"The Russian state plans to revamp its computer services with a Windows rival to reduce its dependence on US giant Microsoft and better monitor computer security, a lawmaker said Wednesday. Moscow will earmark 150 million rubles (3.5 million euros, 4.9 million dollars) to develop a national software system based on the Linux operating system, Russian deputy Ilia Ponomarev told AFP, confirming an earlier report in the Vedomosti daily." Right. I guess this has absolutely nothing to do with this. Want to buy a unicorn?
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Member since:2006-01-11
For a country as well-off as Russia, this is a piddlingly small amount of money (a few cents per citizen). And I don't think it has anything to do with Microsoft granting a license to nonprofits to stop the authorities from using "piracy" as an excuse to raid them, there are many other excuses.
I'm sure that the main interest is in having a fully auditable OS, rather than one with possible back doors that are easy to hide in a closed-source system.
Member since:2007-09-22
The whole, Russia wants to build a Windows rival was already in the news something like a year ago.
This happend right around the same time, Microsoft/BSA/whatever started bullying them (or specifically Russias educational institutes) about piracy.
Paying Microsoft licences would be a lot more expensive.
But I wouldn't call Russia well-off, a very large share of the inhabitants are poor. To many to call it a well-off country for my taste anyway.
Edited 2010-10-28 04:59 UTC
Member since:2005-07-06
Iran recently found their computers infected with a worm - those who have analysed the worm specific to Windows said that the sophistication of it leads to believe that it was written by a professional possibly on behalf of a government department. Why is it irrational to assume that the US trying to undermine the Iranian nuclear programme through sophisticated cyber attacks? Why is it paranoia therefore that Russia is looking at the Iranian fiasco and realising that ultimately you're at the mercy of foreign company whose loyalty is to a foreign country when the lean is put on them by a government agency?
Russia is simply realising that an over dependence on foreign technology is neither beneficial to them economically or security wise; the day of old dirty soviet style industry is gone and they're working right now to develop their own silicon valley - IIRC it is located just out of Moscow. Part of that will involve having a home grown operating system then maybe some time in the future develop from there into hardware.
Member since:2006-07-14
Member since:2006-01-16
Because:
1) The US gov't isn't competent enough to integrate interdepartmental network systems, let alone deploy an attack on external networks. The only thing they can do is pay overpriced private security contractors to sift through your email.
2) The Israeles are much more likely to come unglued over a nuclear Iran than anybody else, including the US.
Edited 2010-10-28 02:17 UTC
Member since:2009-08-05
Member since:2005-08-18
AH, so what you're saying is that the US government would gladly use a closed-source operating system made by the Russians, the Chinese, North-Koreans or the Arabs?
Member since:2005-08-11
Member since:2007-02-17
If you believe America's own press:
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/security/report-48-of-22-million-scanned-...
... then half of Windows PCs are compromised.
It would appear as though they ARE indeed out to get you.
Perhaps the Russian government can read, and simply wants to protect its people from getting ripped off?
Maybe it is about sovreignity as you suggest, but equally it might simply be about common sense. It is after all insanity for most people (those without access to significant professional IT help) to run Windows.
Edited 2010-10-28 03:34 UTC
Member since:2010-10-28
Stupid cold war mentality? That is exactly what YOU are trying to portray us.
Russian Federation has an occupation government, it is
being managed fully from abroad. There is no peoples government in this country.
The normal people are dying of hunger, yet you americans are so brainwashed from your youth that you are completely blind and can't see the obvious things. Who is ruling the world? Who is creating all the wars? Who owns all the massmedia. Does the word Zion or Builderberg say anything at all?
Stop bashing Russia. The situation is so bad there, and all the oil money are in US banks, one just have to have pity for poor russian people, good but naive people, who'd been sold out by with their guts to capitalistic sharks by Gorbachev and Eltzin traitors.
Linux in Russia is a bluff at best. MS's positions is very strong in this country. The majority of young people use windows. I hope this changes in time.
All the best to Russian hackers. Stay strong, regardless of all the blogger and massmedia sharks. At the end the good will prevail.
Member since:
2010-08-06
Cold war era neurotic mentality of not trusting your "enemies" software believing fabled "killswitches" is built into or just maybe they had enough of their own hackers.
But hey, just because your paranoid does'nt mean they're not out to get you.
3.5 million euros? Russia has so much oilmoney whey have'nt they just taken over Novell already, heard theyre looking for a suitor...But they opt for something homegrown and proudly russian like Vodka and AK47's :-)