Microsoft Source Follow-Up

shystershep writes "It's official. Microsoft admits that 'portions of the Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows NT 4.0 source code were illegally made available on the Internet.' No more details, although it seems clear that it is only a portion of the code. Microsoft is, naturally, downplaying its impact, while everyone else is busy speculating about how serious this could get." A lot of you apparently haven't read yesterday's story. An investigation of the code is already underway.

source out on the open

[Jotaigna]

maybe open source developers get a chance to fix some bugs it may have ;)

One editing change needed in story

[burgburgburg]

long-time Redmond partner Mainsoft.

formerly long-time Redmond partner Mainsoft.

from the eweek article

[squarefish]

References to MainWin can also be found throughout the leaked source files, which do not compile into a usable form of Windows.

I don't think any code can claim this, no matter M$ says

Twofer

[Anonymous Coward]

Now I can play Half-life 2 on Windows 2000 all while keeping it real.

apparently it was MSPaint

[Anonymous Coward]

I read somewhere that the bulk of the code that has been analysed so far turned out to be MSPaint.

In other news Fark releases FarkPaint. Photoshop-larity ensues.

In a related story....

[tackaberry]

SCO after reviewing the leaked source code claims it contains SCO code and will move forward with IP claims against Microsoft.

This is serious

[Sparky77]

Now that the source code to Paint is out there, we can expect many derivative works to surface in the coming months. The impact on the graphics software market will be devestating.

it escaped!

[Extrymas]

"It is not clear at this point how the three and a half year-old source code escaped Mainsoft."

You know.. It's simple: code wants to be free

Its because they trusted Linux!!!!!!

[GoofyBoy]

>The leaked code includes 30,915 files and was apparently removed from a Linux computer used by Mainsoft for development purposes.

I wonder what Linux security hole allowed that to happen.

LAUGH, ITS A JOKE.

How long will it take?

[StuWho]

Gentlemen, Ladies, I welcome you to the Microsoft Sweepstake. Crackers and Virus Writers are already in their places, competing for the trophy of being first to write a new exploit using this source code as their inspiration.

Current favourite, the author of MyDoom, but many youngsters are looking to make their mark in this prestigious contest

Grab a beer, sit back, and enjoy this great sporting occassion - sponsored by Microsoft, Security Through Obscurity.

Re:I wonder how MS stock will react

[sp00]

Steadily dropping [quicken.com]today...

Re:So the question is

[GoofyBoy]

I can't wait for the Windows 2000 Phantom Edit version

Re:BBC Q&A

[ZoneGray]

Sure, it's only 15% of the code... but the only missing component is Internet Explorer.

INTERNET EXPLORER RELEASED UNDER GPL

[Anonymous Coward]

Thats right folks. This source code was being used to port IE to linux. As we all know, IE is an integral part of an operating system, therefore the only way to port it to linux is by integrating it into the linux kernel, which means IE is now GPL!

Re:So the question is

[Xpilot]

Has anyone actually built this code?

Gandalf: No! Don't ever use it!

Frodo: How do we know it's source to the One OS of the Dark Lord?

Gandalf tosses a CD-R into the burner, and burns Windows.Source.Code.w2k.nt4.wxp.tar onto it. When the CD is done, there are glowing fiery letters on it.

Frodo : I can't read the fiery letters.

Gandalf : There are few who can. The language is that of Redmond, which I will not utter here. In the common tongue, it says "One OS To Rule Them All, One OS To Find Them, One OS To Bring Them All And With The NDA Bind Them"

Frodo: Take the source code Gandalf!

Gandalf : Noo! Do not tempt me with it! I dare not take it! Not even to keep it safe! You must understand Frodo, that I would be tempted to use this source code, for good. To disclose hidden API's, help the WINE project. But through me, all of open source would be tainted, and the LawyerWraiths of The Dark Lord will sure destroy us.

Frodo : But it cannot stay here!

Gandalf : No, no it can't.

Frodo : What must I do?

Gandalf : It must be sent to the fires of /dev/null, where it will be undone, and we will be kept safe from the Lawyers of Evil.

So remember folks, don't download it, or look at it, or attempt to build it! It is evil, and answers only to the hand of The Dark One.

Re:Source of the leak

[ackthpt]

I wonder what the final MS press release will name as the cause. "Evil Linux Hackers", perhaps?

Haha! How about 'Evil Worm Which Exploits Security Holes We Deny Exist Distributes Code'

Nah, I can't see them fessing up to something like that.

Re:So the question is

[VelocityBoy09]

Has anyone actually built this code?

I did. 200 megs of compressed source, 22 hours of compiling, and all I got was "Notepad.exe"

The next big announcement...

