changes. I consider remote assistance a back door through and through as well.

SLeeZeY · 11-22-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diabolical999

Don't see any reason why he'd lie about that - informing Congress no less that they worked with Microsoft. Big Brother simply wants to keep track of all your terrorist activities, via Windows 7. The FBI, CIA, NSA crack down on potential "terrorist" forums/sites all the time, so it shouldn't come as any surprise if your very operating system can now be used as one of their little "tools" to spy on people's computer activity. The Patriot Act knows NO limits, unfortunately. "The patriot Act increases the ability of law enforcement agencies to search telephone, e-mail communications, medical, financial, and other records." So you can now add "computer operating systems" to that list.

I'm sure Abdul and Mohammad are using Windows 7 on their 386.

Maybe they'll upgrade, they can only do so much with MSpaint, Notepad and Encarta.

CattleRustler · 11-22-09

given Bill Gates' family tree, I wouldnt be surprised if they have backdoors built into windows. Some above said "if they want in, they'll get in" which is true, but having access provided for makes it that much easier

Dockery · 11-22-09

Oh wow, here come the government conspiracy theories about trying to control their people...

...*yawn*

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[Register]MS denies Win 7 backdoor rumours

11-22-09	#4 (permalink)
Parthian New to Overclock.net Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 91 Rep: 6 Unique Rep: 6 Trader Rating: 0	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSAKEY

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