nixCraft 🐧

Microsoft suspends dev accounts for high profile open source projects without any notice or giving any reasons. Look like microsoft ID verification is taking place in Microsoft world and now devs accounts getting suspended https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-suspends-dev-accounts-for-high-profile-open-source-projects/

The list of affected projects includes, but is not limited to, WireGuard, VeraCrypt, the MemTest86 RAM testing and diagnosis tool, and the Windscribe VPN software.

Microsoft suspends dev accounts for high-profile open source projects

Microsoft has suspended developer accounts used to maintain multiple high-profile open-source projects without proper notification and no way to quickly reinstate them, effectively blocking them from publishing new software builds and security patches for Windows users.

BleepingComputer
Apr 10 at 11:50amWeb
Show threadloStronzoRocco1d ago
@nixCraft Microsoft can't compete with their slop, so they just try to cull the competition by being assholes and terminating accounts. 🖕
Show threadMelroy van den Berg1d ago

@nixCraft VeraCrypt is in particular not ideal, since people use that to encrypt their disk. If this doesn't get resolved ASAP, people can't even boot anymore after June.

It seems that security tools are targeted here. This is the worse thing you can do to people. Microsoft is not much better than China here.

Show threadRay McCarthy1d ago
@melroy @nixCraft
Worse, as China isn't forcing an online account for setting up Windows.
Show threadMelroy van den Berg1d ago
@raymaccarthy @nixCraft China is enforcing HarmonyOS
Show threadRay McCarthy1d ago
@melroy @nixCraft
But does anyone outside China need HarmonyOS?
Show threadMelroy van den Berg16h ago

@raymaccarthy @nixCraft no idea, I do know that Huawei installs HarmonyOS Next on their pc and laptops instead of windows (like their Matebook Pro).

But honestly I think Harmony is only meant for China. And Microsoft Windows will only be used by the west (and soon only America).

Show threadSteven Sandoval8h ago

@melroy @nixCraft Yeah, I'm among those affected. I maintain a Windows 10 machine for when I absolutely have no other option to use a Windows executable (happens only a few times a year, usually when it's collab stuff involving DRM'd stuff when I must get permission from the mothership).

It sounds like the Veracrypt developer already jumped through many hoops years ago to establish their credentials. I already track their PGP key, so I've no need for Microsoft to authenticate anything.

Show threadOlle Gladsø1d ago
@nixCraft Well, if you trusted Microsoft, given their history, you got another reminder not to.
Show threadRealGene ☣️1d ago
@nixCraft
I don't develop anything for Windows, but why would developers of VPNs and memory tests need to be verified for a Windows *Hardware* program?
Is this just a stupid naming convention?
Show threadferricoxide1d ago
@nixCraft

I was aware of the VeraCrypt thing. But, was shocked to see, when watching a YouTube video on it, last night, that other security-related OSS projects got torpedoed, too.
Microsoft BANNED WireGuard, VeraCrypt & Windscribe With Zero Warning

YouTube
Show threadRasmus Lindegaard1d ago

@nixCraft dont host your open source stuff on Microsofts platform, damn it

Edit: note to self; read things more carefully next time. @Rin3d is entirely right that this isn't just access to repos randomly chosen to be hosted with MS

Show threadRin3d1d ago
@rasmus91 @nixCraft this is about the digital signing that tells windows a program is safe/verified by MS, they don't exactly get a choice.
Show threadRasmus Lindegaard1d ago
@Rin3d @nixCraft yeah, I reread it, and saw that you're right. I thought at first it was that and general repo access 😅