Security, Microsoft, and You

Computer security is a big concern these days. It's a hot topic in technical publications such as Slashdot and Dr. Dobbs Weekly, and we even see a lot about it in the mainstream media. But how many people really understand the issues? As a software engineering professional and a concerned citizen, I'd like to take some time to cover the basics. The arcane, secretive priesthood of technical matters usually prefers obfuscation and bluffery, but is such an approach really in the public interest? In my view, it is not. I want to enable you, the common man, to make informed decisions about security concerns as they affect you and your loved ones in your daily lives. Life in a modern, pluralistic, democratic society demands no less.

We'll begin at the beginning. Everybody's favorite perennial security story is Microsoft. For years, their International Information Server product has been at the center of a storm of highly technical controversy, as has the Windows NT ("Network Technology") kernel. What is this controvery really about, in layman's terms? It all starts with a concept known as "Object Oriented Programming".

The Vision

In the early 1980s, Microsoft's Research department had a vision, a vision of a future where computers would be more than just adding machines and glorified typewriters. They had a vision of finding a way for computers to communicate with each other, a vision they called the "Network". They saw that this "Network" would enable the pervasive, world-wide sharing of information on a scale that had never been imagined before. There was no doubt that it would revolutionize society. Those brilliant men were gripped by this vision, and they knew that Microsoft, as the acknowledged world leader in technology with a tradition of acting in the public interest, was the only organization which had a fighting chance of bringing this miracle into being.

First, Microsoft "surveyed the literature", as they say. Government-funded academics had made abortive attempts to enable computers to share information on a small, local scale, but these efforts lacked both the wide-ranging vision of private enterprise, and the vigor of healthy competition. It was the sad lack of vision that really killed those projects: They were attempting to do everything with old-fashioned, obsolete "procedural programming", a method of software creation where an application consists of a long sequence of simple instructions, and "proceeds" from one to the next, from beginning to end. Such an application is unable to perform modern tasks such as Document creation or electronic mail. It is also unable to create the "packets" which are necessary for communication between computers. The academic attempts at crude "Networking" turned out, under close examination, to have been hoaxes: Two computers would be prepared with identical applications, which would "proceed" simultaneously. One would send the message "Hello" to the other, and the other would have been programmed to display "Hello" as input at the same moment. The unfree academic approach was clearly a dead end. Nobody but the commissars of DARPA is satisfied with a crude sham in lieu of a dream.

The Revolution

Microsoft decided to revolutionize the field of software by creating "object oriented programming", which means that an application is composed of semi-autonomous "objects", each of which reacts to input from the outside and can act entirely independently of the "mother ship" application. Some highly advanced "objects" -- such as Microsoft's crowning glory, the Internet Explorer Document -- may even be dispatched through a "Network Interface Console" such as a modern digital "modem" telephone or the Internet. This was the "philosopher's stone" which ultimately made the dream of Networking an everyday reality.

Once they knew their vision was practical, Microsoft's researchers set about creating a "application language" which would put the power of their new "object paradigm" into the hands of ordinary engineers everywhere. A "application language" is a sophisticated tool for creating applications which can view or create Documents. Microsoft didn't create just one; they created several. All of the application languages which are now widely used were created in Microsoft's labs in the late 1980s as their dream of Networking steadly matured: Visual Basic, Visual Front Page, MFC++. MFC++ and Visual Front Page are highly arcane tools used only by a few advanced "wizards" to perform specialized tasks, and as such they are not relevant to the present discussion. The real star of the bunch was Visual Basic, which made the creation of Internet Document Applications and Objects so easy and intuitive that millions of programmers around the world were able to join in. As we now know, they did, and we were all swept up in the magic and productivity of the Information Age -- the very magic which brings you the Document file you are now reading. Visual Basic replaced the old-fashioned mysterious commands of DOS-like languages with a revolutionary visual way of creating Document Applications, thus changing programming forever. Visual Basic was used to create Microsoft's revolutionary object oriented Network Operating System, Windows 95, the Operating System which made the Internet a reality.

The future had arrived, but there's always a serpent in Eden, isn't there? Microsoft had envisioned an "open architecture" of information, where users would share information as they liked. This was naïve. We all use computers and the Internet, don't we? Do you know anybody who abuses these gifts? I sure don't. Honest people want to chat online with their friends and trade jokes on email. What Microsoft forgot was that while most Americans are honest, some aren't. Furthermore, it's a big world out there, where the core American values of democracy and freedom are not always respected.

The Reaction

Microsoft's mistake was trust. It sounds crazy, doesn't it, that trust could be a mistake? I agree, it is crazy, to you and me -- but we're Americans. In technical terms, the problem was that Microsoft's revolutionary "objects" often contained private information such as passwords and credit card numbers. Now, you and I and Bill Gates don't look over a friend's shoulder when he's using an ATM machine, and we don't read our friends' mail, so these "objects" depended for security on the fact that decent people respect each others' privacy. Visual Basic does not support a feature called "private data members". This means that any user who accesses an object or Document can view all of the contents of that Document, and change them at will. Nobody thought that this would be a problem, because only a sick person would violate the privacy of somebody else's Internet Document. Besides, who needs that kind of paranoid security? I don't know about you, but I have nothing to hide.

