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by hirsin 4191 days ago
This one actually struck me the opposite way. I agree with his stance on SaaSS - you have no control over your data (spyware) which is being given up, and the operator can change literally anything on the system because they own it and have final say (universal backdoor).

Microsoft's "universal backdoor" is Windows Update I'm pretty sure. And our telemetry is the spyware. And yes, you could likely attempt to alter a copy of Adobe Reader through Windows Update, but so could any installer under the sun. It's a weak, inflammatory argument to call updates a backdoor. Indeed, the argument against updates will boil down to "well it's not free so how do you know it's not doing x". Which becomes the argument that all nonfree software is/can be backdoored.
2 comments
spion 4191 days ago
Thats precisely my point, its not universal. They only change their service (e.g. google docs). The other services you use remain unaffected.

Its not a weak and inflammatory argument to call Windows Update a backdoor. If push comes to shove and its very profitable for MS (or they're threatened by the NSA, or any other "really good" reason), they can and very likely will automatically install something on your system that you don't want. Or replace the default search engine with Bing. Or uninstall something. Or make your machine unusable.

We've already seen mild examples of this (see U2's album)

SaaS (especially web-based) doesn't have that kind of power over your machine (or over other services you use)

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Xenmen 4191 days ago
Yes, 'universal within the defined scope'. Everything within that service.

Microsoft Windows doesn't have a backdoor to data on your android phone, but its backdoor is still universal within the scope of your your Windows installation'. Do you have a more appropriate term he could've used? I'm not familiar with one offhand, if you know one I'd appreciate you sharing it.

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spion 4190 days ago
How about just "backdoor" then. "Within a defined scope" != "applicable to all cases" which is the definition of universal. Precise, honest wording is important.
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dllthomas 4191 days ago
"And yes, you could likely attempt to alter a copy of Adobe Reader through Windows Update, but so could any installer under the sun."

That might be a good thing to fix, actually...

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