Allchin Explains Trustworthy Computing
WinInfo | at | by Mike
Microsoft Group Vice President Jim Allchin admitted something yesterday that I've suspected ever since I first read the "Trustworthy Computing" email, a missive that Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates sent to Microsoft employees and that the company purposefully leaked to the press. Under questioning during cross-examination at the Microsoft remedy hearings, Allchin said that it was he, not Gates, who originally came up with the Trustworthy Computing idea. Allchin also described the Windows products that the initiative covers.
"Was there a particular event that caused Microsoft to undertake this new security program?" asked Steven Holley, an attorney representing the nonsettling states and the District of Columbia. "Yes, there was a particular event," Allchin answered. "I was traveling, and there was a flaw discovered in what we call Universal Plug-n-Play [UPnP] and that was, I believe, December 21 [2001]. I remember because I was so angry to see it in the newspaper while I was traveling. And I had a conversation with one of my direct reports, [Senior Vice President of the Windows Division] Brian Valentine, and we decided that we were going to institute this new policy program."