Microsoft Offers Secure Windows … But Only to the Government

[DarkSaint]

The Air Force persuaded Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to provide it with a secure Windows configuration that saved the service about $100 million in contract costs and countless hours of maintenance. At a congressional hearing this week on cybersecurity, Alan Paller, research director of the Sans Institute, shared the story as an template for how the government could use its massive purchasing power to get companies to produce more secure products. And those could eventually be available to the rest of us.

Security experts have been arguing for this “trickle-down” model for years. But rather than wield its buying power for the greater good, the government has long wimped out and taken whatever vendors served them. If the Air Force case is a good judge, however, things might be changing.

Read more : Microsoft Offers Secure Windows … But Only to the Government | Threat Level

[SealLion]

IT's an interesting occurance to say the least. I am quite surprised that, that organization didn't consider other OS that are known to be more secure than in comparison to Win such as OpenBSD and other unix OS.

Maybe it was due to the familiarity of Win's OS usage and ease of use. That could have played a part I would guess.

Though it would be something to look forward to with respect to this 'trickle down' effect too.

[DarkSaint]

Unlike Software glitches leave Navy Smart Ship dead in the water -- Government Computer News when Windows crashes, an airplane will crash alongside Windows. Just in a completely different manner...

[vDD+wR]

If I understood it correct, then the government and related oragnizations want a specially secure windows for themselves that can't be purchased by individuals?
If that is so, I can already clearly see the torrent
(e.g. Windows.7.Ultimate.Government.Edition.x86-BIE) in my mind's eye. (hopefully they are back until this version is being released)

IT's an interesting occurance to say the least. I am quite surprised that, that organization didn't consider other OS that are known to be more secure than in comparison to Win such as OpenBSD and other unix OS.

Maybe it was due to the familiarity of Win's OS usage and ease of use. That could have played a part I would guess.

It could be due to the fact too that the oragnizations are mostly using Windows Server-based operarting systems for their network, yes?

[SealLion]

that could be vDD.

though that still is gonna make planes, trains, and automobiles crash alongside Win OS. LOL

[vDD+wR]

Yeah that's right. in my hometown they use Windows CE to show some advertising on flat screen monitors inside the trams. And if you have to get to work/ to school early in the morning you can see the system booting up and maybe even a bluescreen. ^^ (happened quite often.. LOL)

[anon]

IT's an interesting occurance to say the least. I am quite surprised that, that organization didn't consider other OS that are known to be more secure than in comparison to Win such as OpenBSD and other unix OS.

Maybe it was due to the familiarity of Win's OS usage and ease of use. That could have played a part I would guess.

Totally agree. OpenBSD has only had "only two remote holes in the default install, in a heck of a long time!".

What will happen if an embedded Windows running on a car or airplane crashes has been a subject of debate ever since someone started a rumor of "Windows for automobiles" back in the 90s.

If I understood it correct, then the government and related oragnizations want a specially secure windows for themselves that can't be purchased by individuals?
If that is so, I can already clearly see the torrent
(e.g. Windows.7.Ultimate.Government.Edition.x86-BIE) in my mind's eye.

Exactly, as proven by the X-Men workprint, stuff can get leaked, and it'd be no wonder if that happened with this too. Maybe it's better this way; hackers downloading the leak could help find and fix any bugs.

@Everyone: as we were touching the subject of blue screens, have a look at this. The page is in spanish ("página siguiente" means next page), but the pictures speak for themselves.

The problem causing the BSOD in pic #6 could only be solved by reformatting and reinstalling.

[SealLion]

I guess the computers felt that they were overworked and decided to take a holiday, yes?? LOL.


I wuold like to see a hacked version of some new Win OS that would be considered ultra-secure for some armed forces's use.

I wuold use it myself after finding it. Material like that will soon find itself on warez sites and probably even sites like Pretome and eventually, other sites. Though it'll be awhile before any OS like that is configured I imagine.

[anon]

I wuold use it myself after finding it. Material like that will soon find itself on warez sites and probably even sites like Pretome and eventually, other sites.

The last step would be eXPer1ence making one of his wonderful extra-light ISOs and releasing it at TPB. (58 views, 8 replies)

[SealLion]

I had a look on Google for his name, He's got some interesting material. Actually, I used that new Greasemonkey script GoogleFX ( nice one that. ) to help identify his file locations.

YOu know, I didn't know that there is MicroXP. I'm gonna check that out later.

[anon]

YOu know, I didn't know that there is MicroXP. I'm gonna check that out later.

You'll love it. It's extremely lightweight (just a bit more than the XP for EEE netbook). If you feel some things are missing look for MicroXP extras.rar.

eXP has also made a Micro2003 (perfect for servers as it's just as light, and everything that could be exploited has been removed) and TinyVista.

[SealLion]

And so how much disk space will MicroXP take up??

MOre than 2 Gigs??
I'm talking just only the core OS, of course.

[anon]

And so how much disk space will MicroXP take up??

Around 200MB.

[SealLion]

Your frakk'in kidding me!!??

That's lite. YOu know that I"ve been using that XPlite that we talked about before. That's working out not too bad, actually.
Though with the MicroXP, what does it NOT have that the regular WinXP does have??

I imagine that it's gotten rid of the Media player and other useless content that I can't think of atm.

[anon]

Though with the MicroXP, what does it NOT have that the regular WinXP does have??

A lot of things, too many to list. Most of the default Microsoft software (WMP, even IE) is gone, and so are most drivers and 3/4ths of the services, for example.

You can download a copy of Firefox or Opera once network connectivity is up and working.