[hussar]

SCO is adding Microsoft to its suit, claiming portions of Windows NT are software to which SCO holds the license and which were used without its permission. SCO declined, however, to say what specific lines of code were involved in its claim.

Re:Winsock API Included.

[Chester K]

The Winsock API is included in the leaked source that's something fantastic hahaha.

Even better, all of the rendering engine and interface code for Internet Explorer is in the leaked source.

Re:So the question is

[Anonymous Coward]

You're lucky. You've got yourself a half decent text editor there. Imagine if you'd taken 200 gigs of compressed source, 22 days of compiling, and found that you only ended up with emacs.

Re:source out on the open

[QEDog]

I want someone to change de Blue Screen of Death by a Red Screen that says "Switch to Linux!"

Re:This is serious

[Anonymous Coward]

They will sue anyone else who combines pinball with space based on derivative works now.

Microsoft, make Windows officially Open Source!

[Anonymous Coward]

Mr. Gates, I think you should turn Windows into an Open Source product. Forget this whole business of selling software... that is so 20th century and investors are wising up to the disadvantages that closed, proprietary systems present. Microsoft should take the lead of other notable products (JBoss, MySQL, OpenOffice.org, etc.) which are currently stealing market share away from competing Microsoft products and give it away for free, with source code (expletives or not). They can make their money from the sale of documentation and support services, as well as sales of physical media. This way they could achieve their goal of taking away the competitive advantage which the competition, Linux and gang, currently have and they'd pick up a whole bunch of programmers in the Open Source community who would work on it without them having to hire additional development staff.

Given that they're a public company, it's in their best interest too as it would positively impact their bottom line. They would only need a fraction of their current development staff (programmers are hugely expensive and could be laid off), and with sales of documentation, media, and support services, they'd be able to leverage the advantages of Open Source and increase their margins dramatically while cornering the market. No doubt security would be one of the first areas where improvements are made as well as future ports to other platforms.

It's a sure win-win for everyone.

Re: So the question is

[Black Parrot]

> Actually, it's supposedly only 15% of the source code.

They'll be in trouble, if it's the 15% that works.

Does this mean

[DangerSteel]

We can finally get Clippy integrated into OpenOffice?

Heck just go for it and make it part of KDE and Gnome !

What about Bob

[konrd]

I think the most fascinating part of this whole fiasco is the fact that code for Microsoft "Bob" is still prevalent throughout the source. I can only wait in anticipation as the open source community takes advantage is this and quickly puts out its own variants.

Emerge Bob

Doesn't sound as interesting as BSD or Linux.

[ron_ivi]

It can't be that fun to work on -- Did you guys know that Microsoft has to _pay_ people to work on this codebase! If there was really anything interesting in it, people would be working there for fun on their own time.

[ I unintentionally posted as an AC first - hopefully it's interesting enough that I get more interesting mods than redundant.]

Re:If you've downloaded the source code

[Anonymous Coward]

hello this is the world calling, 191 countries dont really give a shit about PATRIOT acts or any other usa rubbish

enjoy your stay

In other news...

[Anonymous Coward]

PepsiCo has reported an early 2nd quarter earnings report that projects a remarkable profit.
This may be related to increased sales of Mountain Dew to basement-dwellers.

Re:INTERNET EXPLORER RELEASED UNDER GPL

[Anonymous Coward]

I find that Microsoft Paint is a very good vector programme.

Linux leaked too

[wstearns]

In a related story, Linus Torvalds was forced to announce today that the source code for the Linux operating system was made public on the Internet.
"We're not sure how it was leaked. What's up there certainly looks legitimate, and we've had some reports that some of it even compiles. It appears it may have been leaked back in August, 1991, originally to an FTP server in Finland."
There are at least 3 servers that appear to have Linux source code available, although online discussions indicate that there may be many more. There is speculation that the code can e acquired through FTP, Gopher, HTTP, Bittorrent, Rsync, SMB, NFS, AFS, Freenet, and that people may even be _selling_ CS's and DVD's with the code.
SCO was quick to comment that "After they copied those 5 lines from one of our header files, the {deleted} deserved it. As soon as we find a person in our company that knows how to download a file, we'll be comparing every line of Linux to this stuff we bought from AT&T. Oh hey! We've already found something - they copied the word '#include' from us!" The phone interview was cut short as Mr. McBride was called away to launch a new lawsuit.
Law enforcement agencies have been contacted and are investigating, but the process is slow as the officers are heard to exclaim "Wow, it has a GUI?", "Damn, this is stable - I can't crash it at all!", "Whadda you mean, Office is included?", and "How do I turn off the grappling hook and use the rocket launcher?"

