[ The opinions expressed by authors on Linux Today are their own. They speak only for
themselves and not for Linux Today. ] -lt ed
This may not be directly releated to LINUX, but.... it underscores a
point about software.
Imagine a Chinese agent working at Microsoft. How difficult do you think
it would be to insert a little "backdoor" into a Windows .dll file or
somewhere else? With the Government jumping into NT left and right, a
secret backdoor or even an "easter egg" that shuts the system down on
command could cripple our entire defense network, law enforcement and just
about anything else. How much easier it would be to fight a war against an
enemy whose computers are all crashed beyond repair?
They used to worry that the Soviets would detonate a nuclear device in
the atmosphere causing an EMP spike to cripple our computer networks. If a
spy inserted as little as 5 lines of code into every Windows system in the
country, a signal could be broadcast over the internet to simultaneously
crash every NT server and workstation with an internet connection.
Firewall be damned, it is NT based as well. With the dozens of
"accidental" security holes in NT, how hard would it be to create one
intentionally, and a trusted programmer in Redmond could do this easily and
hide it fairly effectively.
In my opinion, articles like this as well as the Eeye announcement,
absolutely requires that we insist the Government adopt Open Source
software.
That way the agencies can control their own systems and it would be
impossible to hide security holes and backdoors. Plus if one is uncovered,
it can be fixed right away.
This
is a scary article and can be used to promote the adoption of Linux in
any enterprise.
Daniel Oran wrote a novel "Ulterior Motive" about "MegaSoft" inserting
secret code into their operating system that enabled them to spy on people.
Now we know Microsoft can do this and has already admitted to doing this.
Can you imagine the implications of a spy having total access to the CIA,
NSA, FBI, IRS, the Pentagon and every other agency? Think about it, then
write your congressperson.
