4 ms·
> Windows had been banned from Chinese government computers in 2014 amid concerns about security and US surveillance. Really? Which ones? I see Windows running
by Macuyiko 9y ago
> Windows had been banned from Chinese government computers in 2014 amid concerns about security and US surveillance.
Really? Which ones? I see Windows running in the police station, DMV, ... "Government" is a quite broad term.
What do they use instead? Ubuntu Kylin or their internally developed Linux?
- ethbro 9y agoI'd imagine the ban was much more of a political stick to bring Microsoft to heel than an actual change in policy. In short though: thanks, NSA, for providing exactly the argument authoritarian nations around the world were looking for in order to meddle with US software.
- subterfudge44 9y agoI think this would have happened irrespective of NSA's policies.
- jaclaz 9y agoReportedly starting with Windows 8: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/05/china-bans-windows-8-on-government-pcs-to-ensure-security/ https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/05/china... http://thediplomat.com/2014/05/why-china-banned-windows-8/ http://thediplomat.com/2014/05/why-china-banned-windows-8/ Maybe you can get a better understanding/verify from the original Chinese source: http://www.zycg.gov.cn/article/show/242846 http://www.zycg.gov.cn/article/show/242846
- Macuyiko 9y agoYeah, that last report specifically refers to Windows 8, in the context of energy savings (typical Chinese style, but still a mention of Windows 8, so I guess the Windows XPs, 7s and 10s would not fall under this). Anyway, lot of generalization going on from the original article without clear grasp on the specifics in the field in China, as always.
- Markoff 9y agopretty sure they meant the new version of Windows available at the time of ban, not the WXP powering half of China
- doggydogs94 9y agoThey use Windows because that is the platform which a vast majority of software is written for.