But some people don't know right from wrong.

A shadowy underworld of "hackers" came into being to exploit this so-called "weakness" (isn't it a strange moral inversion, when trust, the great strengh of a free society, is called a "weakness"?). The "hackers", mostly college students urged on by leftist academics, developed their own application language, called "C++". It was a crude imitation of MFC++, but it had one feature which only criminals would have thought of in those innocent days: Private data members. A "C+" application could create Documents which were impenetrable to the prying eyes of other so-called "hackers". "C+" was used to create an entire underground "operating system" called "Linux", developed in the chaos of former Iron Curtain nations in Eastern Europe. It had no visionary features such as taskbars and Dialup Networking. In fact, it openly borrowed all but one of its ideas from Microsoft's legendary MS-DOS application, long since rendered obsolete by the overwhelming success of Windows 95. The one original idea the "hackers" had was, I must stress, security. You and I may have nothing to hide, but a "hacker" has a thousand things to hide, from his friends, from his parents, and most importantly from law enforcement.

Seemingly secure in the claustrophobic privacy and paranoia of their tiny "Linux" kingdoms, the "hackers" set out to wreck the Internet. They couldn't understand it and they could never have created it, but they knew that Microsoft's new vision of openness frightened them. So they released their crude, poisonous C+ objects and Documents -- called "viroses" -- out into the chat rooms and Web Sites of the Internet.

The Confrontation

Of course, the "hackers" didn't think it through. They didn't reckon on the innovative vigor of their adversary. By 1996, Microsoft had created the first experimental "anti-Viros" programs, which could sweep Document Folders and Web Sites clean of malicious viros objects. The "arms race" was on. Microsoft never fell behind again. They loved the challenge, of course. The problem was that while they could keep outsmarting the "hackers" forever, this wasn't what they regarded as an "elegant" solution. Furthermore, they were under attack by academics who had bribed officials of the United States Government to do their bidding. Without the Constitution's guarantee of liberty, Microsoft was aware that they ran a terrible risk of losing the battle. What if they did? Their anti-Viros efforts would cease, and their greatest creation, the Internet Web, would be gnawed to death by rats.

The Solution

A new urgency inflamed Microsoft Research. They were fighting the battle of their lives, and time seemed as if it might be running out. They decided to fight fire with fire: They would implement "private data members". That one audacious move would erase the viros threat permanently, and the "hackers" would become nothing more than an ugly memory like the Luddites, Ranters, Jacobins, and Thuggee of centuries gone by. The freedom of the Internet could never be threatened again.

Once the great decision had been made, progress was rapid, and the fruits are already beginning to appear. Visual Basic is to be retired with honors and replaced by a new application language called C# (pronounced "Seek"), which supports full private data members while still allowing them to be accessed by family and friends. In addition, the Internet Web paradigm is to be phased out gradually and replaced by the new .NET Architecture, a more flexible and sophisticated Document Object Model than the well-loved classic Internet Explorer.

The great "Computer Security" debate has been rendered obsolete. Oh, and there's more good news: Remember those rogue Justice Department employees who launched that crusade against the freedom of the Internet? A few took their bribes and retired to South America; the rest of them are in prison now. As for "Linux"? It was unable to compete with private enterprise, and has mostly vanished. Even their web sites are no longer maintained.

	So many factual errors, where to start? (1.33 / 3) (#7)
	by NAWL on Sun Dec 23rd, 2001 at 10:09:56 PM PST

	their International Information Server product I think you mean INERNET Information Server They had a vision of finding a way for computers to communicate with each other , a vision they called the "Network". They saw that this "Network" would enable the pervasive, world-wide sharing of information on a scale that had never been imagined before. So all the UNIX servers that were already running large Wide Area Networks (WANs) and smaller corporate LANs didn't exist? So the fact that Microsoft didn't work with IBM to develop a new Network OS called OS/2? If this is an idea MS came up with in the early 80s then they were WAY behind the time. There was no doubt that it would revolutionize society. Those brilliant men were gripped by this vision, and they knew that Microsoft, as the acknowledged world leader in technology with a tradition of acting in the public interest, was the only organization which had a fighting chance of bringing this miracle into being. That's why Microsoft's first networking project was simple client/server stuff the used Windows 3.1 for workgroups on the client side and Unix systems on the server side. First, Microsoft "surveyed the literature", as they say. Government-funded academics had made abortive attempts to enable computers to share information on a small, local scale, but these efforts lacked both the wide-ranging vision of private enterprise, and the vigor of healthy competition. Yeah projects like ARPANET (1962, way before MS was even founded) and MilNet (even sooner) were so small. The only connected systems around the world. Other countries later started there own ARPANETs It was the sad lack of vision that really killed those projects: They were attempting to do everything with old-fashioned, obsolete "procedural programming ", a method of software creation where an application consists of a long sequence of simple instructions, and "proceeds" from one to the next, from beginning to end. Such an application is unable to perform modern tasks such as Document creation or electronic mail. It is also unable to create the "packets" which are necessary for communication between computers. Where the hell did you get that information!?! Did you pull that out of your ass? The academic attempts at crude "Networking" turned out, under close examination, to have been hoaxes: Two computers would be prepared with identical applications, which would "proceed" simultaneously. One would send the message "Hello" to the other, and the other would have been programmed to display "Hello" as input at the same moment. The unfree academic approach was clearly a dead end. Nobody but the commissars of DARPA is satisfied with a crude sham in lieu of a dream. I'm starting to think you're either attempting to cause a fight between educated people and idiots that think you're serious. Either that or you're just really dumb I can't go on. Reading the utter factual errors and total misuse of jargon and technical terms (and at times trying to make up you own) is almost sickening. Anybody else wanna take this? Hey, if you consider the fifth grade your senior year, what else can you be besides a pompous jackass?

