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The most concrete counterexample I can think of is the Windows XP leak -- as source code was leaked Microsoft seemed to be really annoyed because security flaws
by btdmaster 5y ago
The most concrete counterexample I can think of is the Windows XP leak -- as source code was leaked Microsoft seemed to be really annoyed because security flaws were kept all the way up to Windows 10 (in the name of backwards compatibility).
- phendrenad2 5y agoSure, they SAID that they were annoyed because of potential security issues. But you know what really annoys companies? Their secret sauce being easily viewable to competitors, and the extra workload their legal department will have tracking down people who host the leak and sending them DMCAs.
- btdmaster 5y agoBut they supplied source code to other companies: https://web.archive.org/web/20081216125724/http://www.microsoft.com/resources/sharedsource/windowslp.mspx https://web.archive.org/web/20081216125724/http://www.micros... (this is suspected to be how the leak was started in the first place).
- phendrenad2 5y agoWould you give me your Social Security Number if I asked for it? Why not? Would you give it to your bank when opening a bank account? Why? When you join a company, you have to sign a NDA that covers not only the company's trade secrets, but any trade secrets of that company's partners that you are exposed to. So, Microsoft is somewhat free to share their source with select partners whom they trust will keep it secure, and only share with employees who need it. I don't think Joe's Software LLC would have been able to get the Windows source code, even with an NDA.