[ISN] Microsoft opens source code to Russian secret service

From: InfoSec News <alerts_at_private>
Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:31:12 -0500 (CDT)
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/security/2010/07/08/microsoft-opens-source-code-to-russian-secret-service-40089481/

By Tom Espiner
ZDNet UK
8 July, 2010

Microsoft has signed a deal to open its Windows 7 source code up to the 
Russian intelligence services.

Russian publication Vedomosti reported on Wednesday that Microsoft had 
also given the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) access to 
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft Office 2010 and Microsoft 
SQL Server source code, with hopes of improving Microsoft sales to the 
Russian state.

The agreement will allow state bodies to study the source code and 
develop cryptography for the Microsoft products through the 
Science-Technical Centre 'Atlas', a government body controlled by the 
Ministry of Communications and Press, according to Vedomosti.

Microsoft Russia president Nikolai Pryanishnikov told Vedomosti that 
employees of Atlas and the FSB will be able to share conclusions about 
Microsoft products.

The agreement is an extension to a deal Microsoft struck with the 
Russian government in 2002 to share source code for Windows XP, Windows 
2000 and Windows Server 2000, said Vedomosti.

[...]


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Received on Sun Jul 11 2010 - 22:31:12 PDT

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