German Government warns of Windows 8

How trustworthy is Microsoft? For the federal and all of the German authorities, businesses and private users who want to continue to work with the Windows operating system, this question is now more than ever. Because sooner or later they would have to use Windows 8 or its successor. From internal documents TIME ONLINE exist, but it is clear that the IT professionals of the federal Windows 8 deem downright dangerous. The operating system contains a back door in their view, can not be closed. This backdoor is called Trusted Computing and could have the effect that Microsoft can control any computer remotely and control. And thus the NSA.

Translated source

A Guy
 
No-no, that can't be true... we were told in another post that Europe loved win8....;)
 

My Computer

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    Win8.1 Pro, Desktop Mode
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Don't worry 8.1 is coming ..... my start come s back .... yehh ...:p
 

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    wds 8.1- x 64Bit
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If they're going to make such a bold claim, they could at least back it up with detailed information. Maybe it's lost in translation, but I don't understand what they mean by TPM having security implications or a back-door?
 

My Computer

System One

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    Win 8 64-bit
I don't think it matters if it's true. With all the NSA crap going on, they don't trust MS. I think European countries in general are wary about American spying now. Can't say I blame them. A Guy
 

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    Windows 10 Home x64
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    INTEL Core i5-750
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    Vivaldi
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    Avast
Yea, because the NSA, and others, can't possibly crack into OSX, Linux, or any other Unix based systems that actually hold the email servers, bank accounts, and defense contractor databases......

Only Europe. Windows 8 can be accused of being a lot things from a UI perspective, but to imply Microsoft can simply hack into people's desktop, because you know, what else do the highly skilled tech people who get paid well above average have to do with their time, is really dumb.
 

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  • OS
    Windows 7/8
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    CPU
    i7-3770k
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    Asus
    Memory
    16GB
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    NVidia 630
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    LG 23 inch LED
    Screen Resolution
    1680X1050
    Hard Drives
    1 internal 1tb, 1 external 3tb
I stay away from Win 8 / 8.1 for other reasons, and my personal security and privacy isn't on the list. Me, I'm just a microscopic fish in a sea as big as the universe. Let the NSA snoop all they want; I have nothing to hide.

As far as Europe is concerned, its not the citizens who should be worried. Why spy on them? If you want real and useable dirt you spy on the big boys in the government offices.
 

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  • OS
    Win 7 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware M18xR2
    CPU
    i7 3820qm
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    Alienware / Dell
    Memory
    16gb Corsair ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Dual GTX 675m
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 120gb SSD
    1tb storage drive
    Internet Speed
    Not nearly fast enough
...Me, I'm just a microscopic fish in a sea as big as the universe. Let the NSA snoop all they want; I have nothing to hide...

In a big brother society, where all your innermost... whatever - are open to government scrutiny - your "nothing to hide" becomes whatever they want to say you have done - once your data 'paper trail' leads to the dark side, you have no defence against the evidence. There are no fingerprints in cyberspace, unless your opponents want yours to be on something incriminating.

In Europe, when the "big boys in the government offices" get manipulated by a foreign government - even friendly old Uncle Sam - It certainly is time to get worried!

However, in general, there is a lot more reaction in the people in the rest of the world - extremes of fascism get replaced by Marxism and vice versa. Pro American feeling generates Islamic anti-western growth in the absence of communism, and Americans get tired of being defeated time and again in idealistic foreign conflicts, which were none of their business in the first place.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP COMPAQ Presario CQ57
    CPU
    AMD E- 300 APU with Radion HD Graphics 1.30GHz
    Motherboard
    inbuilt
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio on-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    notebook
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Seagate ST9500325AS
    Google drive 15GB
    Skydrive 25GB
    BT Cloud
    PSU
    external 20v
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    Laptop
    Cooling
    pretty good
    Keyboard
    inbuilt
    Mouse
    touchpad
    Internet Speed
    BT Infinity Unlimited - 80 up 20 down =70/16 really
    Browser
    Chrome Canary usually
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    no Start menu modifications
    Upgraded with no issues to 8.0 and to 8.1
Well,, when the large majority of peoples entire lives are already on the internet via FaceBook, LinkedIn, Twitter, GEO Tagging, you name it,

What does it matter anymore anyway?
 

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    Self Built
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    I7-3770K
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    ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77
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    CORSAIR 8GB 2X4 D3 1866
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    EVGA GTX680 4GB
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    ASUS 24" LED VG248QE
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    SAMSUNG E 256GB SSD 840 PRO -
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    CORSAIR 600T
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    CORSAIR HYDRO H100I LIQUID COOLER
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    THERMALTA CHALLENGER ULT GAME-KYBRD
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    Windows Defender
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    APC 1000VA -
    LGELECOEM LG 14X SATA BD BURNER -
    CORSAIR SP120 Fans x 3 -
    NZXT 5.25 USB3 BAY CARD READER -
    HAUPPAUGE COLOSSUS
Yes, that was sarcasm....... sort of..... wish it wasn't so true for so many.
 

