Chinese Govt Offices Forbidden To Use Windows 8/8.1

[FaiKee]

To-day, a thread appeared in PCBeta:

 

http://bbs.pcbeta.com/viewthread-1473321-1-1.html

 

The Bing translation is bad, so here's what it says:

 

Title : To-day a internal office circular advices all units using win8/8.1 should roll back to win7 after Chinese New Year.

 

Text: It says win8 is unsafe, there is a backdoor.

Leader says a important speech material of President Xi Jinping (now this really touches every nerve, LOL) was leaked to oeverseas pre-maturely, and was found to be win8's fault.

The order is direct from Natioanl Security Bureau

 

 

 

A while later another thread from another member:

 

http://bbs.pcbeta.com/viewthread-1473356-1-1.html

 

 

And some replies confirming they also received this circular:

 

(translation: Yes, and this was issued by Provincial Govt)

 

 

 

 

......so it seems this circular is for real, and I guess MS is facing a deep sh**.  :huh:

[bdsams Veteran]

Had a friend who can read Mandarin look into this, no other reports of this besides this thread...take it with salt. 

[+Warwagon MVC]

Lucky them.

 

I think a lot of people wish they were forbidden to use Windows 8 / 8.1 :D

[Arachno 1D]

China has its own specialy coded version of Microsoft Windows and a goverment designed " security" application so I understand so Id say this story is unlikely.The government is also in the process of making a linux based operating system that will more than likely be a mandatory requirement for all citizens.

[FaiKee]

China has its own specialy coded version of Microsoft Windows and a goverment designed " security" application so I understand so Id say this story is unlikely.The government is also in the process of making a linux based operating system that will more than likely be a mandatory requirement for all citizens.

LOL, this is more fun than those rumors on "win8.2"; "Win9 release date"; "Threshold" rumors I read lately. :laugh:

[xendrome]

China has its own specialy coded version of Microsoft Windows

 

 

They do? Source? and also how did they steal the source code from Microsoft?

[The Evil Overlord]

They do? Source? and also how did they steal the source code from Microsoft?

Well, seeing as most build leaks come from China and Russia.............. :p

[Ian W]

Text: It says win8 is unsafe, there is a backdoor.

Leader says a important speech material of President Xi Jinping (now this really touches every nerve, LOL) was leaked to oeverseas pre-maturely, and was found to be win8's fault.

The order is direct from Natioanl Security Bureau

How was it determined that the leak was because of Windows 8?

I'm curious as to why Microsoft would need to have a backdoor in the first place. One would (most likely) be unnecessary, as Microsoft reportedly shares software vulnerabilities with agencies, allows agencies access to their servers, and allows error message information to be analyzed.

. . . That being said, I do trust Microsoft more than the other tech companies mentioned. From Microsoft's NGSCB FAQ:

 

"Microsoft would refuse to voluntarily place a back door in any of its products and would fiercely resist any government attempt to require back doors in products. From a security perspective, such back doors are an unacceptable security risk because they would permit unscrupulous individuals to compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our customers' data and systems. From a market perspective, such products would not be marketable, either domestically or internationally. Equally important, deliberately inserting such vulnerabilities would undermine Microsoft's reputation in the marketplace as a trusted vendor of products. For these reasons and others, we would, as we did during the encryption debate, oppose any such government efforts."

[MorganX]

You're only allowed to use a counterfeit version.

[FaiKee]

How was it determined that the leak was because of Windows 8?

I'm curious as to why Microsoft would need to have a backdoor in the first place. One would be largely unnecessary, as they reportedly share software vulnerabilities with agencies, allow agencies access to their servers, and allow error message information to be analyzed.

That being said, I do trust Microsoft more than the other tech companies mentioned. From Microsoft's NGSCB FAQ:

 

The current guess is that because win8/8.1 has SkyDrive(OneDrive) by default, and some guy unknowingly upload sensitive materials to the cloud and got leaked/hacked. To-day is Chinese New Year, maybe there would be more about it after the holidays.