	Yeah, right (5.00 / 2) (#8)
	by osm on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 01:22:47 AM PST

	So, you can pull a load of trash out of thin air, claim it's fact, and expect everyone here to believe you know more than eightymd about thecomputer industry? Honestly, I find your post grossly offensive. You are obviously one of those Richard Staliman groupies who go around spreading disinformation about Microsoft products in order to increase your market share. And to think Microsoft is accused of unfair business practices. Laughable. Propaganda doesn't work here, boy. Now get off your ass and start going back to highschool and only after you've successfully completed come back and try to participate in an intelligent discussion.

	here's my proof (1.00 / 2) (#10)
	by NAWL on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 01:56:40 AM PST

	I seriously cannot believe that you think any of this is factual. This article potrays Microsoft as the creator of any type of network. Yeah I suppose when the University of California was creating the first TCP/IP stack for Unix (which Ms later adapted for Windows) before Microsoft was even founded, they were just doing it for fun huh? This article completely forgets other NETWORK operating systems (not all of them proprieatary) that existed long before Microsft was founded. Propaganda doesn't work here, boy. Now get off your ass and start going back to highschool and only after you've successfully completed come back and try to participate in an intelligent discussion. You want proof I'll give it to you. I will not bother with anything beyond my responses. I know that there are others like myself that were born long before the era of MS that remember the truth (and don't claim that Microsoft was responsible for everything) that would love to have a crack at this article. Internet Information Services (IIS) Here's a nice bit of information. Look who some of the contributors are to this information (check the bottom dumbass). Could those be MS employees? What's this? The history of UNIX? What could this be? A company that had been in the game before MS made its big splash? What year was MS founded? If you need more information I seriously suggest you do your own research from this point on. I also suggest you stay in school and learn a thing or two before you open your mouth to sound like a big dumb cunt! Hey, if you consider the fifth grade your senior year, what else can you be besides a pompous jackass?

	More disinformation (5.00 / 2) (#12)
	by osm on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 02:29:59 AM PST

	I seriously cannot believe that you think any of this is factual. This article potrays Microsoft as the creator of any type of network. Yeah I suppose when the University of California was creating the first TCP/IP stack for Unix (which Ms later adapted for Windows) before Microsoft was even founded, they were just doing it for fun huh? This article completely forgets other NETWORK operating systems (not all of them proprieatary) that existed long before Microsft was founded. This is utter nonsense. Microsoft has been innovating in this industry from the beginning. Maybe you should do some searching on the internet, fool. Microsoft was, in fact, the innovator of the gui, in a joint project with Xerox and Apple. In fact, Apple stole Microsoft's research in the field and only then introduced a gui interface beginning with the Apple III. All the while, using the courts to keep Microsoft from using a gui in their operating systems. To speak of anything happening in the computer industry "before Microsoft" is downright absurd. And I think you know it. You want proof I'll give it to you. I will not bother with anything beyond my responses. I know that there are others like myself that were born long before the era of MS that remember the truth (and don't claim that Microsoft was responsible for everything) that would love to have a crack at this article. Here you go again talking about the "era before Microsoft." I'm sure I'm older than you, son, and I can tell you that there is no such thing. Microsoft IS the computer industry. As for the links you supplied, yeah, I can link to a hundred different pages concerning Richard Staliman and point out one lie after another. Not simply take them out of context, as you have done, but show them to be utter and complete untruths. That says a lot for your Unix movement. ...big dumb cunt! The desperation in your comments just shows you know you are defending the indefensible. And you know it. It's always amazing how quickly Unix zealots resort to name-calling and foul language when they are confronted with facts and are not preaching to the choir. It's shameful that the only time you can win an argument is when you are talking to others who share your distorted beliefs. Think about that.

	admit you're wrong (1.00 / 2) (#13)
	by NAWL on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 03:14:28 AM PST

