Published: 2006-03-03
The speculation was centered around a BBC News posting several weeks ago where UK officials were said to be in talks with Microsoft regarding back-door functionality for its upcoming Windows Vista operating system. The blog author, Neils Ferguson mentions that Microsoft is indeed talking to governments but in the context of helping them use BitLocker for their own needs.
Neils also mentions the developer backlash that would ensue should a back-door be legislated upon them, offering suggestions that such requirements would be publicly disclosed or the project cancelled altogether.
There is mention of assisting law-enforcement in the posting, by providing the specifications of BitLocker, so that in cases such as computer seizures detectives will know to search for USB drives which may contain encryption keys. These same specifications however will be available to the public via a planned KB article at Vista launch, the blog states.
Posted by: Peter Laborge
