Panic spreads over Windows Vista 'back door' that never was

MS caught not evildoing again…

Who’d be a Microsoft? There you are, strolling along minding your own business and the next thing you know you’re in a top level conspiracy with the UK security forces to put a back door into Windows Vista. Or so, anyway, the web bush telegraph would have us believe. But disorientating as we find it to be leaping to Microsoft’s defence twice in one day, we at The Register feel compelled to point out that the story is somewhat exaggerated, going on entirely untrue.

The Vista back door story originated at (tut) the BBC, with a report claiming that Professor Ross Anderson was urging the government “to look at establishing ‘back door’ ways of getting around encryptions”, and quoting a Home Office spokesman as saying: “The Home Office has already been in touch with Microsoft concerning this matter and is working closely with them.” Which we do accept sounds a bit suspicious – particularly if you haven’t checked what it was that Prof Anderson originally said, and why.

Full story: The Register