 

That's how Chinese Government does things: when they find something fishy, just shoot down everything first, and (maybe, or maybe not) ask questions later. :)

 

P.S. Maybe it ddin't got actually leaked, but if Beijing finds that some sensitive thing is not in thier own physical servers in thier own physical protections, but in a MS server out of their control, they will be very unhappy about it.

[Torolol]

if theres 'backdoor' for leakage that would be the Office 365 cloud storage, as NSA-Microsoft agreement/contract are remain valid till this day.

Its trivial matter to check which documents were uploaded from Chinese's IP addresses.

[Arachno 1D]

They do? Source? and also how did they steal the source code from Microsoft?

Cyber War: The Next Threat to National Security and What to Do about It

Richard A. Clarke

They have accessed the office of the Secretary of Defense, the control systems for U.S. electric power grids, and the plans to protect America's latest fighter aircraft. They can shut down our most vital systems, from transportation to finance, using such weapons as logic bombs, botnets, and trapdoors. They are today's cyber warriors, the latest combatants in a battle for supremacy that has already begun-a battle America may already be losing. "Cyber War" goes behind the geek talk of hackers and computer scientists to clearly explain what this new warfare involving government, technology, and military strategy is and how we can prepare for it. From the first cyber crisis meeting in the White House a decade ago to the boardrooms of Silicon Valley and the electrical tunnels under Manhattan, national security experts Richard A. Clarke and Robert K. Knake trace the rise of the cyber age and profile the characters at its epicenter, including criminals, spies, soldiers, and hackers. As they outline how our national security has already been compromised, Clarke and Knake make chillingly clear what America stands to lose if we continue to follow policies that block our ability to effectively defend ourselves against a cyber attack.

 

About the Author Richard A. Clarke has served in the White House for Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, who appointed him as National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counterterrorism. He teaches at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, consults for ABC News, and is chairman of Good Harbor Consulting. He is also the author of the national bestseller Your Government Failed You: Breaking the Cycle of National Security Disasters, Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror, and the novels The Scorpion's Gate and Breakpoint. Robert K. Knake is an international affairs fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He holds a master's degree in international security studies from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and has written on security issues for the Boston Herald, the San Antonio Express-News, and other publications. He lives with his family in Washington, D.C.

[REM2000]

They do? Source? and also how did they steal the source code from Microsoft?

 

Why would they need the source code, Microsoft works with the government to ensure that there software can be released in the country, same with a lot of manufacturers.

[Arachno 1D]

A review of another authors book who quotes the same action between MS and the Chinese

 

 

 

The author is clearly anti-Microsoft, pro open-source, and less knowledgeable about software creation than he should be. He tells stories of Bill Gates signing an agreement with the Chinese that would allow them to see and modify Windows operating system code (why would he, and why would China care?)

http://www.computer.org/portal/web/cspress/darkside/-/blogs/cyber-war:-a-dark-side-book-review-by-robert-l-glass

[PGHammer]

How was it determined that the leak was because of Windows 8?

I'm curious as to why Microsoft would need to have a backdoor in the first place. One would (most likely) be unnecessary, as Microsoft reportedly shares software vulnerabilities with agencies, allows agencies access to their servers, and allows error message information to be analyzed.

. . . That being said, I do trust Microsoft more than the other tech companies mentioned. From Microsoft's NGSCB FAQ:

 

Microsoft submits their OSes to NSA for security testing as a requirement for many government contracts; this is neither new, or news. (Have we forgotten that NSA also runs the National Computer Security Center - the government's IT security arm?)

Further, the PRC has never been a fan of any OSes from *outside* (as in outside the PRC) - their hatred is far from Windows-specific. (In fact, if anything, non-Windows OSes - including Android and OS X - come in for even greater scorn.)

[Arachno 1D]

China?s homegrown answer to Windows has gone the way of the dodo after failing to make an impact on the domestic market for operating systems.

Red Flag Linux has terminated all staff contracts and gone into liquidation, according to a notice pinned to the door of its deserted headquarters in Beijing, spotted by TechInAsia.