	Wow now we make shit up and twist facts. Let's see: This is utter nonsense. Microsoft has been innovating in this industry from the beginning. Maybe you should do some searching on the internet, fool. Microsoft was, in fact, the innovator of the gui, in a joint project with Xerox and Apple. In fact, Apple stole Microsoft's research in the field and only then introduced a gui interface beginning with the Apple III. All the while, using the courts to keep Microsoft from using a gui in their operating systems. To speak of anything happening in the computer industry "before Microsoft" is downright absurd. And I think you know it. Did you pull that out of your ass? Apple released the first desktop computer (Xerox's offering was a workstation) with a GUI called the Lisa. This was well before Microsoft was contracted by Apple to develop software. Apple III, that must be from the imaginary non-existant computer line. Apple in fact tried to sue Microsoft for stealing their ideas AFTER the release of the Mac. Do to unclear licensing Apple LOST! As for the links you supplied, yeah, I can link to a hundred different pages concerning Richard Staliman and point out one lie after another. Not simply take them out of context, as you have done, but show them to be utter and complete untruths. That says a lot for your Unix movement. Not a single one of those links has to do with or even mentions Richard Stallman. Two link to the Microsoft web site. The other is a trusted countlessly publish timeline. The BellLabs link was provided because they were responsible for Unix. Richard Stallman has no ties with Novell, NetWare nor do those have any connections with open source software save one. Novell's former CEO left to found Caldera which provides software solutions for Unix and Linux. Want a really good link? Here you go The Computer Museum History Center. Here you go again talking about the "era before Microsoft." I'm sure I'm older than you, son, and I can tell you that there is no such thing. Microsoft IS the computer industry. That's right without MS people would be using better products rather than inferior well marketed crap. Doesn't it amaze you that Microsoft's .NET will not be available for 2 years and will only benefit Windows users and will require purchase of costly hardware/software upgrades for businesses. I'm sure it does. Would it also surprise you to know that Novell has an even better offering planned for release in 2 months!? How many of your kids have graduated college? How many grandkids you got? I can go on and on and on proving you're an idiot. Take some of elenchos' advice (along with my own twist). Just accept it and admit that you're a fucking IDIOT! Hey, if you consider the fifth grade your senior year, what else can you be besides a pompous jackass?

	I'll admit YOU are wrong (5.00 / 1) (#15)
	by osm on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 03:57:48 AM PST

	Your post was so incoherent, I don't even know where to begin. I'll just say this: I wouldn't bitch about Microsoft and computer hardware prices if I were you. It's BECAUSE of Microsoft that hardware is as cheap as it is. It's BECAUSE of Microsoft that you can even afford to have a computer. It's BECAUSE of Microsoft that you have 10GB of hard RAM in your computer. AND IT'S BECAUSE OF MICROSOFT THAT YOU HAVE A GUI, A NETWORK CONNECTION AND THE MOST ADVANCED SOFTWARE THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.

	Huh? (none / 0) (#37)
	by SYN on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 02:17:12 PM PST

	What the hell is 'hard RAM', buster?

	Oh please, (none / 0) (#38)
	by osm on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 02:19:44 PM PST

	Your post must be a troll, but I'll leave it just in case you really are so clueless as to not know what hard RAM is.

	Hehe (none / 0) (#79)
	by SYN on Tue Dec 25th, 2001 at 12:33:22 AM PST

	I don't know what hard RAM is...because it doesn't exist! It must be another made up term (you guys seem to be very fond of those). Hard RAM - geez, you people sound like those senior citizens who go to computer service centers - "Uh, hi, I think my computer box's hard RAM is getting too hot, please will you fix it for me! I can't see the Interweb on it no more!" Hehe...just kidding. But seriously, I thought you guys were smarter than that. Hard RAM? Come on. You've gotta be kidding. I'm not going to bother lecturing you guys about the different types of computer storage that exist and their traditional names, considering that similiar things done by previous posters usually land up being a waste of disk space.

	disk space? (5.00 / 2) (#87)
	by philipm on Tue Dec 25th, 2001 at 07:09:13 AM PST

	What is this disk space nonsense? What is disk space? Pretty soon you will be telling me we have disk ocean, disk forest. Maybe we have run out of disk lebensraum. Go read a computer book. --philipm

	The humor kills me. (1.00 / 1) (#35)
	by chuckx on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 01:54:15 PM PST

	I too have been threatened with legal action by Adequacy members. I still haven't heard from any legal representation. These empty threats are a joke. - chuckx -

	Well, let's take a stroll down memory lane (5.00 / 2) (#40)
	by osm on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 02:36:31 PM PST

	What exactly are you accusing me of? I believe the issue in question was the time you illegaly accessed our statistics page, using an illegal modem and a hacker tool. What do I deserve? Normally, I would say the electric chair, but since you continue to access our site through illegal means, AND HAVE BEEN POSTING COMMENTS PEDOPHILIC IN NATURE, I think nailing you to a cross, soaking you in gasoline and lighting you on fire would be good.

	I beg to differ sir, (none / 0) (#47)
	by Martino Cortez PhD on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 03:59:50 PM PST

	As you can clearly see, if such intelligent humans as myself inhabit this site, then surely it must have merit, no? As the smartest, richest, and therefore the most glorious of humans, blessed by the grace of Jesus Christ our Saviour, I decree that this website is home to some of the most intense, witty, and challenging of website debate forums. It's not that the regulars here are wrong, it's that your IQ is merely too low to see their underlying foundation of knowledge from which they base their rigeriously analysed arguments. Perhaps you should go back to grade school and post your childesh arguments. In the mean time, I sugest you cease posting, lest you further embarrass your unwashed self in our noble presence. Thank you. -- Dr Martino Cortez, PhD CEO - Martin-Cortez Financial Corporation Copyright © 2002, Martino Cortez.

