[TAG] [schneier at counterpane.com: CRYPTO-GRAM, March 15, 2004]

[Ben Okopnik]

On Tue, Mar 16, 2004 at 03:10:51AM +0000, Thomas Adam wrote:
>  --- Ben Okopnik <ben at callahans.org> wrote: 
> 
> "
> > I am stunned that Microsoft didn't immediately know exactly who leaked 
> > the code.  There are easy techniques to give each version of the 
> > Microsoft source code files a unique watermark, such that any copy can 
> > be traced back to its source.  The fact that they didn't bother doing 
> > this says a lot about their own internal security.
> "
> 
> I am no conspiracy theorist myself, but it does make you wonder whether
> this was planned or whether Microsoft are gently smiling. At least this
> way it gives Microsoft an edge and a means to say "upgrade to Windows XP"
> so that they can stop supporting Win98/2K and its kindred....

XP is based on 2k. I did, however, think of the effect of a bunch of
Linux people looking at the code and laughing, and Micr0s0ft recording
the exact _details_ of what they're laughing at so they can fix it...

Nah, that's too paranoid even even for the dark glasses.


* Ben Okopnik * okopnik.freeshell.org * Technical Editor, Linux Gazette *
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