 

Such is China?s love affair with Windows XP that the government has even tried to persuade Microsoft to continue support for the legacy OS past the April 8 deadline, claiming Windows 8 is too expensive and will only lead to greater instances of piracy.

 

Source

[+therealDamien Subscriber¹]

greater instances of piracy?

 

windows 7 has more chance of piracy because of loaders.

 

loaders dont work with windows 8.

 

and kms activation cant easily be blocked.

 

 

tsk these people............

 

 

someone will probably hack them(not saying names) just to prove to them they shouldnt depend on xp.

 

windows xp has more backdoors then windows 8.

[FaiKee]

Follow up: Now it's official - :)

 

http://www.win8china.com/html/11482.html

 

Bing translate

 

 

procurement Center :

Central Government procurement Center important notice

Information on tendering of such supply agreement mandatory energy-saving products to make informed

This supply agreement compulsory energy-saving product items will supplement the bidding: follows:

1, tender items including laptops, Tablet PCs , desktop computers, one printer, laser printer, flat push 7 items such as printers, drum printers, report the amount of each brand are attached.

2, all the investment and product model to be fully compliant with the latest issue of energy lists the product model (energy saving configuration details to the list, configured exactly).

3, all products are required to provide mainstream power business address, not exactly models on the market, the need for a homologous series with the configuration (or slightly lower than the investment product configuration) product sales Web site. Tender bid price shall not be higher than the sale price of a product.

4, shortlisted for the product after product replacement, shortlisted for the product if you need to sell to be included.

5, all computer products do not allow installed Windows8 operating system .

6, online bidding system opens from May 20, 2014-May 23, 17:00, please log in supplier on-time bidding systems are eligible to submit applications and products.

7, the shortlisted products online purchasing Center? ? ? Jia XING ? oblique altar wall still ? ? brachial bang side sash beak yuk work AO?/p>

Central Government procurement Center;

On May 16, 2014

 

[Guest]

Might as well stick to XP, not that it would make any difference.

[Shiranui]

Sleeping Twilight Kitchen. Nuff said...

[seta-san]

what does china care if their security sucks. they have no IPs of their own. they steal from everyone else.

[FaiKee]

Last night MS China has posted in Weibo in response:

 

http://weibo.com/msftchina

 

 

Full post:

 

 

Guess English medias would make a full translation, so here's just the 5 main points:

1. MS has never assisted any government to attack another government or clients.

2. MS has never provided any government the authority to directly visit our products or services.

3. MS has never provided any so-called "Backdoor" in our products or services.

4. MS has never provided the datas or infos of our clients to the U.S. Govt. base on National Security reasons.

5. MS has never concealed any requests from any government for infos about our clients.

[Danniel]

It is said that Chinese Government thinks that Windows 8 is not safe for their offices.

 

Refer to: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-27712908

[Torolol]

Last night MS China has posted in Weibo in response:

Guess English medias would make a full translation, so here's just the 5 main points:

1. MS has never assisted any government to attack another government or clients.

2. MS has never provided any government the authority to directly visit our products or services.

3. MS has never provided any so-called "Backdoor" in our products or services.

4. MS has never provided the datas or infos of our clients to the U.S. Govt. base on National Security reasons.

5. MS has never concealed any requests from any government for infos about our clients.

 

Considering Microsoft has long history with NSA, and Microsoft virtually never inform its customers about it before the Snowden's revealations,

All those points can not be considered as trustworthy, those responses should be treated as Microsoft damage control attempts which MS hoped that gullible masses would believes.

[FaiKee]

It is said that Chinese Government thinks that Windows 8 is not safe for their offices.

 

Refer to: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-27712908

Actually, the reason that caused this problem is because OneDrive is included by default in win8.

 

Now, the user who might be just a average novice might place files in OneDrive, without knowing that those files would then be stored in the MS Cloud Server.

 

Any govt or corps naturally would only want their sensitive documents to be stored safely in their own servers, and would be really uncomfortable to know that some of these files were stored in somebodies' servers, not to mention they don't even know the location of these servers.

 

Guess MS had to make another SKU : "Windows 8(or 9, or 10) Without OneDrive". LOL. :)