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Story: Why Microsoft code leak worries me

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I have 2 comments :

1. Something in your story doesn't quite tally: Unix/Linux/BSD are obviously a lot safer than the various Versions of Windows. And with every Linux distribution the complete sourcecode is supplied. I woud venture to say the Open Source model makes a product safer, because more brains look for corrections, improvemnets. There is no commercial urge to release products at beta stage. Then there may be "other" reasons why Microsoft prefers not to show the code to too many people.

2. Unix/Linux?BSD were built with multy-user functionality as a prime objective, inclusive of all required security issues addressed, whilst Windows was concieved from the start as a single-user OS with all the connectivity added later, an attempt that didn't succeed all that well.

This leads to the following thoughts: Why did Microsoft so generously contribute to SCO's defence of its IP? Could it be that Microsoft wanted to buy the UNIX copyrights for the purpose of building Longhorn (partly) on the basis of UNIX, full well appreciating its merit in security aspects?

An obvious point to make here is: Why did Macintosh base their new OS X on UNIX? After all they had a far superior OS, than any DOS based derivative will ever be?

Interesting qestions to dwell on...

Peter

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