Microsoft Very Sore After Backdoor Access By NSA, Will Encrypt Networks

[Purveyor]

Microsoft is scrambling to encrypt its data centers' interlinks – after a fresh Snowden leak suggested the NSA and GCHQ tapped into the cables and intercepted sensitive network traffic.

Documents obtained by the Washington Post from the whistleblower show that Microsoft's Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger services and Passport communications were scanned by software called Monkey Puzzle, which was developed at the British snooping nerve-center GCHQ.

Reaching into the private unencrypted interlinks allows both intelligence agencies to effectively spy on Microsoft customers, and copy their messages and address books, it is claimed.

"These allegations are very disturbing. If they are true these actions amount to hacking and seizure of private data and in our view are a breach of the protection guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution." Brad Smith, Microsoft's general counsel, said in an email to The Register.

Smith, given his role as a legal eagle, also pointed out that the documents don't constitute proof per se that the NSA is tapping into its traffic surreptitiously. But he said the company's engineering teams will be beefing up security, "including strengthening security against snooping by governments."

Sources familiar with the matter say Microsoft will get to work on shielding its network traffic in the coming days, and senior executives are meeting to discuss the issue and plan a response. The Windows giant is already smarting from the commercial and reputation hit it has taken from the PRISM scandal and the latest situation just adds salt to the wound.

MORE...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/11/27/microsoft_encryption_nsa_spying/

[Scuba]

1. Snappy Headline!

[Loudly]

4. Yeah, I was like "Bring the lube NSA!" n/t

[bluestate10]

2. Yeah. Like Microsoft using encryption is going to stop the NSA or Defense Department.

The NSA and Defense Department will bust any commercial encryption within a few days. The solution is to pass laws with teeth in them so that people in the two agencies that abuse boundaries are punished.

[Fumesucker]

5. You think high level officials in the intelligence services are going to be punished?

http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/06/29/reviews/iran-pardon.html

Bush Pardons 6 in Iran Affair, Aborting a Weinberger Trial; Prosecutor Assails 'Cover-Up'

But in a single stroke, Mr. Bush swept away one conviction, three guilty pleas and two pending cases, virtually decapitating what was left of Mr. Walsh's effort, which began in 1986. Mr. Bush's decision was announced by the White House in a printed statement after the President left for Camp David, where he will spend the Christmas holiday.

Mr. Walsh bitterly condemned the President's action, charging that "the Iran-contra cover-up, which has continued for more than six years, has now been completed."

Mr. Walsh directed his heaviest fire at Mr. Bush over the pardon of Mr. Weinberger, whose trial would have given the prosecutor a last chance to explore the role in the affair of senior Reagan officials, including Mr. Bush's actions as Vice President.

'Evidence of Conspiracy'

Mr. Walsh hinted that Mr. Bush's pardon of Mr. Weinberger and the President's own role in the affair could be related. For the first time, he charged that Mr. Weinberger's notes about the secret decision to sell arms to Iran, a central piece of evidence in the case against the former Pentagon chief, included "evidence of a conspiracy among the highest ranking Reagan Administration officials to lie to Congress and the American public."

[Ron Obvious]

3. I always wondered why Microsoft bought Skype

Until this whole NSA story broke.

Disclaimer: I worked as a developer at Microsoft in the Windows networking group up until 1999 and I never even heard a hint of a rumour about any backdoors then, nor could I conceive of anyone being able to put one in without anybody noticing

I suppose 9/11 changed everything. {sigh}

[davidpdx]

6. I wish they hadn't bought Skype

I rely on it heavily and the changes they have made suck. You can always count on a big company buying up a small one and then screwing things up. If you are outside the US, you no longer can make purchases for Skype services through home they have to be done in the country you are in. They contracted out the services to a Korean vendor here that is just bad. Had to use a VPN to get around the whole mess.