	Good grief (none / 0) (#88)
	by SYN on Tue Dec 25th, 2001 at 08:24:31 AM PST

	No, sir, you are the one who needs to go and read a computer book. Very urgently. Indeed. Disk space is composed of unused regions of your hard drive (you know, that thing with the silvery platters of metal inside it that 99% of personal computers contain). Not all of the hard drive's space (ie. unallocated cylinders) are always used, and these unallocated cylinders are referred to as 'disk space'. If you have lots of 'disk space', you can put lots of 'softwarez' onto your hard drive. And don't even try arguing with me until you've designed your own OS file system extensions the way I have, or read dozens of computer books, the way I have, being an incurable g*k/coder. Run back to your Visual Basic 'language' and go and try to write 'Hello World', do, it would probably keep you busy for weeks. Adequacy is a place for intelligent, informed* people, not your type. Go somewhere where your pitiful lack of neural development will be appreciated.

	bah (none / 0) (#89)
	by nathan on Tue Dec 25th, 2001 at 08:55:50 AM PST

	If you're not sure what hard RAM is, obviously you're unfamiliar with the work of the great Jim Powers. Honestly, get with the exciting developments in contemporary cinema. Nathan -- Li'l Sis: Yo, that's a real grey area. Even by my lax standards.

	And a little more history for you... (5.00 / 2) (#17)
	by osm on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 04:15:52 AM PST

	Just to show you what a crook your hero Stalimann is: I found this information on an Apple ex-employee's website. The computer network is truly one of Microsoft's greatest innovations. The concept began in the early days of the industry when Microsoft developed the first operating system, which was later adapted to be used on the IBM PC. IBM wanted a way to allow their licensed operating system to operate on multi-processor/multi-RAM systems. Microsoft answered this by devoting millions of dollars of research into what they termed "computer networking." Not only did Microsoft present IBM with their multi-processor solution, which IBM labelled "OS/2" (Operating System / 2, 2 meaning "multiprocessor"), but they also innovated the computer-to-computer connection now called the "internet." The Internet made great strides in the educational community, due to Microsoft's dominant presence on college campuses. Microsoft continued to add new features and security enhancements to their networking system, such as the ability to read the IP address from the computer modem's ROM and use it to track illegal use of systems connected to the network. This technology was dubbed "token ring" referring to the exchange of IP addresses as "tokens" in a networking "ring." But the wide acceptance of Microsoft's new networking system on college campuses wasn't without its drawbacks. Microsoft even allowed campuses access to their valuable computer "code" (a file containing mathematical equations and various operating system commands). Their hope was to encourage the spread of the concept of computer networking to facilitate the free exchange of ideas across the world. While Microsoft's vision of empowering the oppressed and financially underprivileged was a noble one, a band of computer "hackers", led by Richard M Stalmann, had different ideas. This group of "hackers," operating illegally from the University of Berkely, would break into the computer labs late at night and steal the computer code from the campus mainframe. One of those codes was Microsoft's innovative networking code. Microsoft was stunned when their networking technology appeared in a new hacker operating system written by Linux Torvaldes. This operating system (egotistically named "Linux" after its creator), has steadily gained popularity in the computer underground ever since. This incident led Microsoft founder and lead programmer Bill Gates to make the famous comment, "software should be free, as in speech, not free as in beer". Unfortunately, Microsoft had no legal remedy in this situation. Since the hacker underground is composed of thousands of shady characters, spread across the world who all use illegal computer modems (the V-chip, which supplies the IP tokens, has been removed), Microsoft had noone to sue. The damage these hackers have caused to the internet is incalculable, since they're illegal code is used in critical portions of the internet, they are allowed to dictate many of the standards by which various subsystems of the internet are governed.

	you wrote that (1.00 / 1) (#18)
	by NAWL on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 05:18:19 AM PST

