Microsoft Releases Super-Secure XP to US Air Force 507
Wired is reporting that Microsoft is releasing the most secure version of Windows XP ever created, but only if you are the US Air Force. "The Air Force persuaded Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to provide it with a secure Windows configuration that saved the service about $100 million in contract costs and countless hours of maintenance. At a congressional hearing this week on cybersecurity, Alan Paller, research director of the Sans Institute, shared the story as an template for how the government could use its massive purchasing power to get companies to produce more secure products. And those could eventually be available to the rest of us. Security experts have been arguing for this "trickle-down" model for years. But rather than wield its buying power for the greater good, the government has long wimped out and taken whatever vendors served them. If the Air Force case is a good judge, however, things might be changing."
Autorun? (Score:5, Funny)
Now i see why they disabled autorun. :D
I'll be truly impressed (Score:5, Funny)
When the navy puts windows on their ships.
I would just love to see... (Score:5, Funny)
...what they did to make it secure. Is the default wallpaper black with a big picture of a lock on it?
How to secure XP (Score:5, Funny)
Re:How to secure XP (Score:3, Funny)
Re:I would just love to see... (Score:5, Funny)
Next will be Windows 3.11 (Score:2, Funny)
Next most secure ever release for US army will be Windows 95, then Windows 3.11 and at the top of security development ever will be release of MS DOS 1.0.
Re:I would just love to see... (Score:2, Funny)
...what they did to make it secure.
They changed the EULA to the GPL.
You too can have your own "Super-Secure" XP setup (Score:5, Funny)
( Also, is it just me or does the "XP" after "Super-Secure" look like a smiley representing someone laughing their guts out? )
jdb2
Re:Autorun? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:I'll be truly impressed (Score:5, Funny)
http://gcn.com/Articles/1998/07/13/Software-glitches-leave-Navy-Smart-Ship-dead-in-the-water.aspx?p=1 [gcn.com]
i know feeding the trolls - but he wanted to be impressed
Re:A subtle point (Score:5, Funny)
Re:It's not a new version, it's just a configurati (Score:1, Funny)
You are about to secure Windows
Yes No
Re:I'll be truly impressed (Score:2, Funny)
Silly fool. The Navy has always had windows on their ships. Originally they ported them from British designs and called them "port-holes". What was really impressive was when they put windows on boomers. Admiral Nelson designed the Seaview around its Herculite(tm) bow windows.
Re:Autorun? (Score:5, Funny)
You're security is useless?
ARRRGGHH!
Apparently, so is my grammar.
See? Piss me off, and I can't spell.
That must be my superhero weakness....
Microsoft lobbying vs. US Air Force (Score:2, Funny)
And the US Air Force lost this fight.
Re:Autorun? (Score:2, Funny)
See? Piss me off, and I can't spell.
That must be my superhero weakness....
Are you sure it isn't just an easter egg [xkcd.com] from when your parents raised you?
Re:Autorun? (Score:5, Funny)
Wow, that needs to pass into our lexicon. "Bucket XP".
UAC in Windows XP USAF Edition (Score:1, Funny)
While it's true that they disabled Autorun in XP USAF Edition, what makes it truly secure is that they ported the Vista User Account Control to XP for the Air Force.
Here's how it works:
Enemy Pilot wirelessly hacks into Air Force pilot's OS and attempts to send an command to eject the pilot from the plane.
Air Force pilot sees the following message appear on his console:
Pilot clicks on Cancel, and all is good!
However, rumors persist that they did not test the scenario where the pilot actually presses the eject button.
STEEL DOOR! (Score:3, Funny)
Meet GRASS HUT!
Re:Autorun? (Score:5, Funny)
I think something like it is already there.
I hear "bucket, it's XP" all the time around my office.
What do you mean "you need to get your ear-ring checked?"
security program manager at Microsoft (Score:5, Funny)
I wouldn't mention this on your next job application
Balmer, Gilligan, SuperSecure Windows XP... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Autorun? (Score:5, Funny)
The exception, which appears in this situation, is when you are chosen as a target due to a high payoff (military). In this case, simply being harder than your neighbour is NOT going to help you.
So, what you're saying is, we need to let our economy keep tanking until people would rather hack into Canada?
-Taylor
Re:I'll be truly impressed (Score:3, Funny)
i know feeding the trolls - but he wanted to be impressed
You mean -- he wants a squad of royal marines marching behind a drummer boy to haul him out from behind his plough, slip the King's shilling into his pocket when he ain't looking, then send him off to see the world with His Majesty's Navy?
Well, it takes all kinds I guess.
Oxymoron? (Score:4, Funny)
>> the most secure version of Windows XP
Isn't that an oxymoron? Kinda like dry water?