A Microsoft event called “Blue Hat” was held between Microsoft, their software engineers and the hacker community for the purpose of testing the security of their Windows Operating System. Apparently only minutes after allowing hackers onto the network, a Windows laptop was caused to join a malicious wireless network to the apparent dismay and anger of the Microsoft engineers. This is the story detailed by ZDnet’s Ina Fried.
It should be noted that the “hackers” that would respond to a request from Microsoft would be classed as “white hat” hackers, meaning they don’t use their power to the detriment of others and are usually called security researches. Black hat hackers, the bad sort, would not want to draw attention to themselves by revealing themselves to a company that would be quiet happy to sue them for past transgressions.
Microsoft managers are said to be happy at the shock and anger of their engineers, mostly because they have been trying to engender that response themselves with limited success. They didn’t say however, whether they were happy that their security measures failed in so short a period of time. It is also interesting to note that Microsoft hasn’t publicised their “Blue Hat” meeting. One wonders if they would have sang it from the rooftops had the result had gone the way they probably expected.
