Microsoft on Thursday launched an antipiracy initiative, seeking to combine its education, engineering and enforcement efforts to stop counterfeiting and piracy of its software. Under its Genuine Microsoft Software initiative, the software giant is trying a three-pronged program. As part of its educational efforts, Microsoft plans to work with industry partners to inform users of the potential of infecting their systems with spyware or other types of malware when downloading counterfeit software.
Microsoft also plans to warn users when their systems may be at risk, because counterfeit software does not provide the mechanism needed to get Microsoft's updates. The company also plans to continue its engineering investments in antipiracy technologies. Users, for example, are able to test the authenticity of their software via the Genuine Microsoft Software site. And Microsoft noted that it will continue to support law enforcement and government efforts to curtail counterfeiting and piracy.
If it's not fixed by now, it's a feature. But as a software developmer myself, I know that no matter how many tests I run, the field will always pick up 1-5% of the bug fix incidents.
Authentication: Confirming the person and/or application is what/whom they say they are.
Integrity: Ensuring that what is supposed to be... is as it's supposed to be... unmodified and in it's original content.
This is WHAT security is about. It's been around for thousands of years... ever since the Pharao's entombed the pyramid designers in the pyramids with the Pharao's themselves to keep the secrecy of the true path hidden.
Past encrption methods have all been discovered as will current encryption methods be discovered in the future.
Past authentication methods included the likes of changeable code words spoken before allowing one to pass over a bridge or enter a castle.
Similarly, wax seals with the King's emblem embedded on them were used as integrity checkers.
We're now standing thousands of years later at 2006... but the game is still the same.
If Microsoft cannot authenticate their own products... then they're doomed to their own lack of authenticatable, integrity protected security!!!
Chinese authorities have reportedly taken iPads from a third-party retailer, a move apparently brought on by Apple's continued refusal to honor a trademark for the iPad name owned by a Chinese manufacturer.
NY professor believes that a word-based algorithm can help bring together those who believe, with one glimpse, that they have found and lost the love of their lives.
The Silicon Valley online payments startup grew by 1,000 percent last year and is hopeful it can repeat that level of growth this year. To do that, it's had to move away from its early friends-and-family roots and embrace small businesses.
Chamtech's spray-on antenna uses a nano material to provide a low-power boost to antenna range. The wireless-in-a-can product may some day bring an end to unsightly cell towers.
EnerG2 opens a plant to make an engineered carbon that will improve performance of energy storage devices and make storage for start-stop hybrid cars less expensive.
Secrecy: Encryption... keeping things private
Authentication: Confirming the person and/or application is what/whom they say they are.
Integrity: Ensuring that what is supposed to be... is as it's supposed to be... unmodified and in it's original content.
This is WHAT security is about. It's been around for thousands of years... ever since the Pharao's entombed the pyramid designers in the pyramids with the Pharao's themselves to keep the secrecy of the true path hidden.
Past encrption methods have all been discovered as will current encryption methods be discovered in the future.
Past authentication methods included the likes of changeable code words spoken before allowing one to pass over a bridge or enter a castle.
Similarly, wax seals with the King's emblem embedded on them were used as integrity checkers.
We're now standing thousands of years later at 2006... but the game is still the same.
If Microsoft cannot authenticate their own products... then they're doomed to their own lack of authenticatable, integrity protected security!!!
Walt