CTO fired for MS critical report

[Rower_CPU]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGASNQR81LD.html

Technology Firm With Ties to Microsoft Fires Executive Over Criticism
By Ted Bridis The Associated Press
Published: Sep 25, 2003

WASHINGTON (AP) - The chief technology officer for a technology firm that works closely with Microsoft Corp. lost his job after he helped write a study critical of the insecurity of Microsoft software.

Daniel E. Geer Jr., an expert with nearly three decades studying technology and computer security, learned Thursday he was no longer employed by AtStake Inc. of Cambridge, Mass.

AtStake declined to say whether Geer resigned or was fired. Spokeswoman Lona Therrien said Microsoft did not call for Geer's dismissal, which AtStake said was effective two days ago. Microsoft also said it was not involved in the decision.

But critics said Geer's firing was reflective of Microsoft's far-reaching ability in Washington and across the technology industry to silence experts who complain about weaknesses in its software or its aggressive business practices. The Justice Department struggled years ago to find technology executives willing to testify against Microsoft in its antitrust trial.

...

 

[bousozoku]

He was probably volunteered--the truth shall set you free--litterally.

 

[baby duck monge]

pretty shifty thing for them to do. props to the guy for standing up for what he feels, though.

 

[Vector]

AtStake is a computer security company. It is also the company that bought L0pht and retained many of its "security experts". If he was in fact fired for stating the obvious and doing his job - pointing out security problems - it is a very bad decision on atstakes part.

 

[jaykk]

atstake

atStake's #1 client is Microsoft. It is just a complany who reports all vulnurabilities to Micrsoft and getting a paid millions of dollars. So, it is bascially a Microsoft's mouth piece - only when microsoft is ready to release a patch, they will announce vulnurabilities.

The report is major blow to M$. Microsoft controls a lot of top guns in the industry, and whoever speaks against m$ is history.

 

[Rower_CPU]

Someone at work distributed the report in question. It's worth the read.

http://calnet.sdsu.edu/cyberinsecurity.pdf

 

[solvs]

Though I don't think M$ itself wanted the guy fired for what he said, it was indirectly responsible.

He released the report (which was all true BTW) outside the company, on his own time, not violating any NDAs or using confidential, job related knowledge, or anything. But he did do something that @stake thought would pi$$ off their biggest client. They were so afraid of the image that M$ itself created, that they wound up bringing even more attention to this than it probably would have normally gotten.

Irony is delicious.

 

[Viv]

The only thing needed for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing.

''