Re:This is serious

[kabocox]

You forgot the 3 most important Windows Programs of all time: WinMin, Solitaire, and FreeCell. The card game market is doomed now!

a favourite from tweakui.h

[Anonymous Coward]

/*
* winnt.h uses these totally screwed up structure names.
* Does anybody speak Hungarian over there?
*/

I'd like to use this as vindication for all the times I've been criticised for my comments.

Re:source out on the open

[JudgeFurious]

I always thought that being "out to break the law" was a requirement for employment at Microsoft. Obviously I was wrong.

It must be just something you need if you want to move up into management.

Microsoft's Revenge

[Anonymous Coward]

In retaliation, Microsoft says they're going to release the source code to the Linux kernel.

Re:So the question is

[mikesmind]

So remember folks, don't download it, or look at it, or attempt to build it! It is evil, and answers only to the hand of The Dark One.

Genesis 3
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

The account continues in verse seven if you don't know how it turned out. I agree with Groklaw's advice. Leave it be!

*sniff*

[Dlugar]

A low Slashdot user ID? *sniff, sniff* Well... that's just the nicest thing anyone's ever said about me! I feel so happy ... thanks anomynous coward!

Dlugar

Re:Winsock API Included.

[Dave_bsr]

again, slashdot detective work finds the truth... g/j

Thats news to me!

[SirTreveyan]

if it's the 15% that works

Does Windows have even 15% that works???

I always thought Windows kinda creaked and groaned as it crawled along the information highway. Windows kinda reminds me of a Wile E. Coyote device for catching the RoadRunner, complete with parts falling off as it moves along until, just as the objective is reached, kerplowwie...it falls all the hell apart.

So tell me...how does it feel to be Wile E. Coyote?

In related news

[Anonymous Coward]

SCO today announced that Windows contains pirated Unix source code.

Re:This is serious

[orthogonal]

Now that the source code to Paint is out there, we can expect many derivative works to surface in the coming months. The impact on the graphics software market will be devastating.

But, but, Microsoft spent thousands of man-hours of laborious and innovative research to come up with the Bitmap format!

Oh dear god! Will the secret of the Bitmap format be made available to just anyone?

The world will be turned upside down!

Now annoucing Johndows 1.0!

[Anonymous Coward]

After SLAVING away for 20 years to create a Windows-killer operating system, I have finally completed my work and released Johndows 1.0! Yes, it runs your Windows apps, perfectly in fact, as my main design goal has been perfect compatibility with Windows 2000! On top of that, I have added a large number of freeware applications PRE-INSTALLED! Yes, all this can be yours for the low low price of $29.95. Just send a cheque to me, John. 1 Johnsoft Way. Nueven NO.

Re:No step 2 necessary for step 3

[sulli]

Does that mean *BSD is finally, after all that, dying?

The best bit in that article...

[blorg]

"Finally, this is very important: If you propose to continue working in the IT industry, and somebody offers you a look at the source, just say no. Remember - if you learn too much about the internals of Microsoft products, you may find yourself unable to work for anybody except Microsoft. Yike."

Re:Doesn't sound as interesting as BSD or Linux.

[jazman_777]

It can't be that fun to work on -- Did you guys know that Microsoft has to _pay_ people to work on this codebase! If there was really anything interesting in it, people would be working there for fun on their own time.

They get paid for the first 40 hours in a week, then the other 60-70 hours is for the fun of it all.

Compliance with anti-trust regulations ;-)

[valentyn]

Oh come on. This is just their way of complying with the anti-trust regulations, opening up the API's and stuff. ;-)

Re:source out on the open

[Anonymous Coward]

Y ANAL? Y NOT?

Re:Swearing?

[Anonymous Coward]

Calm down Michael Powell. What's wrong with Matsushita?

% grep -ir fuck win2k | wc -l
13

Freenet download

[FutureShoks]

Anyone know of a FreeNet site with the code on?

Re:Windows developers do not read GPL source

[EvilBudMan]

--Or to borrow a joke from the SCO threads, "Wow, look at all of the i++; statements those damned open source commies used, just like in SCO's code!"--

Yea, it's like saying you copied the book that I wrote because it had the letter "a" in it.

Or, better yet - the letters "f", "m", "c", "o", "i", "r", "s", and "t" - with the number "6".

Re:Winsock API Included.

[Anonymous Coward]

Someone already wrote a patch [mozilla.org].

Seriously, don't download this shit!

[danila]

Guys, let me warn you, this is nothing to laugh about! DON'T TOUCH THAT STUFF! Two of my friends work in Motorola research laboratory. Yesterday one of the downloaded the code at home and then they both looked at it. One of them was lucky - his retina burned the second he saw the code. The second did not escape that easily. His eyes glued to the screen, his hands typing madly... the paramedics found him 20 minutes later clutching the mouse and writhing in agony. After 2 hours in intensive care he (or, rather what left of him) was sent home. Today, after they were not let into the office building, both of them got pink slips by courier mail.

