Colin 0 Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 Microsoft boss Bill Gates at a recent presentation for Microsoft Vista UK officials are talking to Microsoft over fears the new version of Windows could make it harder for police to read suspects' computer files. Microsoft Vista is due to be rolled out later this year. Cambridge academic Ross Anderson told MPs it would mean more computer files being encrypted. He urged the government to look at establishing "back door" ways of getting around encryptions. The Home Office later told the BBC News website it is in talks with Microsoft. Unlicensed music Professor Anderson, professor of security engineering at Cambridge University, was giving evidence to the Commons home affairs select committee about time limits on holding terrorism suspects without charge. He said: "From later this year, the encryption landscape is going to change with the release of Microsoft Vista." The system uses BitLocker Drive Encryption through a chip called TPM (Trusted Platform Module) in the computer's motherboard. It is partly aimed at preventing people from downloading unlicensed films or media. "This means that by default your hard disk is encrypted by using a key that you cannot physically get at... "An unfortunate side effect from law enforcement is it would be technically fairly seriously difficult to dig encrypted material out of the system if it has been set up competently." Full Article Food for thought. Colin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
magnumkp 0 Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 Problem is, if there are back doors for police access, there are back doors for hackers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Specter 0 Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 Microsoft and security in the same sentence? That's a good one ! ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.