Microsoft helped the NSA bypass encryption, new Snowden leak reveals
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Re: Microsoft helped the NSA bypass encryption, new Snowden leak reveals
#2The sad thing about all of this is that Microsoft were pretty much forced into this position (so we're told) by the authorities.
In the process these leaks have just destroyed pretty much any credibility Microsoft's online services had, which form large parts of their strategy (according to the recent Ballmer memo).
It also makes you wonder about the OS and other software they produce, which isn't a good place for MS to be in.
Re: Microsoft helped the NSA bypass encryption, new Snowden leak reveals
#3The sad thing about all of this is that Microsoft were pretty much forced into this position (so we're told) by the authorities. In the process these leaks have just destroyed pretty much any credibility Microsoft's online services had, which form large parts of their strategy (according to the recent Ballmer memo). It also makes you wonder about the OS and other software they produce, which isn't a good place for MS…
On what legal grounds was Microsoft "forced" to provide access to unencrypted data before encryption (effectively nullifying the security that they promised to their customers)? So how were they forced? Legally? Illegally/blackmail?
CALEA seems to say that companies don't have to decrypt data for authorities. I guess it's very convenient that they give it to them before they encrypt it then:
http://paranoia.dubfire.net/2010/09/calea-and-encryption.htm...
And this seems to be a "team sport", and that implies willing collaboration, not being forced to do it. More like something "fun" they're doing together.
Re: Microsoft helped the NSA bypass encryption, new Snowden leak reveals
#4Puts this in an entirely different light, doesn't it:
Even when ostensibly not functioning, the Xbox One can run in a low-powered state, ready to be snapped on at a moment's notice. That's something Microsoft was showing off last week as an asset. The only on-switch Microsoft showed for waking the machine from its low-power state was a voice command... "Xbox On." The Xbox One could only hear that if the Kinect was already, always listening. The idea that the Kinect might always be listening got people reaching for their tin foil or vowing to not let an Xbox One into their home.
Microsoft is now seeking to calm concerns that the new Kinect might spy. "We are designing the new Kinect with simple, easy methods to customize privacy settings, provide clear notifications and meaningful privacy choices for how data will be used, stored and shared," the Microsoft rep told me.
"We know our customers want and expect strong privacy protections to be built into our products, devices and services, and for companies to be responsible stewards of their data. Microsoft has more than ten years of experience making privacy a top priority. Kinect for Xbox 360 was designed and built with strong privacy protections in place and the new Kinect will continue this commitment. We’ll share more details later."
http://kotaku.com/xbox-ones-kinect-can-turn-off-microsoft-sa...
Not sure I'd want the Xbox One in my house after this fiasco.
Re: Microsoft helped the NSA bypass encryption, new Snowden leak reveals
#5The sad thing about all of this is that Microsoft were pretty much forced into this position (so we're told) by the authorities. In the process these leaks have just destroyed pretty much any credibility Microsoft's online services had, which form large parts of their strategy (according to the recent Ballmer memo). It also makes you wonder about the OS and other software they produce, which isn't a good place for MS…
I'm not sure why you're picking on Microsoft. The credibility of pretty much every large US-based tech services company is probably destroyed. The fact that we only saw the big service providers (MS, Google, etc...) on those slides doesn't mean that the other companies are free from the hands of the NSA.
Do you think that the NSA has no access to Dropbox?
Re: Microsoft helped the NSA bypass encryption, new Snowden leak reveals
#6Puts this in an entirely different light, doesn't it: Even when ostensibly not functioning, the Xbox One can run in a low-powered state, ready to be snapped on at a moment's notice. That's something Microsoft was showing off last week as an asset. The only on-switch Microsoft showed for waking the machine from its low-power state was a voice command... "Xbox On." The Xbox One could only hear that if the Kinect was al…
I agree. sadly, i doubt that many people would care about privacy concerns.
Re: Microsoft helped the NSA bypass encryption, new Snowden leak reveals
#7Puts this in an entirely different light, doesn't it: Even when ostensibly not functioning, the Xbox One can run in a low-powered state, ready to be snapped on at a moment's notice. That's something Microsoft was showing off last week as an asset. The only on-switch Microsoft showed for waking the machine from its low-power state was a voice command... "Xbox On." The Xbox One could only hear that if the Kinect was al…
Since the Xbox camera is connected to the console via a cable, you can verify whether data going over the wire. If the Xbox is off, you shouldn't see traffic. It's a /bunch/ different from traffic in a data center, which is essentially untraceable and can be cloned at many points.
Frankly I'd be more concerned about the microphones contained in ubiquitous and nearly unexaminable devices such as cell phones, and to a lesser degree laptops. (I imagine that many laptop mics are USB devices, so their traffic should be visible to drivers, the drawback being that once the traffic is on the mainboard, where it goes is less traceable).
Re: Microsoft helped the NSA bypass encryption, new Snowden leak reveals
#8The sad thing about all of this is that Microsoft were pretty much forced into this position (so we're told) by the authorities. In the process these leaks have just destroyed pretty much any credibility Microsoft's online services had, which form large parts of their strategy (according to the recent Ballmer memo). It also makes you wonder about the OS and other software they produce, which isn't a good place for MS…
I think it's wrong to say Microsoft was "forced" into this. In a sense, they made their own bed. I have to believe that the majority of Microsoft's money is based off of serving governments and huge corporations (Windows + Office). It just makes sense that they'll want to keep those relationships.
Re: Microsoft helped the NSA bypass encryption, new Snowden leak reveals
#9Well that puts their whole "We don't exploit your data like Google do" into perspective.
Re: Microsoft helped the NSA bypass encryption, new Snowden leak reveals
#10Puts this in an entirely different light, doesn't it: Even when ostensibly not functioning, the Xbox One can run in a low-powered state, ready to be snapped on at a moment's notice. That's something Microsoft was showing off last week as an asset. The only on-switch Microsoft showed for waking the machine from its low-power state was a voice command... "Xbox On." The Xbox One could only hear that if the Kinect was al…
I agree. sadly, i doubt that many people would care about privacy concerns.
an always on microphone, with fixed hardware and software, phoning home at regular intervals has a big target sign painted on it.