Live data from Hacker News

Microsoft Chose Profit over Security, Whistleblower Says

propublica.org

1–10 of 318 posts

Re: Microsoft Chose Profit over Security, Whistleblower Says

#2
Sounds like the same Microsoft culture as has always been. Like a cult. It can do no wrong. The conversation with Microsoft businesspeople at conferences was always the same: Microsoft has no deficiencies, there is nothing it isn't working on and it has a solution for every possible problem. Other sources of software do not exist. There is only Microsoft. Total illusion put forth by delusional employees. The outside world can be ignored because life in the cult is good.

Re: Microsoft Chose Profit over Security, Whistleblower Says

#4

Sounds like the same Microsoft culture as has always been. Like a cult. It can do no wrong. The conversation with Microsoft businesspeople at conferences was always the same: Microsoft has no deficiencies, there is nothing it isn't working on and it has a solution for every possible problem. Other sources of software do not exist. There is only Microsoft. Total illusion put forth by delusional employees. The outside…

Don't worry, Microsoft has big ambitions and huge plans about how to truly present themselves as more safety oriented in the future.

Re: Microsoft Chose Profit over Security, Whistleblower Says

#5

Sounds like the same Microsoft culture as has always been. Like a cult. It can do no wrong. The conversation with Microsoft businesspeople at conferences was always the same: Microsoft has no deficiencies, there is nothing it isn't working on and it has a solution for every possible problem. Other sources of software do not exist. There is only Microsoft. Total illusion put forth by delusional employees. The outside…

If memory over the last two decades serves, this is a relatively recent degradation.

Microsoft's security reputation prior to the recent (5ish years?) failures was largely built up on top of the work stemming from the Trustworthy Computing memo.

https://www.wired.com/2002/01/bill-gates-trustworthy-computi...

Re: Microsoft Chose Profit over Security, Whistleblower Says

#6
post #4

Sounds like the same Microsoft culture as has always been. Like a cult. It can do no wrong. The conversation with Microsoft businesspeople at conferences was always the same: Microsoft has no deficiencies, there is nothing it isn't working on and it has a solution for every possible problem. Other sources of software do not exist. There is only Microsoft. Total illusion put forth by delusional employees. The outside…

Don't worry, Microsoft has big ambitions and huge plans about how to truly present themselves as more safety oriented in the future.

AI Safety. Code is run through AI to check for vulnerabilities. Files are analyzed by AI to ensure they aren't malware. Every instruction is run through AI to ensure nothing maliciously is happening (mostly enforcing DRM :). Every pixel is output by AI to ensure you see nothing not intended for your precious eyes.

Re: Microsoft Chose Profit over Security, Whistleblower Says

#7

Sounds like the same Microsoft culture as has always been. Like a cult. It can do no wrong. The conversation with Microsoft businesspeople at conferences was always the same: Microsoft has no deficiencies, there is nothing it isn't working on and it has a solution for every possible problem. Other sources of software do not exist. There is only Microsoft. Total illusion put forth by delusional employees. The outside…

This comment sounds hyperbolic, but it really isn't. It's really bad. This has been my experience with Microsoft employees also.

In my experience, what makes for bad software is PM and engineering hubris. You definitely need some vision and confidence as just following user feedback is a recipe for terrible software as well. The key is to find the right balance and straddle that line.

If it's been long enough for insiders to tell the story of Windows Phone and the eventual cancellation, I'd be fascinated to hear the story of that (from inception to death) and how that went internally given the culture.

Re: Microsoft Chose Profit over Security, Whistleblower Says

#8
post #5

Sounds like the same Microsoft culture as has always been. Like a cult. It can do no wrong. The conversation with Microsoft businesspeople at conferences was always the same: Microsoft has no deficiencies, there is nothing it isn't working on and it has a solution for every possible problem. Other sources of software do not exist. There is only Microsoft. Total illusion put forth by delusional employees. The outside…

If memory over the last two decades serves, this is a relatively recent degradation. Microsoft's security reputation prior to the recent (5ish years?) failures was largely built up on top of the work stemming from the Trustworthy Computing memo. https://www.wired.com/2002/01/bill-gates-trustworthy-computi...

Bill Gates in 2002: "So now, when we face a choice between adding features and resolving security issues, we need to choose security."

Satya Nadella in 2024: "If you’re faced with the tradeoff between security and another priority, your answer is clear: Do security."

Microsoft in 2024: Run this software on your computer so we can take a screenshot of everything you do, index it and we promise Security is still, and have always been, the priority. And yes, we do store data unencrypted on your disk, why are you asking?

Re: Microsoft Chose Profit over Security, Whistleblower Says

#10

Sounds like the same Microsoft culture as has always been. Like a cult. It can do no wrong. The conversation with Microsoft businesspeople at conferences was always the same: Microsoft has no deficiencies, there is nothing it isn't working on and it has a solution for every possible problem. Other sources of software do not exist. There is only Microsoft. Total illusion put forth by delusional employees. The outside…

[dead]
Post reply on HN