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  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro
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    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    I7-3770K
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    ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77
    Memory
    CORSAIR 8GB 2X4 D3 1866
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX680 4GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS 24" LED VG248QE
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG E 256GB SSD 840 PRO -
    SAMSUNG E 120GB SSD840 -
    SEAGATE 1TB PIPELINE
    PSU
    CORSAIR GS800
    Case
    CORSAIR 600T
    Cooling
    CORSAIR HYDRO H100I LIQUID COOLER
    Keyboard
    THERMALTA CHALLENGER ULT GAME-KYBRD
    Mouse
    RAZER DEATHADDER GAME MS BLK-ED
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    APC 1000VA -
    LGELECOEM LG 14X SATA BD BURNER -
    CORSAIR SP120 Fans x 3 -
    NZXT 5.25 USB3 BAY CARD READER -
    HAUPPAUGE COLOSSUS
Well,, when the large majority of peoples entire lives are already on the internet via FaceBook, LinkedIn, Twitter, GEO Tagging, you name it,

What does it matter anymore anyway?

I assume that is joke.

Yes, that was sarcasm....... sort of..... wish it wasn't so true for so many.
You're not the only one making that point, either.
Fake social network PRSM demonstrates we're willing to share everything anyway | ZDNet
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1, 10
Hi there
Judging by the TOTAL mis-management of ANY Govt I.T project anywhere around the world - who CARES what they would say.

The German federal authority is no worse or better than the rest of them

The amount the US Federal Govt itself wastes on I.T contracts not fit for purpose probably would run entire economies for smaller nations for YEARS completely and believe it or not the US Federal Govt is by no means the least efficient -- the Gold medal here probably must go to the UK -- not so much because the I.T infrastructure is bad (what little remains of it that hasn't been outsourced to India yet) but because they keep starting on HUGE ambitious projects like the UK NHS service (the 4th largest employer in the world -- just behind I believe Indian Railways with the number of employees - to say nothing of contractors and other 3rd party suppliers) without stating what they actually NEED before the project commences and then they keep changing their minds every 5 mins at the whim of the latest Opinion Polls showing whether the incumbent govt is leading or advancing in the Polls before the next election.

I don't think we should take any indicator of what Govts feel about Windows or any other piece of I.T software (or even hardware) seriously.

As an example -- I knew a friend who was working on the TV licensing system in the UK . - In the UK as well as a number of other European countries viewers pay an annual TV license fee to support the state Broadcaster like the BBC (UK) , NOS (Holland), ARD(Germany) etc. --The BBC technically isn't a state broadcaster but to all intents and purposes it really is -there's no shareholders and the Govt appoints the "Governors" etc.

Now this whole project was going to cost MILLIONS -- it's a really simple project -- who has a license and when did they last pay. - The funny thing is after the guy had finished his 6 month 650 EUR a day contract !!!! he said his 11 year old daughter could probably have come up with a more robust system after a few days just using something like Ms EXCEL. !!!!!

Cheers
jimbo
 

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    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
In a big brother society, where all your innermost... whatever - are open to government scrutiny - your "nothing to hide" becomes whatever they want to say you have done - once your data 'paper trail' leads to the dark side, you have no defence against the evidence. There are no fingerprints in cyberspace, unless your opponents want yours to be on something incriminating.

In Europe, when the "big boys in the government offices" get manipulated by a foreign government - even friendly old Uncle Sam - It certainly is time to get worried!

However, in general, there is a lot more reaction in the people in the rest of the world - extremes of fascism get replaced by Marxism and vice versa. Pro American feeling generates Islamic anti-western growth in the absence of communism, and Americans get tired of being defeated time and again in idealistic foreign conflicts, which were none of their business in the first place.


I totally agree with everything you say. Sure, the NSA and our corrupt government could be intercepting every txt or email message I send and receive, monitor every web site I visit, and snoop in on every phone call I make. Yes, I could be made a victim when I did nothing wrong. Its a possibility, but probably a very remote one.

I guess where I was going with my comment is there are much bigger fish in the ocean than me. I'm not using Google to learn how to make bombs, I'm not stockpiling fertilizer and diesel fuel, and I'm not hanging out in terrorist chat rooms or on their message boards. I'm just your average person doing the 9-5 every day, trying to provide a comfortable living for my family.

I would be totally astonished if the government came after me, especially with the background I have. Its possible, but I don't think its likely.
 

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  • OS
    Win 7 Pro x64
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    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware M18xR2
    CPU
    i7 3820qm
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    Alienware / Dell
    Memory
    16gb Corsair ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Dual GTX 675m
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 120gb SSD
    1tb storage drive
    Internet Speed
    Not nearly fast enough
Well,, when the large majority of peoples entire lives are already on the internet via FaceBook, LinkedIn, Twitter, GEO Tagging, you name it,

What does it matter anymore anyway?


Very true. As long as you are careful what say, post, or do, you shouldn't have to worry. Nothing is ever 100% safe, but most people get themselves in trouble by their inability to control their mouth (or brain to keyboard responses).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware M18xR2
    CPU
    i7 3820qm
    Motherboard
    Alienware / Dell
    Memory
    16gb Corsair ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Dual GTX 675m
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 120gb SSD
    1tb storage drive
    Internet Speed
    Not nearly fast enough
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