	Written by an ex-Apple employee? Gee I wonder why. Probably because he is an misinformed idiot with bad spelling. The computer network is truly one of Microsoft's greatest innovations. The concept began in the early days of the industry when Microsoft developed the first operating system, which was later adapted to be used on the IBM PC. Computer networks were around much longer than Microsoft. All you have to do is look at IBM's AIX, Hewlette-Packard's HP-UX, or Compaq's Tru64 (and yes Compaq is also older than MS). Also MS did NOT create the first operating system. I can name a number of OSes that pre-date even DOS (which they didn't even develop, they bought it). How about UNIX or CP/M. Not to mention that Apple's Lisa had a GUI while MS was still screwing around with DOS. IBM wanted a way to allow their licensed operating system to operate on multi-processor/multi-RAM systems. Microsoft answered this by devoting millions of dollars of research into what they termed "computer networking." Not only did Microsoft present IBM with their multi-processor solution, which IBM labelled "OS/2" (Operating System / 2, 2 meaning "multiprocessor"), but they also innovated the computer-to-computer connection now called the "internet." MS answered this with millions. Of what money? MS was helping to develop OS/2 while under contract from IBM. They never finished it before IBM realised MS was devoting more time to their own projects and not IBMs. MS didn't HAVE millions to throw around. In other words they were using IBMs money to fund their work. Also the name OS/2 has nothing to do with MP. Its name realtes to the second generation of IBM offered OSes. The Internet made great strides in the educational community, due to Microsoft's dominant presence on college campuses. Microsoft continued to add new features and security enhancements to their networking system, such as the ability to read the IP address from the computer modem's ROM and use it to track illegal use of systems connected to the network. This technology was dubbed "token ring" referring to the exchange of IP addresses as "tokens" in a networking "ring." Huh!?! Sorry but UNIX is still dominant in the server rooms at most Universities. IBM developed Token Ring and it predates MS as well. Check history against the founding date of MS. Token Ring doesn't involve a modem, track illegal use, nor does it exchange IP addresses. A network card and a MAU are require when using token ring. You really don't know anything about networking do you? Here's a lesson. Token passing involves a 3-byte packet, called a token, which is transmitted from one node to another around the ring. If a computer on the ring has information ti transmit, it picks up the token packet, adds the control and data information plus the destination's node address to transform the token into a data fram and then passes the token on to the next node. The tranformed token, now in the form of a frame, circulates around the network until it reaches the its intended destination. The destination node picks it up and returns an acknowledgement messageto the originating node. After the originating node receives the acknowledgement, it releases a new free token and sends it down the ring. And before you post something stupid like MS invented Ethernet. Bob Metcalfe's Harvard PhD Thesis outlined the idea for Ethernet. David Boggs, Butler Lampson, Bob Metcalfe, and Charles Thacker of Xerox PARC filed a patent for Ehternet. They received patent number 4,063,220 in 1977. The concept was tested on Xerox PARC's Alto computers, and the first Ethernet network called the Alto Aloha System. This was only 2 years after the founding of Micro-Soft (they later dropped the hyphen) before Bill and Company went to work for IBM (the company was founded while they developed BASIC (pre-DOS) for the Altair 8800). But the wide acceptance of Microsoft's new networking system on college campuses wasn't without its drawbacks. Microsoft even allowed campuses access to their valuable computer "code" (a file containing mathematical equations and various operating system commands). Their hope was to encourage the spread of the concept of computer networking to facilitate the free exchange of ideas across the world. While Microsoft's vision of empowering the oppressed and financially underprivileged was a noble one, a band of computer "hackers", led by Richard M Stalmann, had different ideas. Dear God, what a load of CRAP! MS from their early contract negotiations with IBM wanted to control every-fucking-thing. This group of "hackers," operating illegally from the University of Berkely, would break into the computer labs late at night and steal the computer code from the campus mainframe. One of those codes was Microsoft's innovative networking code. I assume you are referring to the TCP/IP stack from FreeBSD. Kind of strange since that code predates DOS! DOS doesn't have a TCP/IP stack. Hell early versions of DOS had NO networking capabilities what-so-ever. Not to mention that MS was working on Windows while still under contract by IBM. So it was IBM's machines. For a guy that claims he's OLDER than me, your timeline is ALL FUCKED UP! Microsoft was stunned when their networking technology appeared in a new hacker operating system written by Linux Torvaldes. This operating system (egotistically named "Linux" after its creator), has steadily gained popularity in the computer underground ever since. This incident led Microsoft founder and lead programmer Bill Gates to make the famous comment, "software should be free, as in speech, not free as in beer". His name is LINUS TORVALDS. Linux=Linus+nix. This proves you wrote this piece of shit. None of you adequacy.org family morons can ever get that right. MS has already stated that Windows uses the TCP/IP stack from FreeBSD. According to the BSD license they can do that. And Bill Gates never said that. Richard Stallman did. The V-chip has no connection whatsoever to Token Ring. It's used to block certain material like TV channels from kids. There's no need to even touch your last paragraph since it makes no sense and I have otherwise destroy it in with previous responses. Hey, if you consider the fifth grade your senior year, what else can you be besides a pompous jackass?*

	Now you show your true colors (5.00 / 1) (#19)
	by osm on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 05:41:24 AM PST

	His name is LINUS TORVALDS. Linux=Linus+nix. This proves you wrote this piece of shit. None of you adequacy.org family morons can ever get that right. MS has already stated that Windows uses the TCP/IP stack from FreeBSD. According to the BSD license they can do that. Nobody here cares how to spell his name. He is a criminal who created a hacker tool which has cost countless corporations BILLIONS in lost revenue. He's lucky if he gets his name spelled incorrectly, since he deserves to go to the electric chair. And Bill Gates never said that. Richard Stallman did.* No. Bill Gates said that and Richard Stalimann later twisted it into his own perverse hacker credo, "software deserves to be free." This man, another criminal, actually BELIEVES that Microsoft and other software companies OWE him something. He needs to be spanked, as do you. The V-chip has no connection whatsoever to Token Ring. It's used to block certain material like TV channels from kids. I don't know where you're getting your information, but anyone can do a patent search and discover that the V-Chip is a device used to protect network security and give parental control over internet content by providing a means to filter specific IP tokens. Of course, you don't want anyone to know this, since it would severely damper your illegal hacking efforts, now wouldn't it? So, put that in your crack pipe and smoke it, bucko.

