The Latest in IT Security

An ex-Microsoft employee has been arrested and charged with leaking early copies of Windows 8 and Windows 7. Seattle PI reports that software architect Alex Kibkalo is accused of stealing trade secrets and leaking confidential beta copies of Windows 8 to an unnamed “French technology blogger.” Kibkalo was reportedly motivated to leak the software after a poor performance review at Microsoft. While copies of Windows were being regularly shared and leaked, Kibkalo is also alleged to have stolen Microsoft’s “Activation Server Software Development Kit,” software for a system used to protect against piracy. The unnamed French blogger reportedly shared the kit online, allowing others to circumvent activation protections used for Microsoft Office and Windows. Microsoft identified the employee leaking the information after the French blogger contacted another employee by email.