Microsoft to add 'black box' to Windows

[nihil]

Hi MoonWolf,

I regard it as a potential threat if detailed document and transaction data are being transmitted. In a corporate environment I would certainly disable it at the desktop level, as it will only confuse users and generate useless helpdesk traffic. Anyway, most crashes are caused by applications software conflicts or errors, and have nothing to do with the operating system.

I have worked for many years in applications development using structured methodologies. The rules are quite simple: if data content (either transaction or document) cause a system to crash, this should be detected at the unit testing or systems testing phases of the development cycle.

If the system fails to process data correctly (NOT a crash), this should be detected at the user acceptance testing phase, or at the very latest during the "pilot" run.

Now, with commercial, off the shelf software, you have some difficulty with the user acceptance testing phase, as you are not the user. This is where alpha and beta testing come in. But, just like an in house development, crashes due to data content should not reach either of these phases.

This is why I am arguing that detailed transaction data should not be included. They are irrelevant at this stage in the proceedings, and may represent a security compromise.

I am assuming that Microsoft know, understand and apply structured methodologies, and have managed to progress beyond CMM level 1

[Striek]

Sending document contents is just plain dumb. Not only for the reasons Nihil is arguing, but for others as well.

Granted, in many corporate settings the IT administration can limit this type of traffic by either disabling error reporting (on a host or firewall level), or by selectively choosing not to submit document contents, if that is indeed possible.

But many doctor's offices and law firms do not employ this type of IT staff. It is in most cases contracted out to a consulting firm of some kind. Even worse, many choose to perform their own networking as not all of them can afford these professional services. While leaked document contents may not mean much to most users, since we have nothing to hide, a document leak from a doctor's office or a law firm could easily mean a multimillion dollar (or whatever your local currency is) lawsuit.

As for the "I have nothing to hide" argument, this is not reason to submit to this type of monitoring (if you call it monitoring). I have nothing to hide either. I still refuse to produce identification to police, based solely on the grounds that if we do not excercise these rights, we lose them. I object to mandatory ID cards just as most would object to mandatory fingerprinting. I may not have anything to hide, but that is not reason enough to allow this. It is an invasion of privacy which I feel is unwarranted, regardless of their intent or my innocence.

[RoadClosed]

I mean, it's a server OS. What I'm running is not.

Not sure where you draw the line gore, there is no significant difference between kernels in workstation or desktop in Linux. Most open source distributions make NO distinction. I would say my Linux desktops are servers. Especially if I had mail and ftp turned on. In fact I could make the same comparison and call XP a server OS. It can do all the things 2003 (outside of MS proprietary file structure) can do with specific limitation imposed by MS for the sole reason of not letting it propagate as a server. Multiple desktops are cool but what's the purpose? You can only work one at a time. I have 10 desktops on my XP box all connected to different machines, now that has purpose!

Just busting your balls in a friendly way.... it's Friday.... BTW I do enjoy your screen shots. SuSE had the coolest

2. Show how pretty my desktop was.

[DISLEX]

Originally posted here by DISLEX
Well, if data goes out, then there are always it can come in.

EDIT: Well, if data goes out, then there are always ways it can come in.

[pengpengture]

I think MS always open many doors and windows to harkers and report to them.god bless you