Windows 2000 / Nt4 Source Code Leaks

[Sephiroth]

Thanks to Neowin........

Quote:

Neowin has learned of shocking and potentially devastating news. It would appear that two packages are circulating on the internet, one being the source code to Windows 2000, and the other being the source code to Windows NT. At this time, it is hard to establish whether or not full code has leaked, and this will undoubtedly remain the situation until an attempt is made to compile them. Microsoft are currently unavailable for comment surrounding this leak so we have no official response from them at the time of writing.

This leak is a shock not only to Neowin, but to the wider IT industry. The ramifications of this leak are far reaching and devastating. This reporter does not wish to be sensationalist, but the number of industries and critical systems that are based around these technologies that could be damaged by new exploits found in this source code is something that doesn't bare thinking about.

We ask that for the wider benefit of the IT community that members and readers support Microsoft by forwarding anything they know about the leak to the Microsoft's Anti-Piracy department.

Please do not post any links/screenshots/hints or anything to do with the source code outbreak. Discussion is allowed but we will not condone people spreading this source code.

Ouch, as many ways as people could benefit from this if it's true, I actually hope it's *not*, once virus writers, etc. get ahold of it and go digging through source code, find a few hundred exploits MS hasn't found / patched in their own code, if you're running NT / 2000, possibly even XP / 2003 Server since it's the same codebase, you'd better have damn good security on your computers :-/

*I goes to install firewall on my gateway that I've been putting off since the last format*

[JacKDynne]

Oh great.....

/me pulls CPE plugs...

/JD

[Cyberion]

Huh.. Is that the same devastastion as the HL 2 source leak?

Windows 2000 source code.. its one way to make it open source.. but still its shady..

[DopeWeasel]

Looks Like MS pissed off the wrong employee, I personally can't wait for my Mandrake Windows CD to come in.

[Thankbot]

1 User already said Thank You!

KingCobra

[war59312]

About time!!

I for one hope it leaks because it will force Microsoft and their allies to change the way they do business. Just wish is was WindowsXP instead. :P

Microsoft will be forced to fix all their major problems with windows. And believe me they will get off their donkey and finally do what they have been putting off for years. Hopefully more job positions will open up. I think it would be a good think for the economy. haha And will be great for most Windows users as now you can at least have some sort of hope and hopefully real security for once.

BTW don't think Microsoft would risk loosing all of their customers if not their company to groups like the FCC and the government in general.

[Zone-MR]

Quote:

Originally posted by Sephiroth@Feb 12 2004, 07:53 PM
Ouch, as many ways as people could benefit from this if it's true, I actually hope it's *not*, once virus writers, etc. get ahold of it and go digging through source code, find a few hundred exploits MS hasn't found / patched in their own code

Or perhaps it means coders can actually discover and FIX the problems. Microsoft's current approach seems security through obscurity, meaning the few people who manage to discover new security flaws can wreck havoc on any microsoft computer system. Now it's out in the open, and perhaps flaws can be found and weeded out by thousands of competent programmers.

Quote:

Huh.. Is that the same devastastion as the HL 2 source leak?

Much worse. The HL2 source was an early alpha which didn't even work. The leaked was hyped up to be much more serious than it actually was.

[~*McoreD*~]

Well, the news is indeed shocking. Windows 2000/XP/2003 follow the same source code. Not sure about Longhorn, but since the source code of a "current" Operating System has leaked, the users will be have to be very careful.

Since hackers can now find exploits that MS hasn't found and there will be a lot of attacks initially. They will also be able to code viruses that are *impossible to remove or impossible to detect* -- since now they know how Windows work. The only alternative will be formatting the computer and reinstalling Windows. What if hackers code something to prevent that as well? Opportunities are endless if you have the source code of a program. That's why I personally do not like open source - it is dangerous.

Edit: It is good if it goes to good programmers. But this world is full of good and bad.

[tnctx04]

I feel that this could have a mixed effect. Perhaps MS will begin to fix the security problems that they are aware of and the new ones that they are without a doubt finding now, or as soon as the hacking attacks begin. Consumers will be putting pressure on MS to increase security immediately.
Perhaps this is not totally bad....
Only time will tell for sure.

[~*McoreD*~]

List of files stolen.

Code:

hxxp://waste.org/~uber/files.txt

Source: RWSBetas.

I can see some C++ files in there.

Whoever leaked it should be dealt with in much the same way murderers and child molesters are.
25 years in jail for leaking Windows' source code? Sounds about right to me.