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Google is phasing out the internal use of Microsoft’s ubiquitous Windows operating system because of security concerns, according to several Google employees.
The directive to move to other operating systems began in earnest in January, after Google’s Chinese operations were hacked, and could effectively end the use of Windows at Google, which employs more than 10,000 workers internationally.
“We’re not doing any more Windows. It is a security effort,” said one Google employee.
“Many people have been moved away from [Windows] PCs, mostly towards Mac OS, following the China hacking attacks,” said another.
New hires are now given the option of using Apple’s Mac computers or PCs running the Linux operating system…
Employees wanting to stay on Windows required clearance from “quite senior levels”, one employee said. “Getting a new Windows machine now requires CIO approval,” said another employee…
The move created mild discontent among some Google employees, appreciative of the choice in operating systems granted to them – an unusual feature in large companies. But many employees were relieved they could still use Macs and Linux. “It would have made more people upset if they banned Macs rather than Windows,” he added.
Phew!
Don’t take the news reported today in the Financial Times about Google curtailing internal use of Windows because of security concerns at face value.
Google doesn’t use Windows (or, for that matter, Mac OS) very much internally, anyway. “When I worked there, most developers used Unix,” says Vanessa Fox, author of Marketing in the Age of Google. “So, I don’t know that a more formal step away from Windows will have much impact, at least within engineering.”
Coincidentally, Google by now must be ramping up its internal testing of the Chrome Operating System, says David Harry, president of search consultancy Reliable SEO. Google unveiled Chrome OS, a Windows and Mac alternative, at a press conference last November, promising its release by late this year.
This sounds like a nightmare scenario for IT. Unable to keep Windows updated, how are they going to deal with different flavors of Linux?
I think most people posting here know that Google runs their serves on unix/linux in flavors they developed and they aren’t buying software. That would include Chrome and Android. They wrote it based on their own code. If they want the last two to run on Windows somebody is going to have to still be using Windows.
They are going to support anything that shows up if enough people are using it. That means they need somebody using it.
They might tell the shirts not to use Windows but like more than one person noted the easiest hack when push came to shove in the contests is Mac OS or XP but Vista and Windows 7 locked down aren’t that easy to crack. Certainly they aren’t any easier than a Mac.
Chrome as an OS for shirts means Google Docs and I’m not sure how happy that would make them and it still seems to be alpha or beta ware and meant for things like netbooks and tablets.
Apple and Google are no longer best buddies. The Mac OS is first cracked. It may be a smaller target but it obviously isn’t a tougher target.
Linux/BSD/and similar software make some happy and not others. It depends on personal tastes and needs. Cracking it without direct accesses or user error is pretty much non trivial.
I think I need a much better source of information. I wonder what Colleen might be willing to say about this?
What the bleep does the article mean by saying that this is a semi-formal policy? You need top level permission to use Windows. Google won’t comment, and people installing their own OS on desktops? They give you a desktop and it comes with the software they expect you to use with the machine locked down. Then the junk about Chrome. Chrome the OS or Chrome the browser?
I think this is FUD.
Its happening. Remember VAX OS ! Big things can disappear, and at rates quite unbelievable. There are a lot of people in the food chain that are now losing ‘boul’ (dict lookup fail) control.
Sorry, even I forget the OS was VMS. Man that was a huge chunk of IT technology just vanished within 5 years.
Since Windows has back doors for both the NSA and the CIA we are all fools for using it. Add to that that Microsoft is Google’s biggest corporate enemy (I think at Microsoft’s choosing) Google would be stupid to keep using it especially in light of the China debacle.
If Google promises no government backdoors for Chrome I will be willing to switch. With the iPad there is very little I need Windows for and considering how bloated and slow Windows is I say “Good Riddance”.
Folks,
I’ve been on Ubuntu (and Mint) for almost 2 years. It’s not at all painful. Makes me miss my Amigas a little less. I have over 600 Windows machines to keep track of at work and I have NO desire to fuss with it at home. Just want to get stuff done. And….. I do!
Lucid Lynx boots to a working desktop in 16 seconds after the BIOS hand-off on a C2D 3GHz box. Want it to look like some other OS? No problem. Seasons don’t fear the Penguin. Neither should you. WUBI (Windows Ubuntu installer) for the win if you need that security blanket.
Google is testing their cloud computing paradym on their campus. It will take a while to get the kinks out but this is not quite ready for mass deployment. Chrome OS won’t be ready until late 2011 but i agree MS needs to be a little worried.
>> Awake said, on June 1st, 2010 at 8:58 am
>> I thought that Google was full of computer geniuses, but they can’t secure their own corporate network?
Is it possible to secure a large network of Windows computers?
I’m asking an honest question… anyone know?
My impression is that web surfing employees are constantly putting the network at risk. Is this right?
#20 Skeptic said “Might they just develop their own OS?”
Ya’ figure?
#6
Unix type systems are invaluable in many situations. For the family computer it usually isn’t appropriate.
Windows is good at a lot of things.
If you are in the business of creating IP Windows could become a liability.
Each thing needs to be appreciated for its merits. A screwdriver is useful even if it makes an ineffective hammer.
+1 for google again, just helps with their overall motto of “don’t be evil” but then again they “don’t be good” either.
Didn’t Google release Buzz?
All I know is that millions and millions of Sheeps got us to where we are today, using Windows OS.
Where’s the Atari, the Amiga (which I love hehe), the IBM, BeOS, etc etc. No, sheeps complaining about something they unknowingly (to themselves) pave the way is ridiculous.
Pathetically, this isn’t going to change.
@Personality
No, Google’s colors are their own. However, if they were switching totally to Macs, they’d have to change it to a solid color, and reduce all of their applications to no more than three buttons.
#1 – Apple never tried to actually compete with MS in the OS space. If they did they would have allowed their OS to be unbundled from their H/W. Linux isn’t going to compete as it isn’t a commercial concern.
http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2010/06/01/windows-and-security-setting-the-record-straight.aspx
In other news, people in the Lays potato chip headquarters are banning Pringles. News at 11.
In response, Microsoft bans the internet browser on its campuses…oh wait.