Microsoft's promise of spying warnings is an empty gesture

[steven36]

Yesterday we reported that Microsoft will warn users of 'state-sponsored' attacks on their accounts. Sounds great, but does it actually mean anything? Is it a useful service by the tech giant, or just PR bluster?

 

Considering the covert nature of spying and digital attacks, coupled with legislation around the world, it seems likely that the announcement is little more than meaningless hot air. In the UK, for instance, the planned snooper's charter would make it illegal for companies to alert users to hacking and surveillance by British agencies.

 

While this means that it would still be possible for Microsoft (and the likes of Yahoo who announced something similar) to let users know that their accounts are being spied on, it's not a luxury that can be extended to everyone. Should the UK, or another country's government, decide to monitor the account of Microsoft customers in the US, Microsoft could let them know about it. Likewise, if the US, Russia, or another government other than the UK one decided to spy on users in the UK, Microsoft would be able to issue alerts.

 

But should the UK government spy on users in the UK, Microsoft would not be able to issue a warning without the risk of facing prosecution. Of course, there is nothing to stop other foreign governments from introducing similar restrictions, ultimately meaning that companies have the choice between complying with the rules or quitting operations in that country.

 

As noted by TechSpot, the Investigatory Powers Bill (AKA the snooper's charter) includes the proviso that it:

...will ensure that a communication service provider does not notify the subject of an investigation that a request has been made for their data unless expressly permitted to do so.

In short, Microsoft is promising to let users know about state-sponsored spying on their accounts, but only if said state permits this information to be shared. It's an empty gesture.

 

Source

[AP1972]

It sounds great , but it's bragging...another regular.

[steven36]

36 minutes ago, AP1972 said:

It sounds great , but it's bragging...another regular.

Freedom  is a wonderful  thing only people that would have to worry about this  are people who use Microsoft and its services  .

[CODYQX4]

7 hours ago, steven36 said:

Freedom  is a wonderful  thing only people that would have to worry about this  are people who use Microsoft and its services  .

Replace Microsoft with any tech company and realize the chilling dilemma we live in today.

 

Nothing is safe, and unless you compile open source yourself you don't know what you're getting. This also assumes your compiler isn't backdoored. This also assumes that your PC Hardware itself isn't backdoored.

 

Also, state sponsored applies to countries that aren't US/UK/ China hacks you? Maybe we'll tell you. US doesn't need to hack MS, as they're begging to be the first beta tester for PRISM 2.0 right now.

[steven36]

1 hour ago, CODYQX4 said:

Replace Microsoft with any tech company and realize the chilling dilemma we live in today.

 

Nothing is safe, and unless you compile open source yourself you don't know what you're getting. This also assumes your compiler isn't backdoored. This also assumes that your PC Hardware itself isn't backdoored.

 

Also, state sponsored applies to countries that aren't US/UK/ China hacks you? Maybe we'll tell you. US doesn't need to hack MS, as they're begging to be the first beta tester for PRISM 2.0 right now.

Not really true  , Open source  code is open were you can see whats in it  were proprietary software is closed code and mostly done for some kind of profit .   the Navy still  uses old XP , While The Army . NY stock exchange ,  nuclear subs , NASA  space program etc, are using Linux .this should tell you something

 

Here's a list of Linux Adapters  all over the world

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_adopters

 

Maybe the rest of the world may catch on one day maybe after its too late .. Windows  is all about money and people that  like to spend money  And Microsoft will lie or snitch  to make money ..Linux  is for  people who like to save there money lol. One thing Linux has always had going for it that windows don't is  nothing has root access unless you give it even if one of you're programs were to  get malwares  the rest of  O/S would not be harmed . its kind of like Windows concept  of using  modern apps but no body uses modern apps much because  most  modern apps are junk  lol

 

The people who make Open source  don't have billions to spend on harvesting  data  like  M$  , Google  and Apple  does . 