	stop (none / 0) (#27)
	by NAWL on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 12:04:12 PM PST

	I don't know where you're getting your information, but anyone can do a patent search and discover that the V-Chip is a device used to protect network security and give parental control over internet content by providing a means to filter specific IP tokens. You really are a simple creature aren't you? You actually think you can make up terms like IP token? Do you even know what the hell the Internet Protocol IS? Hell I gaven the definition of a token. V-Chip aren't used on networks you twit. On networks you use network filters and proxy servers. Don't attempt to run of and actually expect me to believe that you know a damn thing about networking or computing in general. You sound like a friggin 13-year old trying to sound cool throwing around lingo that doesn't make and sense. You probably run around saying things like, ""We've got to patch the token ring into the ethernet switch in order to enhance the collision rate on the bitmap decoder algorithm!", in an attempt to sound intelligent. Hey, if you consider the fifth grade your senior year, what else can you be besides a pompous jackass?

	We'll see, hacker boy (none / 0) (#30)
	by osm on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 01:10:05 PM PST

	Right now, we have activated Microsoft server pages which will decode the IP tokens in your modem's V-chip. Once completed, your IP will be banned. Unless, of course you are using an illegal hacker modem, in which case the FBI will be visiting you shortly. Have a nice day.

	Oh don't worry, we haven't forgotten you (5.00 / 1) (#36)
	by osm on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 02:07:39 PM PST

	You'll be paying the piper all in good time. At the moment, our legal department has been busy with a cease and desist letter from Natalie Portman's representatives. That will all be sorted out in good time (in our favor, since our legal staff is every bit as competent as our technical staff) and you will be getting the justice you so richly deserve.

	Sure thing. (1.00 / 2) (#39)
	by chuckx on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 02:28:04 PM PST

	What exactly are you accusing me of? What do I deserve? I recommend you dispense with the baseless accusations and empty threats and actually try engaging in a coherent discussion with those who do not have the same mindset as you. This site is not the safe harbor of intelligent discussion that it's claimed to be. If you make a comment that mindlessly agrees with the article, your post gets rated high by regulars. If you make a post outright disagreeing, you're labeled a criminal, threatened and rated down. If you make a post that presents an intelligent, controversial point, it gets quietly ignored. Yes, these are general observations. No, I'm not accusing any one person of treating comments in that manner. However, the Adequacy community does tend to act that way. The community here is just as biased and brazen as what you may find at Slashdot or Kuro5hin, creating a community that's just as tedious and tiresome as the others can be. It just so happens the people here tend to be biased in the opposite direction. - chuckx -

	You're wrong. (none / 0) (#42)
	by chuckx on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 03:09:22 PM PST

	I believe the issue in question was the time you illegaly accessed our statistics page, using an illegal modem and a hacker tool. I did not access a statistics page for this site. My cable modem is the property of Time Warner Cable, and my use of it is in no way illegal. The "hacker tool" you are referrring to is Internet Explorer. If you consider that a hacker tool, please enlighten me as to what web browser I should be using to access this site (by the way, the TOS mentions nothing about not being able to use IE). ...but since you continue to access our site through illegal means, AND HAVE BEEN POSTING COMMENTS PEDOPHILIC IN NATURE... This is great. You immediately retreat back to making baseless accusations. Once again, is Internet Explorer illegal? Pedophilic comments? Would you care to point one out? - chuckx -

	I am not wrong - YOU ARE LYING (none / 0) (#44)
	by osm on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 03:30:55 PM PST

	I did not access a statistics page for this site. My cable modem is the property of Time Warner Cable, and my use of it is in no way illegal. The "hacker tool" you are referrring to is Internet Explorer. If you consider that a hacker tool, please enlighten me as to what web browser I should be using to access this site (by the way, the TOS mentions nothing about not being able to use IE). That's certainly not what our IP token analyzer has told us. And, to be quite frank, I believe hard data over your cyber-hacker lies. According to our information, you accessed our PRIVATE statistics page on no less than three occassions, using Apache - an "Open Source" web browser. And we all know Open Source is just a euphemism for "Illegal Hacker Tool". This is great. You immediately retreat back to making baseless accusations. Once again, is Internet Explorer illegal? Pedophilic comments? Would you care to point one out? Of course IE is not illegal. But - as you well know - that IS NOT what you are using. Of course I will not point out your pedophilic comments. They have been hidden and passed along to our lawyers, along with our IP token information.

