AtStake fires executive over Microsoft criticism

AtStake fires executive over Microsoft criticism
Ted Bridis, The Associated Press 2003-09-25

The chief technology officer for a technology firm that works closely with Microsoft Corp. lost his job after he helped write a study critical of the insecurity of Microsoft software.

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Keep your mouth shut! 2003-09-25
The420Zodiac (2 replies)

Keep your mouth shut and your opinions to yourself. Corporate america runs this country and dont you forget it!...

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Keep your mouth shut! 2003-09-25
Anonymous (1 replies)

While your right that corporate america runs 'everything'...it doesn't mean you can't voice your opinon. I'm no lawyer but this justify as unlawful termination?...

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Keep your mouth shut! 2003-09-26
Anonymous

What ever happened top freedom of speach, ou ya MS has a patent on it...

Such a sad thing that one can not voice their opinion, but then his employer did get a lot of money from MS.

Guess they felt they'd loose MS support if they didn't take action.

One source, one OS, one exploit, game o...

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Keep your mouth shut! 2003-09-26
Anonymous

That's right. Microsoft is in control here. Don't make them prove it to you again! I hope that stupid company understands IT Managers like myself see right through the BS. That little fireing will cost them. Creditability and maybe there business. "Tell me lies.... Tell me sweet little lies...." (Fl...

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AtStake fires executive over Microsoft criticism 2003-09-25
Anonymous

WOWEE!

When I read the report I was so surprised to see atstake main guy in it knowing full well their cosy relationship with MS.

This is both a shocker and a surprise but now makes sense....

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AtStake fires executive over Microsoft criticism 2003-09-25
Anonymous

AHhaha... I think this was hilarious. I'm surprized that this guy was not smart enough to bring this to his management before production.

Its not that I disagree with the report, I just don't think it was very smart to produce it as a CTO. hehheeh....

...

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AtStake fires executive over Microsoft criticism 2003-09-25
Anonymous

Sometimes speaking the truth gets you nowhere. ...

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Integrity it appears is out of fashion 2003-09-25
Anonymous

Sad but true reality is most organizations are disfunctional. Shame on M$ for flexing it's muscle and @Stake for letting them. Take note that both parties involved are in it for the money NOT just M$ folks!...

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AtStake fires executive over Microsoft criticism 2003-09-26
Anonymous (1 replies)

Another chapter in the L0pht/@Stake sellout to of all people M$oft. A sad day for security research, I guess we'll never see something like L0phtCrack from @Stake again......

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AtStake fires executive over Microsoft criticism 2003-09-26
Anonymous

Before you know it, it is going to be M$ L0pht Crack 5!...

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Wrongful Termination 2003-09-26
Anonymous

First off, I do not have all the facts, I have some facts that were presented, most people are not discussing this publicly, others are doing it only under conditions of anonymity. I am not blaming anyone for not speaking about this, or hiding themselves when they do speak, but saying that without ...

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AtStake... sellouts 2003-09-26
Anonymous (1 replies)

Well, @Stake just lost my respect.

Sellouts. Looks like MS planted the big green weenee up @Stake's @ss.

...

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AtStake... sellouts 2003-09-26
Anonymous

Seems @stake has too much @Stake. They are no longer welcome @ my door....

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where's the study? 2003-09-26
Anonymous (1 replies)

could someone provide a URL to the document written by Geer that may/may not be behind this?...

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where's the study? 2003-09-27
Anonymous

Sure I have it right here, its:

http://www.ihatem .... oh god, keyboadrd sparking, monitor smoking, fire! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.................

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AtStake fires executive over Microsoft criticism 2003-09-26
everyman

It is sad to see that the "jobs-worth" culture (as in "more than my ..") is now pervasive in the security domain. In academia such a paper would result in someone detailing the inaccuracies or loopholes in the arguments, provoking a discussion on the issues. In Microdaft culture, they try to silence...

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Link to the CCIA report. 2003-09-26
Anonymous (1 replies)

http://www.ccianet.org/papers/cyberinsecurity.pdf...

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Link to the CCIA report. 2003-09-29
Disinterested Observer

This is good read. It sets out the arguments clearly, based on some pretty solid facts. There's minimal use of stats, so even a manager could understand the contents.

OK, so most of us already know the situation - the publicity surrounding this document, and the fallout, will only serve to make i...