A cousin of a girlfriend of my former classmate yesterday went to the university computer lab to print his essay. He catched a glimpse of some code on the screen and didn't even thought about it for a second. When he returned home, he logged on to sourceforge.net and before anyone could stop him, he tainted a dozen software projects there. Shit, two perfectly good Xeon servers had to be scrapped and replaced with clean machines in a hurry.

That's just crazy, this code is the strongest shit I ever saw... oh, fuck, forget what I just said - "the strongest shit I ever heard about and never saw". It's worse than the GPL, it taints your code so quickly you can't even notice that. PLEASE, FOR THE SAKE OF EVERYTHING GOOD IN THIS WORLD, DON'T DOWNLOAD THE CODE.

Copy this message and send it to all your friends! You need to warn them not to look at the code! POST IT ON FORUMS AND MESSAGE BOARDS! THIS IS AN EVIL PLOT TO TAINT ALL CODE IN THIS WORLD! DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN!

Source code release

[Morosoph]

Isn't it traditional for someone to post a bittorrent?

Re:Winsock API Included.

[PhraudulentOne]

Yeah and a document that lists internal and external FTP servers (which are probably dead now) with such cryptic accounts as:

username: South

password: Park

Seriously.

Re:Swearing?

[Anonymous Coward]

/usr/src/linux-2.4.18/include/asm-mips/mmu_context .h:18:/* Fuck. The f-word is here so you can grep for it :-) */

Re:Of course!

[snake_dad]

From that Yahoo article:
"Thor Larholm, senior security researcher at Newport Beach, Calif.-based PivX Solutions, said the Windows source code file being traded on the Internet appears to be roughly 660 megabytes in size, about the size of one CD-ROM's worth of data. That is far short of the estimated 40 gigabytes of data that makes up the entire 40 million lines of code in the Windows operating system."

I hate those languages where an average line of code has one thousand characters...

Re:So the question is

[unformed]

Yeah, but with Emacs, at least I would've gotten a decent OS.

Sigs

[tiny69]

I wonder how many people on /. will start using comments or code snippets from the windows source in their sigs?

Re:Seriously, don't download this shit!

[MrPink2U]

A friend of mine looked at the source code yesterday. He immediately recieved a phone call from a man who identifed himself as Bill Gates. The man whispered to him, "Seven days..." and then just hung up.

Creepy huh?

MS Windows source code "escapes"

[Ateryx]

Even better than the article is the "related article" on the bottom of the story [theregister.co.uk] link: MS Windows source code escapes onto Internet [theregister.co.uk]

Only w/ Microsoft will you find the code "escape". It may not be the smartest code... but its united in its resistance.

Re:Swearing?

[Al Al Cool J]

That's nothing. I heard that if you look really close at the 2.6.3 source, you can see Janet Jackson's nipple!

Why Windows is so slow!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Here is a comment that explains why windows is so slow.

// Don't let this go negative, otherwise we'll send 4 billion FreezeEvents(TRUE) to the DocObject

Brew it in WINE

[mnmn]

There are two major problems blocking Linux uptake on the desktop. The windows binary pool is huge, and the lack of standards of packages, menus, interface etc on Linux.

Now if the WINE project can be merged with this source code, or if the raw hardware interfaces of Windows is translated to linux APIs to make it something like usermode linux only windows binary emulation in windows using windows source code, that will fix one part of the problem. I believe the other part, standardizing packages and the GUI will eventually happen...

With these two problems fixed, theres no reason Dell and HP wouldnt sell and promote Linux on laptops and desktops as the standard.

Old Joke

[Ann Elk]

Microsoft has great "flextime". You can work any 80 hours per week you want.

Re:Winsock API Included.

[markxsd]

Head for the hills Eyal. Wild Bill's in town and he's raising a posse to come and getya...

Re:Entertainment value of media "experts"

[Anonymous Coward]

... it's not funny

Something that is funny... Google Images [google.com]

Re:Winsock API Included.

[MegaFur]

Microsoft tainted me a long time ago--as it did with all of us, merely by existing.
Show me the source, Sam.

Re:Brew it in WINE

[Anonymous Coward]

I completely agree, and I'm on the drug that killed River Phoenix.

Re:The best bit in that article...

[betat]

Hmm..being offered something evil and forbidden, something you shouldn't take because otherwise you might get hooked on it forever.

Sounds familliar.

Just say no, kids.

Re:Winsock API Included.

[LoadWB]

Later statement will reveal that their Windows 2000 Server VPN fell victim to an exploit of the six-month old ASN.1 vulnerability, which their automatic update hadn't fixed yet. Ergo, Microsoft is responsible for the leak of their own source code :)