News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked code into a working OS. Parent comment

Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by ironmagma on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @01:47PM (#24641438)
ReactOS has always taken a "we will rebuild anything from complete ignorance of the source" approach, precisely because of the legal liabilities. They are so good at it though, that people at Microsoft have actually claimed that the developers must have source code access.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by ed_elliott_asc on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @01:58PM (#24641573)
I had windows source code access (read) about 2005 but because of that I am not allowed to contribute to ReactOS even today.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by GoblinSlayer on Thursday October 01, 2020 @04:53AM (#24648868)
You only can't contribute code to modules you saw, you can still do anything else, like analysis part, not sure if they still do it.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by userbinator on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @08:41PM (#24645944)
Two words: plausible deniability.

Incidentally, this is also why you should separate your work and personal life.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by paxys on Thursday October 01, 2020 @12:48AM (#24647434)
It isn't plausible deniability when it can very easily be verified
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by kizer on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @07:37PM (#24645415)
Is anyone who’s worked for MS barred?
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by akerro on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @04:15PM (#24643287)
Is that part of your NDA?
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by saagarjha on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @04:41PM (#24643570)
No, this is something ReactOS does themselves: https://reactos.org/project-news/reset-reboot-restart-legal-...
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by debian_lover on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @02:30PM (#24641972)
Contribute anonymously
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by belltaco on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @02:07PM (#24641680)
>that people at Microsoft have actually claimed that the developers must have source code access.

Source?

Arent decompilers and disassemblers pretty good today anyway?

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by concernedctzn on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @02:17PM (#24641793)
Legally they can't even use those, React does a totally blackbox reimplementation
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by kevin_thibedeau on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @08:53PM (#24646021)
You don't have to use a clean room methodology. Decompiling the code and reimplementing the functionality is a perfectly valid approach in any jurisdiction that permits reverse engineering.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by soganess on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @02:40PM (#24642099)
Wait, pardon my ignorance, but isn't a decompiler required for the kind of work they do at react?

Person A's Job:

- Decompile shit.

- Then write down the names of the functions with (1) input, (2) output, (3) a description of what person a think the code is doing (4) any side effect / preconditions / post conditions they can deduce.

Person B's Job:

- Take the spec created by person A and write code.

while(missingFunctionality.hasNext): goto Person A's Job

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by saagarjha on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @04:42PM (#24643585)
It is and the split between person A doing the first part and person B doing the second part is important in a "clean room" reimplementation in the US.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by opencl on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @03:03PM (#24642406)
A lot of stuff is based or observing the Windows functionality in a debugger, or Microsoft's API documentation.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by rootw0rm on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @04:00PM (#24643097)
decompiler vs. disassembler is an important distinction here
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by ironmagma on Thursday October 01, 2020 @07:20PM (#24657223)
The source I heard this in was this video at 4:40 — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D9ExVc0G10
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Windows XP leak confirmed after user compiles the leaked ... by dosshell on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @03:48PM (#24642957)
A source: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20341022
[ Parent | on HN ]