Debate pits open source Linux against Microsoft
Anthony Cesarini
Issue date: 5/20/05 Section: Sci-Tech
Lucas responded that OpenBSD, another open source operating system like Linux, is an example of a project that has seen many advances in software security because so many people work on and examine its code.
Daley ended the discussion by claiming that Microsoft does indeed license its source code to academic institutions for research and has many developers testing its code.
The next topic discussed was security. Daley described a Microsoft initiative that was begun in 2002 called "Trustworthy Computing." Microsoft realized that many of its users required trust in the ability of their software products to maintain business integrity and individual privacy. Thus, the company set up security checkpoints all along the software development process and required that every single one of its technicians take security development training. Daley ended by citing the fact that Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Service Pack 2 were both developed within the Trustworthy Computing Protocol and Microsoft has seen a substantial reduction in critical issues compared to earlier versions of Windows made before the program began.
Lucas gave OpenBSD as an example of an open source project that experiences excellent integrity because so many programmers in the open source community work on its code. He also indicated that critical security flaws in Linux and other open source products are fewer in number than in Microsoft products.
Daley began his rebuttal by citing data that indicated that in one year, Debian Linux had over 30 times more security vulnerabilities than Windows Server 2003. Also, he briefly described a web blog he read about the Firefox Internet browser project.
In it, the chief reviewing developer for the project indicated that almost every other reviewing developer was missing-in-action and that for the most part he alone was reviewing the code for Firefox, a browser installed on millions of computers.
Lucas indicated that another open source project, the Apache web server has gone months without critical security vulnerabilities.
Daley ended the discussion by claiming that Microsoft does indeed license its source code to academic institutions for research and has many developers testing its code.
The next topic discussed was security. Daley described a Microsoft initiative that was begun in 2002 called "Trustworthy Computing." Microsoft realized that many of its users required trust in the ability of their software products to maintain business integrity and individual privacy. Thus, the company set up security checkpoints all along the software development process and required that every single one of its technicians take security development training. Daley ended by citing the fact that Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Service Pack 2 were both developed within the Trustworthy Computing Protocol and Microsoft has seen a substantial reduction in critical issues compared to earlier versions of Windows made before the program began.
Lucas gave OpenBSD as an example of an open source project that experiences excellent integrity because so many programmers in the open source community work on its code. He also indicated that critical security flaws in Linux and other open source products are fewer in number than in Microsoft products.
Daley began his rebuttal by citing data that indicated that in one year, Debian Linux had over 30 times more security vulnerabilities than Windows Server 2003. Also, he briefly described a web blog he read about the Firefox Internet browser project.
In it, the chief reviewing developer for the project indicated that almost every other reviewing developer was missing-in-action and that for the most part he alone was reviewing the code for Firefox, a browser installed on millions of computers.
Lucas indicated that another open source project, the Apache web server has gone months without critical security vulnerabilities.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
leon-thetriangle
leon-thetriangle
posted 5/21/05 @ 11:36 PM EST
Alex is employing a number of hoary old chestnuts which have been answered to death elsewhere, and I'm surprised that they weren't dealt with more convincingly here. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 8/03/06 @ 5:06 PM EST
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