Microsoft Denies Rumors of NSA Backdoor in Windows 7
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:46:07 PM by Bart Salisbury
Someone was bound to connect the dots, even if the dots weren’t intended to make a pattern. With Microsoft working with the National Security Agency (NSA), the nation’s biggest, most top-secret spy agency, some suspicious were bound to be raised. But, not to worry, Microsoft assures us: It did not plant deep in Windows 7 code a backdoor for the NSA to spy on you.
Microsoft’s story is the NSA helped Microsoft with the “Security Compliance Management Toolkit.” The toolkit, which rolled out after Windows 7, allows enterprises, government agencies, and large-scale organizations the ability to manage levels of security risk beyond those of regular users. The NSA is a happy partner in such ventures because of its concerns for cybersecurity.
But there lurks behind the story the NSA’s need for gathering intelligence, which a backdoor into an OS would greatly aid. Cisco, for example, has built into it’s products, such as its Internetworking Operating system (ISO) and VoIP lines, lawful intercept capabilities. (Which require a court order.) It’s not a big leap to conclude that perhaps Microsoft might have done the same.
Some have questioned the wisdom of Microsoft’s working with the NSA, including Marc Rothenberg, the executive director of the Electronics Privacy Information Center (EPIC). Said Rothenberg: “The key problem is that NSA has a dual mission, COMPUSEC, computer security, now called cyber security, and SIGINT, signals intelligence, in other words surveillance.” He added that it might be tough for any company, even Microsoft, to turn down an NSA “suggestion” for a backdoor.
Roger Thompson, chief research officer of AVG, sides with Microsoft. “I can't imagine NSA and Microsoft would do anything deliberate, because the repercussions would be enormous if they got caught,” said Thompson.
For now, Microsoft says it isn’t there. Whether that curbs your paranoia or not is another matter entirely.
Image Credit: RussellReno/Flickr
All the NSA does when a new
Submitted by TimberWolf on Sat, 11/21/2009 - 6:51pm
All the NSA does when a new OS comes out is just approve it for government usage.
Submitted by szore on Sat, 11/21/2009 - 9:18am
people, all the government needs to spy on you is a court order. period. they can get those by showing a need, which is easy if they need to spy on you, so all this talk about "liberty" and "privacy" is a crock. ohhhh the big evil government... oh, you have a warrant? ok do whatever you want!!!
...please.
Submitted by alanmc76 on Sun, 11/22/2009 - 11:17am
Szore, i think the term you were looking for is "probable cause". And you would have to be into some pretty deep "stuff" to even raise the red flags. There is also a difference between intelligence gathering and criminal surveillance.
Please, people do you really think that the NSA, CIA or any other three letter gov't agency needs a new MS product to conduct SIGINT? Another poster aleady pointed out that the NSA only approves the OS for use on gov't networks. Do you really think they would clue MS into their methods of intelligence gathering? That stuff is so buried in security clearances, they wouldn't dare share that infromation. MS can't even keep from leaking launch dates, how would they handle matters of national security?
And for all those complaining about their Constitutional rights, have any of you even read it? Which rights were you refering to exactly? And in which artice is it guaranteed?
________________________________
-- "What am I, MacGyver? Fix it with what?"--
Submitted by DarkHelmet on Sat, 11/21/2009 - 7:21am
Seems like every time a new MS Operating System comes out, there's one of these stories.
Let's not be naive, people. If the government wants to spy on you, they are going to. And there's nothing we can do about it.
-Helmet
Submitted by TechJunkie on Sat, 11/21/2009 - 4:02am
double post, sorry.
Submitted by K0BALT on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 5:01pm
I give it a week before some hacker taps into this... if "it" exists..................
Submitted by the_Troll on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 8:24pm
And then they can tap into us. But I think you guys are all paranoid. "WE," I mean they are not spying on you. By the way Bob you left the toilet sit up. Steve, stop playing with yourself, you'll go blind. Cindy, you haven't email your mom in a while, its about time.
Submitted by uhwut on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 4:59pm
someone to check grammar, spelling?
Submitted by PawBear on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 4:50pm
I hear all the time that 9/11 was caused by complacency. I believe the facts indicate our intelligence agencies failed to follow up on information they already had.
No, I don't want to give up my constitutional rights for the sake of safety. Look at the mess we're already in because of it. Yes, I want our agencies to be able to perform their jobs, within constitutional limits.
Spying on American citizens is illegal, or was! I've never given anyone the right to spy on me, have you?
Submitted by QUINTIX256 on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 4:29pm
Thanks to all the gossip, rumors, exaggerations, and out right lies (like this one) over the years, public support for a key intelligence agency is waning. The NSA is going to become the most crippled and useless intelligence agency in the whole world. We are less safe thanks to bs “rumors” like this.
You can have your recession. I'm not participating.
Submitted by Lost_Intelligence on Sat, 11/21/2009 - 11:47am
Dick Chaney, is that you?
In honest response, I do agree to a point. I also want to put forth the fact that it is, to a certain extent, the responsibility of the people to question any governments intents and operations in a way to keep the government honest.
