Snowden Warns Against Using Micro$oft

[monty]

This is why I use Debian

Snowden Warns World Against Trusting Privacy to Tech Giants Like Microsoft The whistleblower who exposed the totality of the America’s mass domestic surveillance program suggested that users should look to free and open source software to preserve their privacy. On Saturday, NSA whistleblower spoke to the Free Software Foundation’s LibrePlanet2016 conference regarding free software, cybersecurity, and privacy.

He joined the event through video conference from Russia. During the event, Snowden explained that he was able to release the secrets of America's mass surveillance projects more securely by using free software.

The whistleblower praised Debian, Tails, and Tor observing that what he did in 2013 never could have happened without the help of free software. He also advocates that activists and journalists switch to free and open source software to secure their privacy against the omnipresent US surveillance state.

"I didn't use Microsoft machines when I was in my operational phase, because I couldn't trust them," explained Snowden. He went on to say that he couldn't be sure that there wasn't a backdoor coded into the Microsoft products that would enable government surveillance.

In making this dour assessment of Microsoft, he noted that of the current tech giants, the company has been the most cooperative with the US government.

He cited Microsoft founder Bill Gates calling on Apple to install a backdoor into the iPhone at the request of a federal court which opens millions of end users up to the danger of a growing mass surveillance program.

Snowden praised Apple's fight with the FBI calling it an example of a corporation standing up for its users. Still, the whistleblower cautioned citizens against relying on multinational companies for transmissions that are intended to be secure.

http://m.sputniknews.com/science/20160321/1036696585/snowden-warns-world-against-trusting-privacy-to-microsoft.html

[Ares]

Bill Gates doesn't have much sway with Microsoft anymore, he's also not a majority share holder anymore. Steve Ballmer is. I think if I remember reading correctly that Bill will be totally divested of Microsoft sometime in 2020.

Now that goes without saying, I truly support having an open platform for your privacy and security, as again like Snowden said you don't know if there is a backdoor embedded within the OS. I keep a close eye on my firewall logs and so far haven't seen any type of traffic leaving my home network to "call home" other than Windows updates.

[monty]

I quit using Microsoft products when they began forcing the use of their proprietary applications before Windows 98, about the time they forced Lotus out of business with thier spreadsheet software. I don't like to be forced to use anyones product.

[Ares]

I quit using Microsoft products when they began forcing the use of their proprietary applications before Windows 98, about the time they forced Lotus out of business with thier spreadsheet software. I don't like to be forced to use anyones product.

Free market is what it boils down to. I've used both Lotus notes and Microsoft Excel, and Excel did a better job than lotus notes. Integrate Excel with Exchange and email the entire spreadsheet with the click of a mouse button to a single user or a distribution list and it simplified a lot of office life.

Like it or not, if Lotus notes had a superior product they would of won out. As big as Microsoft is, they can't force anyone to buy anything.

[monty]

Free market is what it boils down to. I've used both Lotus notes and Microsoft Excel, and Excel did a better job than lotus notes. Integrate Excel with Exchange and email the entire spreadsheet with the click of a mouse button to a single user or a distribution list and it simplified a lot of office life.

Like it or not, if Lotus notes had a superior product they would of won out. As big as Microsoft is, they can't force anyone to buy anything.

When I was using quicken I used Netscape Navigator as a browser. The next upgrade was no longer compatible with Netscape Navigator, but had to work in conjunction with Internet Explorer using on of microsofts active x components, I can't remember now what they called it. It pissed me off because I liked the Netscape Navigator and hated the Internet Explorer. That is when I switched to linux. Also that was about the time Microsoft came out with Ecxel. I always suspected they stole the source code from Lotus even if they did improve on it and intigrate it into their other programs.

IBM bought Lotus, but it was never the successful after that.

[Glass]

The Microsoft alternative was netware/lotus notes. MS integrated network management, Xwindows interface, competing applications, simplified the installation process of both operating system and applications and did bundle deals with hardware vendors.

Anyway Netware eventually fell by the way side. Lotus went a long time before but I think the 2 were dependent on each other. Lotus notes was definitely the more powerful package. I remember in the old days you could set Word to use only the Lotus hot keys.

ignoring the intellectual property theft, the ability for smaller businesses to adopt technology was the niche. Seems odd that no one else would pick it. I guess a few got close, but in those days the mentality was centralised data processing centres.

These days we call that the cloud. Corporates have always needed this cloud processing capability (mainfraimes). Its the small guys who didn't but they needed something. Seems we have come full circle.

[monty]

When I first switched to linux I sacrificed a lot in respect to sound card drivers, modem drivers and video. Even printer drivers were hard to find. Getting my first wireless network card up and operational was a real bitch. Today everything is plug and play. I have a dual boot system because I needed windows silverlight for the my LLC because my registered agent uses silverlight. I still prefer linux to windows.

[Glass]

I use both OS frequently. I like linux. It has come a long way. I have needed windows for work but now not so much. I have everything locked down with my windows, so they can't move to 10. My next upgrade will be to linux. It has what I need now and those things are stable. Cross platform means I can hit those other platforms with out needing to operate in them. I think a lot of people have had a gut full of Windows. The cloud has the potential to free all enterprises from the Windows pain.