China: Windows 8 is a threat to national security

Just a week after its use was banned on Chinese government computers, Windows 8 has now been branded as a threat to national security.

China's national CCTV broadcasted a highly critical story, citing experts who claimed Windows 8 has and will be used to grab personal data about Chinese citizens.

"Microsoft would no longer open its Windows 8 source code to the Chinese government," said Professor Yang Min of Fudan University. "However the security scheme of the Windows 8 operating system is designed to provide better access for Microsoft to users' database." This poses a huge challenge to the nation's security.

Additionally, the report claims Windows 8 was being used by the NSA to collect data from citizens around the globe. "Your identity, account, contact book, phone numbers, all this data can be put together for big data analysis," added Ni Guangnan, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. "The data might be a good way for the US to monitor other countries."

Microsoft says it is now "actively cooperating" with the Chinese government to review the operating system and alleviate any fears.

Source:
BBC

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 8 Jun 2014 15:44

flyingpen

Ya I'm sorry call me ignorant but this is complete 100% bullshit.

Carpe Noctem

8.6.2014 16:16 #1

ronhondo

Dump Win 8 .... It is total crap and everyone knows it.

8.6.2014 17:36 #2

Zoner

It's already known that the NSA been forcing software and encryption companies to put backdoors for them to be accessed by the NSA

9.6.2014 00:06 #3

Jemborg

Told you China was pissed because 5 of their army generals were indited by the US for industrial espionage!

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Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

DSE VZ300-
Zilog Z80 CPU, 32KB RAM (16K+16K cartridge), video processor 6847, 2KB video RAM, 16 colours (text mode), 5.25" FDD

9.6.2014 01:35 #4

Mrguss

NSA & Microsoft are like sisters spying on old boyfriends.
Everybody know it.
lol

Live Free or Die.
The rule above all the rules is: Survive !
Capitalism: Funnel most of the $$$ to the already rich.

9.6.2014 16:06 #5

SoTired

The NSA requires all OS manufacturers to include spy-ware in the OS, and then precludes the manufacturers from talking about it in the interests of "national security." It's not Microsoft's fault, or Google's, or Apple's.

While China is correct that the NSA/CIA are listening, it's not China's citizens who have to worry. The NSA does not have the personnel to translate and review the internet activities of 1 billion Chinese citizens, even if someone at the NSA cared to know what shaving lotion Hin Chow Wing and his wife bought online last month.

The truth is that the CIA/NSA use these tools to spy on Chinese government officials, and on the government officials of every other country, just as those countries' governments spy on our government officials. Spying on government officials been going on for centuries. And countries have always used whatever tools are available. Blaming it on Windows 8 is a bit weird.

9.6.2014 17:38 #6

Jemborg

China is retaliating for being outed spying on US corporations. It's sour grapes and has nothing to do with the NSA or whomever.

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

DSE VZ300-
Zilog Z80 CPU, 32KB RAM (16K+16K cartridge), video processor 6847, 2KB video RAM, 16 colours (text mode), 5.25" FDD

10.6.2014 02:19 #7

hearme0

While I really don't mind Win8 anymore,I gotta agree with the lousy communists.......Win8 requires username and acct info to even login and use the OS so it's believable that it does indeed collect info about peeps....however, Win8 is almost the same as Win7. It's just a different start menu but everyone operates in the desktop part anyway so Win8 bashers should really pipe down and stay off the bandwagon.

10.6.2014 11:00 #8

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