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Vista's Implications For Open Source
Doug Caverly
Staff Writer
2006-08-21
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Bill Thompson, a respected technology commentator, voiced some of his thoughts about Vista's security measures earlier today. He believes this Microsoft product could be something very important - "the point at which the ongoing argument between two very different models of how software should be developed and maintained is finally resolved."
"With Vista Microsoft is taking much greater control over key aspects of the way users' computers run - especially when it comes to security," Thompson stated. "This will highlight the differences between the closed development model advocated by Microsoft and the approach taken by free and open source software developers like the people behind GNU/Linux or the Firefox browser."
Microsoft's approach to security is such that "it may be locking many security vendors out of Vista, and as a result it will be under extreme pressure to deliver a completely secure system. If it fails and Vista security is cracked we will only have Microsoft to blame."
"If severe flaws are discovered in Vista, and there already signs that the lockdown is far from perfect," Thompson continued, "then users may well wonder why they have put their faith in the ‘benign dictator' approach to security. Users may instead decide they prefer a more democratic model, like the one which lets everyone who cares to do so examine the source code of the Firefox browser and help remove bugs."
Thompson reached an interesting conclusion. "And if that happens, perhaps we will see Microsoft and other companies taking free software more seriously as a model to adopt rather than a dangerous ideology to be defeated."
The BBC made available a transcript of Thompson's discussion. He "is a regular commentator on the BBC World Service programme Digital Planet."
Tag: Vista security
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About the Author:
Doug is a staff writer for SecurityProNews. InternetFinancialNews, SearchNewz, and WebProNews.
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