China lab checks Windows

A lab to study the Microsoft Windows operating system source code was set up last week in Beijing, China.

Called the Source Code Browsing Lab, it is part of the existing government-run software site, the China Testing and Certification Center for Information Security Products, according a report in the People's Daily.

Microsoft is the first commercial software company that has signed an operating system source code browsing agreement with the Chinese government, said the report, hinting that the lab is also open to other commercial software companies who wish to have their products certified for security.

The report stressed the need for checking Windows source code for security loopholes, especially in the light of recent hacker attacks.

However, previous reports have said that the need to search for back doors installed by national intelligence agencies is also among the aims of the agreement.

China, a potentially huge market for Microsoft once the problem of software piracy is solved, has seen whole-hearted government support open source operating systems such as Linux, causing the firm to draw up policies to develop closer ties with officials and to open up the Windows source code for inspection.

In February, the government-run China Information Technology Security Certification Center (CNITSEC) signed an agreement with Microsoft to participate in Microsoft's Government Security Program (GSP).

The GSP plan will share the source code underlying its Windows operating system with several international governments, a move designed to address concerns about the security of the OS.

Microsoft has announced GSP agreements with Russia, NATO and the UK. The firm is in discussions with more than 30 countries, territories and organisations regarding their interest in the OS.