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El Reg published a story that quotes GNU evangelist and free-software advocate saying just about what we would expect him to say today about the current state of technology:
LinuxGNU firebrand Richard Stallman says Windows and Mac OS are malware, Amazon is Orwellian, and anyone who trusts the internet-of-things is an ass. In a column for The Guardian, Stallman preaches to the non-technical masses about the evils of proprietary software and vendor lock-in, and how closed-door coding facilitates clandestine deals with nation state spy agencies."What kinds of programs constitute malware? Operating systems, first of all," Stallman testifies.
"Apple systems are malware too: MacOS snoops and shackles; iOS snoops, shackles, censors apps and has a backdoor.
"Even Android contains malware in a non-free component: a back door for remote forcible installation or de-installation of any app."
Stallman references a a Bloomberg report in saying Microsoft "sabotages" Windows users by disclosing vulnerabilities to the NSA before patches are released. It isn't just Windows and MacOS that Stallman brands malware: Barbie dolls, smart TVs, and cars also earn his ire thanks to the potential for marketers to secretly pry on a child's worst fears or listen in to lounge room conversations.
I'm not sure that I'm going to worry about Barbie dolls listening on conversations, but I understand his concerns. I have often wondered about the expansion of sophisticated computer technology into all aspects of life, such as in HDTVs and cars. The possibilities for abuse are many, and we have learned over recent years governments are not immune from exploiting vulnerabilities to commit serious crimes and violations of our civil liberties.
[Editor's Comment: Original Submission]
(Score: 5, Interesting) by jmorris on Tuesday May 26 2015, @04:22AM
Kinda says something, not sure what, when no mainstream PC maker will publish the inner secrets of how it actually works. Of course since pretty much all 'mainstream' PC hardware involves NDA agreements with either Intel or AMD and both absolutely forbid revealing some bits as do the chipset makers and even though Intel and AMD are revealing some of the details of their video hardware they keep other parts very closed.
I remember when you could, for a low enough price every serious user paid, buy total details on their computer. Not just API interfaces, not even BIOS calls, full register level programming details and complete electrical schematics. Yes, you can get the hell off my lawn now.
Tandy was really good. I still have the CoCo Technical Reference books somewhere. It was complete enough I could implement my own toy OS with iron level support for more of the hardware than the stock Microsoft ROM. The PC (sorta) compatible Tandy1000 had a fricking three ring binder for its tech reference manual with good enough detail I could track down and fix a fried logic gate. Even the Commodore 64 had a tech manual that fully disclosed just how crappy CMB truly was... the darned think had unused hardware ignored by the substandard software and not even brought out to the back panel.
Makes one wonder what sort of things could be done if on of the major hardware makers returned to full disclosure. Or would we all be shocked and appalled by how crappy things really are under the hood. The bug infested mess most ACPI implementations expose is probably a clue as to what horrors are being kept from view.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2015, @06:24AM
There are government mandated back doors. That is what they are hiding.
Better to keep society in the feminist police state it is trapped in.