Microsoft in 64-bit Vista lockdown
Microsoft will operate 64-bit versions of Windows Vista as a tabernacle, with the kernel as the holy of holies, where only its own high priests of security may venture. There's going to be a kybosh on naughty developers mucking about with the 64-bit kernel; patching will be banned. McAfee and others seem to have already learned …
Really clever idea
Microsoft's kernel code lockdown is a grteat idea! It will surely make Windows Vista 64-bit edition much more secure than operating systems where any Theo, Dick and Linus can muck about with the kernel code. And it isn't at all anti-competitive!
Blackbox kernel or blackhat dream ?
Of course, the biggest loser here is the poor consumer.
Security through obscurity doesn't work -- MS ought to know by now.
By "blackboxing" the Vista64 kernel MS has just thrown down the challenge to every blackhatter out there - and tying the security industry's hands behind their backs.
Who gets to deal with the fallout, the popups, the adware, the keyloggers, the viruses, the blacklisting for zombiespamming ?
The poor consumer.
I pity MS - they finally had a serious chance at becoming respectable, and offering a serious desktop operating system - but instead, their desire for total ironfisted control and bundling as much mediocre apps to cover up for their own coding failures lost them their chance.
If Accessing the Kernel is Outlawed
Then only outlaws will have access to the kernel.