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AtStake fires executive over Microsoft criticism 2003-09-26
Anonymous

Well,

I also had a great deal of respect for @Stake and their work in the field. I hope that this gentlemen knows that his opinion is valid, and that a job will be waiting for him out there. 30 Years of experience in security is no small thing, and I am sure that although this is embarassing to ...

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Code Of Ethics From @ Stake Website 2003-09-26
Anonymous (3 replies)

Well, you wanted to know why he was fired. Read below and tell me how many of these commandments he broke. Makes sense. I am not saying that it was right, but it makes sense.

As individuals and as an organization, we keep our code of ethics at the center of all we do. As members of the @stake te...

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Code Of Ethics From @ Stake Website 2003-09-26
Anonymous

None; the company knew of the report's content and intent well before it was published.

Further, the authors state that they speak only for themselves, not their employers.

Don't look for evidence of overt manipulation, or think that the absence thereof is significant; coercion without evidenc...

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Code Of Ethics From @ Stake Website 2003-09-26
Me

I wonder if Dan had to sign an understanding of this code of ethics. I'm no lawyer, but it sounds to me like he as some legal grounds for a wrongful termination suit. ...

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Code Of Ethics From @ Stake Website 2003-09-26
Anonymous

There may be a private contract he signed upon being hired that further limits him. One thing of note is that I read a story today that said that he published other works on his own in the past, and they did not cause public problems. I do not know if he was warned against doing such things, but t...

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Nothing new for @Stake 2003-09-26
Anonymous (2 replies)

Sure wish I had seen this earlier. Oh well, I guess thats what happens when you stick your head inside a Hobbit hole for three years and don't come out.

I feel I must reitterate L0phT =! @stake. Please do not confuse what I consider to be the good work of the L0pht with the corporate nonense that...

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Nothing new for @Stake 2003-09-26
Anonymous

thanks for the input SR, it lead me to do a quick bit of research, answered some of my questions and shed some (additional)light on what has happened here....

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Nothing new for @Stake 2003-09-27
Anonymous (1 replies)

Please forgive me if this is off base. However, your statement lopt =! @stake gave me a good laugh. If I remeber correctly wasn't Chris Wysopal one of the member of lopht before they were "acquired" by @stake. It seems to be me that maybe they have decided that it is better to not piss off their ...

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l0pht != atstake...wrong 2003-09-29
Anonymous

just like 'security focus' = symantec. Once security goes corporate (even open source products) it cannot be considered a reliable nor up2date....

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AtStake fires executive over Microsoft criticism 2003-09-26
Anonymous (1 replies)

Freedom of speech is coming to an end. With jobs on a one way trip out of the country, salaries, benefits, overtime pay, holidays and personal privacy are all becoming obsolete. I hope he sues if he has a case. Most companies make you sign a form they can terminate you any time for any reason whi...

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AtStake fires executive over Microsoft criticism 2003-09-26
Anonymous

Vote with your wallet.

Dont buy any product which @Stake has anything to do with - Isolate them and no one will do biz with them.

I call for setting up a free trade group - where all CTO's and other powerful technology people who have buying power will be memmbers of for free and run it.

It wil...

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This paper could have been sooo useful, if only... 2003-09-26
Anonymous

If Geer and the rest of the authors has stayed squarely on point with an argument that

lack of "genetic diversity" in systems software -- an effective software monoculture -- magnifies risk, in and of itself

then their important message would have been much more widely disseminated.

Yeah, i...

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AtStake fires executive over Microsoft criticism 2003-09-26
Anonymous

I just made the decision to leave a company that was WAY to close to MS. I saw the writing on the wall when the corp culture forbade critisism of MS.

I now work with a security company that encourages REAL thought about security. It surprizes me that a chief executive does not have the sense that...

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AtStake made the right choice 2003-09-27
Anonymous

I can't believe people support this guy, If I ran a business that was using @Stake for security I would be instantly searching for a new security company had they not fired this guy. By doing what they did they showed they value there clients (makes business sense) I certainly would not work with a ...

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AtStake fires executive over Microsoft criticism 2003-09-27
Tom

There are two sides to every story, however, in the event that this is true, I can absolutely assure Atstake Executives that none of my clients will ever conduct business with AtStake so long as I am in the industry. Honor and integrity are not just abstract principals. If a company cannot be tru...

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AtStake was right 2003-09-28
Anonymous

Look, I agree in principle with the report finding that 90% market share leads to huge security risk. Seems like kind of a no-brainer. Even if msoft was doing a better job (or any job) at securing their products, it would still be a no-brainer.

However, if you are going to publish a critical pap...

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