It's a delicate balance between national security and the people's rights to be informed. While the government can't release all information - and by all means shouldn't, there do need to be SOME checks in place. That's why we have elected officials with rights to check on these agencies.
Submitted by I Jedi on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 4:56pm
Except for the part where these are just people's opinions.
Submitted by TechJunkie on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 4:46pm
I agree!
Submitted by I Jedi on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 3:22pm
Although I admit that I have nothing to hide myself, with TechJunkie and Black. The fact of the matter being is that it is still a potential for an invasion of privacy, which is why everyone is on high alert about this. No matter if we're terrorist or not; moreover; the NSA shouldn't be able to walks in, and spy on us anytime they please. I'm, again, reminded of someone from our countries past who had it right, "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
We live in a world where we listen to what the media says, and the media is always spelling doom on the television screen. The government has their little elevation warning level to show us just how fucked we are, and the list goes on and on. If you give the government an inch, they'll take a mile... My point being is that we shouldn't happily say,"Go ahead, here is my password, government." Does it help better protect us at the end of the day? Yes, but at what cost are we giving up these essential freedoms? People need to learn to live, but not live in fear.
Submitted by TechJunkie on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 3:51pm
I agree with most of what you said. But the NSA isnt snooping on your privacy as too how many illegal MP3's or movies you might have. They are also not going to steal that password for your porn site you just purchased and use up your bandwidth. I agree to the fact that the media makes it sound as that we are fucked but you have to remember, we were complacent prior to 9/11 and our complacency got 3000 innocent people killed. The minute you give terrorists an inch, they take a mile.
The only thing in this day and age I truly consider private is what I physically do around the house. Everything else is up for grabs and is not private. Like the Popparazzi snapping photos outside your home, or taking nude photos of the wife and putting them on facebook. All I'm saying is that if it doesn't bother me in my day to day life, then I don't care, they can do as they please. But the minute I send an email with the word bomb in it and they come crashing through my door, then there's a problem. But that is not what they are looking for. But I am willing to give up that freedom (reasons above to an extent) to somewhat help protect us so we don't have to live in fear. Do you want to live like the Isreali's?
Submitted by 50 Calibre AssHole on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 7:39pm
I thought I was the only one putting nude photo's of your wife on facebook...
Submitted by TechJunkie on Sat, 11/21/2009 - 4:05am
You are! Just make sure you place them next to your wife's photo's to make her look better! :)
Submitted by mdude on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 4:08pm
A tyrannical government without restraints is the biggest threat to our freedom. Yes, the US still has a constitution. How many people in our government actually know what's in it, let alone adhere to it?
As for 9/11, do you believe terrorists did that because the media told you so, or because you actually looked at the facts yourself and came to your conclusion?
Submitted by 50 Calibre AssHole on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 7:44pm
BANNED: Because of the name. It's not appropriate for this site.
Submitted by Member2600 on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 8:30pm
but was this guy tracked down and fired from his job...
Submitted by TechJunkie on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 4:59pm
Yes we have a constitution and it should be adhered to. But times change and so should the constitution through amendments. I will tell you that I am a republican and damn well proud of it and against big government. I would hate the government to have no constraints or restraints when it comes to our personal lives stripping our freedoms away from us one by one. But in the same token, If this article were to be true, isn't taking away any freedoms. You are still able to do as you please. BUt in all honesty, what's the difference between the NSA and your current service provider? They still monitor, log, and meter your use all without the use of the NSA. They are the ones that will take your freedom and privacy away.
As for 9/11, the media didn't have to say anything. just the fact of the videos of the Jets slamming into those buildings is proof enough. Do I believe our government had a hand in it? Maybe, but I will never tell ;)
Submitted by mdude on Sat, 11/21/2009 - 4:10am
Chances are my ISP is actively recording most IP addresses I visit. Monitoring? Not unless the government tells them to. Now the NSA, I'd imagine they're being searching for words and phrases that I'm not going to type here. That's the difference.
Oh and you saw the recording? Did you know that studies have shown when there are higher ice cream sales that more cars are stolen? That's because when it's warmer, people tend to buy more ice cream ... and they tend to leave their car windows down. There is a difference between correlation and causation.
the thing is the Home User
Submitted by nekollx on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 3:46pm
the thing is the Home User has nothing to worry about, the NSA element is for businesses in a Add-In Optional patch. So the NSA has no back door unless you let them in, at which point who are you really going to blame?
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Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Submitted by TechJunkie on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 3:07pm
As long as the NSA isn't using it to send me virus's or unwanted junk email, I could careless. Besides, if it's used only for the purpose of keeping me and my family safe, I say go for it, get them coward morons they call terrorists. The only people you will hear complain or scream violation is the people who have something to hide.
Submitted by Black Lable 69 on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 2:59pm
I think its great & unless your doing something wrong then you should have nothing to worry about. Besides, you loose more of your privacy in public now with all those damn public traffic cameras. "Oh that was you digging for Gold in your nose on Utube"
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