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May 10, 2007 3:34 PM PDT

Microsoft gathers hackers in Redmond

by Joris Evers
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It is "Blue Hat" time again and Microsoft has gathered an exclusive group of responsible hackers this week at its Redmond, Wash., headquarters.

It is the fifth such event on the Microsoft campus. Employees are getting a security reality check from hackers who will talk about Microsoft's product security, Web security, mobile security and hardware security, among other topics. A schedule is posted on Microsoft's Web site.

In 2005 Microsoft invited several hackers to Redmond for the first time. That get-together was such a success that Microsoft decided to host such events twice a year.

Microsoft modeled and named Blue Hat after the widely known Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas. Many of the Black Hat talks dive deep into security flaws found in software. The Blue Hat name is tweaked to reflect Microsoft's corporate color, in particular the blue badges worn by Microsoft employees.

The multiday meeting of Microsoft insiders with hackers provides each side with a glimpse into the other's world. The goal, for Microsoft, is to improve its relationship with security researchers and find ways to develop more secure software, the company has said.

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msn
by Brucee747 May 10, 2007 5:46 PM PDT
Would like to use msn but find it user unfreindly
so now use Yahoo.
Reply to this comment
umm... Google.
by rich966 May 10, 2007 7:24 PM PDT
What?!? You would prefer to use MSN but found it not user friendly and switched to whom? Yahoo??? Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?
Pop the question...
by ethana2 May 10, 2007 9:20 PM PDT
What OS'es do you guys use?
"Gentoo Linux and BSD."
"Why, then, are you here?"
"You sounded desperate on the phone."
"No, really, what are you doing here?"
"I'm getting paid, right?"
Reply to this comment
Don't forget Jolt
by Travis Ernst May 11, 2007 10:57 AM PDT
Where's the Jolt?

Smart idea if they want to find holes in the ware.... I don't know if
I'd be THAT nice and let Papa Bear know all my tricks. MS
QualityControl still has to QORK for a paycheck rather than having
gifted Hax lead them to the gold treasure.
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