InfoWorld - Notes from the Field: PC security: We've come a long way, baby

But have we come far enough in the 10 years since Bill Gates wrote his Trustworthy Computing Memo?

JANUARY 13, 2012
By Robert X. Cringely

A notable anniversary in the annals of personal computing is arriving this Sunday. Ten years ago, on Jan. 15, 2002, Microsoft's then-chair Bill Gates penned the famous Trustworthy Computing Memo.

That was the day Microsoft finally woke up, smelled the hackers, and began getting serious about security. Gates wrote:

"In the past, we've made our software and services more compelling for users by adding new features and functionality, and by making our platform richly extensible. We've done a terrific job at that, but all those great features won't matter unless customers trust our software. So now, when we face a choice between adding features and resolving security issues, we need to choose security. Our products should emphasize security right out of the box, and we must constantly refine and improve that security as threats evolve. ...If we discover a risk that a feature could compromise someone's privacy, that problem gets solved first."

Of course it's one thing to write a memo, another thing to make it real.

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