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See Full StoryAs far as revolutions go, the opening salvo was muffled. But for those within earshot, the reverberations were far- reaching. Last month, China -- the largest single potential market for almost anything -- selected an upstart computer-operating system called Linux for installation on 1 million computers next year. Ultimately, the country plans to install similar systems on 100 million to 200 million machines. But the deal represents much more than a software deal -- or China's declaration of independence from software giant Microsoft.
Re: Who Will Build Our Digital Future?
Posted by: lkcl 2003-12-07 03:57:20 In reply to: Peter N. Spotts
Attempts to restrict access to information over the internet can never succeed without taking down the internet, on which so many people - including those who may wish to control information access - rely.
It doesn't matter how many laws there are. Fortunately, it only takes one country (or in the extreme case, one person) to find a problem and to fix it or report a fix.
Being more specific, take an example of the Windows NT Domains protocol, which was - and stil is - in prevalent usage for almost two decades. How many people know that up until 1998 that login access on Windows NT had a 40-bit window?
To put that into perspective: on modern pc hardware today it would only take about half a second to crack every single login made into a Windows NT 4.0 or 3.5 Domain controller, and if there is a BDC in the network, every single password would be available, too.
Now, because of the problems that i reported as part of my investigation into Windows NT in order to make Samba, the windows-compatible File, Print and Login Server for Unix, work with NT domains, those issues have been fixed.
However, around 2000, the DMCA - digital millenium copyright act - became law, and in 2001, a similar law in the EU came into effect.
these laws PROHIBIT people such as myself from making such responsible investigations, when such investigations are based (from a legal perspective) inside the US and the EU respectively.
fortunately, there are countries (ironically frequently described with phrases like "third world", "human rights abuses", "terrorism" etc.) and it is the people in these countries that the rest of us must rely upon for our "god-given right to freedom of information and freedom from intrusive government interference".
gotta love it. just gotta love it.
It doesn't matter how many laws there are. Fortunately, it only takes one country (or in the extreme case, one person) to find a problem and to fix it or report a fix.
Being more specific, take an example of the Windows NT Domains protocol, which was - and stil is - in prevalent usage for almost two decades. How many people know that up until 1998 that login access on Windows NT had a 40-bit window?
To put that into perspective: on modern pc hardware today it would only take about half a second to crack every single login made into a Windows NT 4.0 or 3.5 Domain controller, and if there is a BDC in the network, every single password would be available, too.
Now, because of the problems that i reported as part of my investigation into Windows NT in order to make Samba, the windows-compatible File, Print and Login Server for Unix, work with NT domains, those issues have been fixed.
However, around 2000, the DMCA - digital millenium copyright act - became law, and in 2001, a similar law in the EU came into effect.
these laws PROHIBIT people such as myself from making such responsible investigations, when such investigations are based (from a legal perspective) inside the US and the EU respectively.
fortunately, there are countries (ironically frequently described with phrases like "third world", "human rights abuses", "terrorism" etc.) and it is the people in these countries that the rest of us must rely upon for our "god-given right to freedom of information and freedom from intrusive government interference".
gotta love it. just gotta love it.
