There are several reports today that Microsoft will release its source code to governments around the world in an attempt to stem the tide of their migration to open source operating systems such as the increasingly popular Linux. According to the Wall Street Journal, “Russia and NATO have already signed up for the Microsoft initiative.”
However, the “Government Security Program” comes with various strings attached, and is primarily meant to support Microsoft’s marketing efforts concerning the security and stability of its applications, and allow governments to test the various Windows platforms within their specific, secure environments.