	You make yourself look stupid better than I do. (none / 0) (#45)
	by chuckx on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 03:42:22 PM PST

	Apache is a web server, not a web browser. You all should know that better than most since you use it to serve this site. This conversation is pointless, as is most discussion on this site. For a prime example, just take a look at the thousands of posts on the "Is Your Son a Computer Hacker" article. There you have thousands proclaiming the idiocy of Adequacy. Regardless of whether or not the comments were invited, this is hardly the home of intelligent, controversial discourse. Continue with your babbling if you must. - chuckx -

	You mean nothing to me. (none / 0) (#50)
	by chuckx on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 04:08:47 PM PST

	And I attatch the same amount of significance to your comments. If you have a problem with that, that's too bad. It's your problem, not mine. As long as Adequacy.org tries to caters to open, intelligent and controversial discussion, I will post my intelligent, controversial comments. You may disagree, but that's the definition of controversy, isn't it? If my comments are too controversial for you to handle, you and you're typists should consider frequenting another site. - chuckx -

	stop telling others what to do (none / 0) (#94)
	by philipm on Tue Dec 25th, 2001 at 08:36:11 PM PST

	Martino Cortez is a valuable meber of Adequacy. You are NOT. --philipm

	huh? (none / 0) (#56)
	by PotatoError on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 04:23:56 PM PST

	maybe you could have saved yourself a lot of time by just writing "shut the fuck up" instead of going into all that other stuff you wrote. <<JUMP! POGO POGO POGO BOUNCE! POGO POGO POGO>>

	because he has more than a third grade education (none / 0) (#95)
	by philipm on Tue Dec 25th, 2001 at 08:39:12 PM PST

	Unlike autistic techno geeks, we here ad adequacy do not tell people to "shut the fuck up". Just because you have been publicly humiliated and embarassed is no reason to make your crimes worse. I look forward to adequacy pursuing legal action due to the illegal hacking described in the above thread. --philipm

	You don't know shit, buddy (none / 0) (#51)
	by osm on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 04:12:31 PM PST

	Apache is a web server, not a web browser. You all should know that better than most since you use it to serve this site. Hey, I took a class in Data Processing at my local Vo-Tech. Don't try to confuse me with your obscure hacker lingo. I can just see you sitting there, alone in your parent's basement, your brain sizzling on LSD while you play your flute for your computer. You punks are all the same. It will be a glorious day when the RIAA legislation puts an end to you all.

	haha (none / 0) (#55)
	by PotatoError on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 04:22:48 PM PST

	Yes we are the hacker underworld. Currently I am using my 'Microsoft Notepad' hacker tool to type this message. Notice that my Keyboard has an illegal design - one of the keys is missing. It was actually the "spam web server" key but I guess I dont need one of those now that I have Norton Anti-Virus which is the hub of my hacker tool assortment. Tommorow I plan to use Microsoft Solitare and my Apache browser (lol) to reak havoc to civilisation. I will start by turning up my anti-matter electro speaker sound system and then I will load up my ultra-radiation zip drive and insert the .22 zip cartridge into it. Then I will cunningly turn off my monitor to avoid the fires and press THE WINDOWS KEY on my keyboard. HAHAHA bet you didnt see that attack coming!!!! This is all factual of course. You'd have to be computer ignorant to deny it. <<JUMP! POGO POGO POGO BOUNCE! POGO POGO POGO>>

	Very cute (none / 0) (#63)
	by osm on Mon Dec 24th, 2001 at 04:54:23 PM PST

	I just hope you enjoy getting gang-raped by the buffalo herders in Leavenworth along with your other hacker buddies who have been illegally accessing our site.

	Too Funny (none / 0) (#132)
	by Anonymous Reader on Mon Jan 21st, 2002 at 02:35:16 PM PST

	I have to give credit to OSM. His posts have to be some of the most amusing stuff I've heard in a long time. I've yet to actually read a post from one so ignorant as he. As to a previous comment regarding Christ, do you honestly believe you're a better Christian because you're rich? If so you don't beleive in God, you don't beleive in Christ, you believe in the dollar bill, nothing more, and may you burn in hell with your stack of cash. Back to OSM, God bless this funny little man. You constant rantings about hackers and IP tokens and hacker software is all too amusing, yet untrue. You fail to admit that Apple stol the GUI from Xerox, and that Billy Bob and his cronies stole the GUI from Apple while 'developing' it for them, though the information has been documented in numerous areas and some of these have been made available to you. You also fail to admit in multiple other instances where others have provided an intelligent arguement backed up by FACTS. You also claim the Linux is a hacker's OS because it wasn't created by your precious Microsoft. Linux is an OS for the computer savvy that are sick of Windows and it's many, many failings. People who like to creat their OS to run what they want and how they want with a degree of stability unmatched by windows. So until you can get a proper computer education you can quit your idiotic and mindless bashing of Linux and it's many users. On a side note: People that disagree with you and you moronic cohorts aren't hackers, and drug adicts or pedophiles, they just know what they're talking about, because that's their job, that's their hobby, and they're damned good at them. You can also go ahead and rant about getting my IP 'token' address and accuse me of being a hacker, which is virtually impossible because they have our work stations protected very well here at MSN. Yes, that's right, MSN, that awful ISP spawned by one of the worst companies to grace God's wonderful planet. So go ahead, try your hardest to get my info, report, me and get me fired! But alas, you are full of idle threats and I expect nothing to come of this. You have a great day, fool, and may you one day be blessed with the knowledge of the extent of your stupidity.