Microsoft's Vista had help from the NSA

Bruce Schneier:

It's called the "equities issue." Basically, the NSA has two roles: eavesdrop on their stuff, and protect our stuff. When both sides use the same stuff -- Windows Vista, for example -- the agency has to decide whether to exploit vulnerabilities to eavesdrop on their stuff or close the same vulnerabilities to protect our stuff. In its partnership with Microsoft, it could have decided to go either way: to deliberately introduce vulnerabilities that it could exploit, or deliberately harden the OS to protect its own interests.

A few years ago I was ready to believe the NSA recognized we're all safer with more secure general-purpose computers and networks, but in the post-9/11 take-the-gloves-off eavesdrop-on-everybody environment, I simply don't trust the NSA to do the right thing.

Which leads back to this post.

NSA in ur computer, reading ur stuff

Steve Bates catches the Washington Post article:
" When Microsoft introduces its long-awaited Windows Vista operating system this month, it will have an unlikely partner to thank for making its flagship product safe and secure for millions of computer users across the world: the National Security Agency."

It doesn't matter about the content of one's personal computer, it's the access that we should question. This is a war between who controls your personal information. Once the control tilts too far into the hands of the government, they will misuse it. It is human nature and the temptation will be too great.