Return to Article: Microsoft chosen as exclusive Homeland Security contractor

By Shane Harris sharris@govexec.com July 15, 2003
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    I think it is absurd that a company whose software is the primary target of crackers and virus programs could be chosen for our Homeland Security. What other systems were considered? It obvious that the NSA's se-Linux wasn't. Probably the most secure operating system available and already paid for by our tax dollars. Now we are paying again for system that is the target of crackers and virus programmers. Not to mention the proprietary close source code that only Redmond gets to see. What kind of information will Bill Gates have access to when there is no peer review of the code that runs the systems? What cost are the taxpayers going to be subjected to now? 5 years from now? What percent increase in Microsoft Licensing fees will be tolerated? When you don't have to pay for an Operating System you can afford more hardware. I believe IBM or Hewlett Packard systems running Redhat Linux or Debian/GNU Linux with the NSA's SE-Linux kernel patch would provide for greater Home Land Security at a much better price.

    Robert F. Stockdale IV Posted July 18, 2003 4:10 AM
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    Comments from various Reservists who work with technology, who find this less than surprising, but very amusing!

    --Interesting how the agency charged with providing security for all of us chose the least secure platform and server. HA! At least the Army was smart enough to go with OS X Server!

    --It would be interesting to know which MS Server Version they will be using. MS Windows 2003 Server which just came on the market, already has security issues and MS says they won't fix them this release. Even worse the issues are within the newly modified Browser.

    --That is a laugh....sort of. Looks like some good ole' fashioned backroom backslappin'. "Martinis all around please hunneh" " Call my wife and tell her I'll be late. I got some dang celebratin' to do!"

    GovExec.com reader Posted July 16, 2003 1:36 PM

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Microsoft chosen as exclusive Homeland Security contractor
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