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Microsoft source code leaked over Internet
Seattle, Feb 13: Microsoft Corp. said portions of its Windows source code the tightly guarded blueprint of its dominant computer operating system had been leaked over the Internet.
Seattle, Feb 13: Microsoft Corp. said portions of its Windows source code the tightly guarded blueprint of its dominant computer operating system had been leaked over the Internet.
Microsoft spokesman Tom Pilla said in an interview with on Wednesday that some incomplete portions of the Windows 2000 and Windows NT4.0 source code had been "illegally made available on the Internet."
Access to the source code could allow hackers to exploit the operating system and attack machines running some versions of Windows. Several versions of the operating system, including the ones containing leaked code, are used on hundreds of millions of computers worldwide.
Such access could also provide a competitive edge to Microsoft rivals, who would gain a much better understanding of the inner workings of Microsoft's technology.
The company was made aware of the leak yesterday and was investigating, Pilla said. He did not know how much of the code had been leaked, when the leak occurred or how many people might have gained access to it. The company could not immediately pinpoint the source of the leak, and has contacted law enforcement authorities, he said.
Pilla said there was no indication the leak was a result of a breach of Microsoft's corporate network. There was no known immediate impact on Microsoft customers, he said.
Microsoft has previously shared some of its source code with some companies, US government agencies, foreign governments and universities under tight restrictions that prevent such organizations from making it publicly available. Bureau Report
Microsoft spokesman Tom Pilla said in an interview with on Wednesday that some incomplete portions of the Windows 2000 and Windows NT4.0 source code had been "illegally made available on the Internet."
Access to the source code could allow hackers to exploit the operating system and attack machines running some versions of Windows. Several versions of the operating system, including the ones containing leaked code, are used on hundreds of millions of computers worldwide.
Such access could also provide a competitive edge to Microsoft rivals, who would gain a much better understanding of the inner workings of Microsoft's technology.
The company was made aware of the leak yesterday and was investigating, Pilla said. He did not know how much of the code had been leaked, when the leak occurred or how many people might have gained access to it. The company could not immediately pinpoint the source of the leak, and has contacted law enforcement authorities, he said.
Pilla said there was no indication the leak was a result of a breach of Microsoft's corporate network. There was no known immediate impact on Microsoft customers, he said.
Microsoft has previously shared some of its source code with some companies, US government agencies, foreign governments and universities under tight restrictions that prevent such organizations from making it publicly available. Bureau Report