 

Even Google  is smart enough not  to use windows 

Quote

Google uses a version of Ubuntu internally nicknamed Goobuntu

 

 Go try to sell  that  to something new to someone who don't know  the facts  that today most major  companies  are adapting to Open source so they can cut out software code overhead  even many who  makes proprietary software and sells  it to suckers  don't even use it in there own companies and if they do use it its most the time and old version .  Keep believing  all the fake PR  spreed by fortune 500 companies    all you want  you don't hurt no one  but yourself.  

 

 

[CODYQX4]

2 hours ago, steven36 said:

Not really true  , Open source  code is open were you can see whats in it  were proprietary software is closed code and mostly done for some kind of profit .   the Navy still  uses old XP , While The Army . NY stock exchange ,  nuclear subs , NASA  space program etc, are using Linux .this should tell you something

 

Here's a list of Linux Adapters  all over the world

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_adopters

 

Maybe the rest of the world may catch on one day maybe after its too late .. Windows  is all about money and people that  like to spend money  And Microsoft will lie or snitch  to make money ..Linux  is for  people who like to save there money lol. One thing Linux has always had going for it that windows don't is  nothing has root access unless you give it even if one of you're programs were to  get malwares  the rest of  O/S would not be harmed . its kind of like Windows concept  of using  modern apps but no body uses modern apps much because  most  modern apps are junk  lol

 

The people who make Open source  don't have billions to spend on harvesting  data  like  M$  , Google  and Apple  does . 

 

Even Google  is smart enough not  to use windows 

 

 Go try to sell  that  to something new to someone who don't know  the facts  that today most major  companies  are adapting to Open source so they can cut out software code overhead  even many who  makes proprietary software and sells  it to suckers  don't even use it in there own companies and if they do use it its most the time and old version .  Keep believing  all the fake PR  spreed by fortune 500 companies    all you want  you don't hurt no one  but yourself.  

 

 

I mean I can show you open source code, but if you download my prebuilt ISO, it isn't what you think it is (backdoors).

 

Viruses can and have infected people's compilers as well. It'd be a top tier hack to do this to machines used to compile any OS, open source or not.

 

In this day and age, and level of paranoia that doesn't start invoking alien hackers is probably somewhat reasonable.

 

Some people just assume open source = secure, and then just download whatever the ISO is, also at most verifying a hash, which the website could modify (some are still server over HTTP), or the whole damn ISO is tainted.

 

Microsoft is trying to give spy warnings against the government, so some people think of open source, but it's all highly likely hacked.

[steven36]

3 hours ago, CODYQX4 said:

I mean I can show you open source code, but if you download my prebuilt ISO, it isn't what you think it is (backdoors).

 

Viruses can and have infected people's compilers as well. It'd be a top tier hack to do this to machines used to compile any OS, open source or not.

 

In this day and age, and level of paranoia that doesn't start invoking alien hackers is probably somewhat reasonable.

 

Some people just assume open source = secure, and then just download whatever the ISO is, also at most verifying a hash, which the website could modify (some are still server over HTTP), or the whole damn ISO is tainted.

 

Microsoft is trying to give spy warnings against the government, so some people think of open source, but it's all highly likely hacked.

There not giving out warnings because windows were hacked bro there  giving warnings  because people  are being hacked thorgh there email  over there services  .  its all kinds of services  Google , Facebook .Twitter ,Yahoo  who are sending  out  these warnings Microsoft is just  late too the party .  Most of the time when someone gets hacked its trough some  program you use to connect  to the internet on some service . You take Juniper firewall   NSA Helped British Spies Find Security Holes In Juniper Firewalls  Another proprietary software the NSA hacked . Most open source  apps don't call home in Linux only if its a need   but almost all apps in windows does call home even ones there's no need  for it.  and you want talk about risk  on windows  you never  know when  the government may backdoor  those activation servers  you use to pirate windows  and office , You people pirate things  and hook right to internet  with them  at lest on Linux  everything is legal .  I always  sniff out  ips  and block them  or the whole  software when on windows using warez  or even legit  software lol.