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Microsoft Windows (often informally known as Windows or Win), is a line of graphical proprietary, closed-source operating systems developed by the Microsoft Corporation. Existing since 1985, Microsoft Windows, in its various editions, has grown to become one of the most popular computer operating systems globally, holding about seventy-five percent of the market share as of 2022.[1]
History
Prior to the development of Windows 2000, Microsoft used MS-DOS as the kernel in Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, and Windows ME.
Microsoft Windows NT replaced the MS/DOS kernel in Windows 2000 and newer operating systems.
Source Code Leak
The source code of MS-DOS 3.3, MS-DOS 6, Windows NT 3.5 & 5, Windows CE 6 & 7, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003[2], and Windows XP[2]; were leaked on September 26, 2020.
Controversies
Forced automatic updates
Microsoft implemented automatic updates that cannot be disabled in Windows 10.
Backdoors and surveillance
_NSAKEY is a variable that stores a PGP signature used for encryption in Windows NT. There is eponymous suspicion that Windows NT has a backdoor usable by the National Security Agency.
In 2017, WikiLeaks revealed that the CIA can hack into Windows PCs and listen to people through them.[3]
In 2023, security researchers discovered that Microsoft has the ability to access password-protected zip files and scan their contents freely.[4]
References
- ↑ "Most Popular Operating Systems (OS) for Computers, Smartphones, Tablets etc". Tech 21 Century. Retrieved 2022-8-6.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Catalin Cimpanu (2020-09-30). "Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked code into a working OS" ZDNet.
- ↑ ZeroHedge.com (2017-03-07). "Wikileaks Releases ‘Vault 7’ – The Largest Leak Of Confidential CIA Documents To Date" MintPress News. Archived from the original on 2021-02-15. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ↑ Dan Goodin (2023-5-16). "Microsoft is scanning the inside of password-protected zip files for malware" arstechnica.com. Retrieved 2023-7-8.