Microsoft probes Windows code leak

Microsoft said it is investigating how the code got on
the Internet and is working with law enforcement.
"It's illegal for third parties to post Microsoft
source code," spokesman Tom Pilla said. "We obviously
take that very seriously."

The 203MB file expands to just under 660MB, noting
that the final code size almost perfectly matches the
capacity of a typical CD-ROM. The entire source code,
is believed to be about 40GB, meaning that the file
circulating Thursday is only a fraction of the full
code base. Microsoft said it is looking into claims
that file traders were swapping its proprietary source
code.

Although Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has publicly
bragged about the security of Windows, even Microsoft
fears the release of its code. In testimony during the
Microsoft antitrust trial, Jim Allchin, the company's
senior vice president for Windows, said opening up the
company's source code could be devastating for the
operating system's security.

"Theoretically, to a good reverse engineer, all code
is open source," said a Microsoft security consultant
who asked not to be identified. In the end, however,
the mistake that made Microsoft's code public might
result in benefits similar to open-source code.

http://www.linux.net/news/story.php?newsid=71&topstory=1

-LED



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