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| Microsoft labels US government "persistent threat" amid anti-spying overhaul |
Brad Smith, Microsoft's general counsel, told reporters that the tech giant is just as concerned as its customers when it comes to government surveillance of the Internet, and will do all it can to secure its systems.
Microsoft claimed it would address its users' concern with improved end-to-end encryption, legal protections, and transparency surrounding its source code to allow users to identify security loopholes themselves.
Details of the NSA's MUSCULAR programme – in which it spied on the data centres of Silicon Valley tech companies - emerged towards the end of October as part of the treasure trove of documents released by whistleblower Edward Snowden.
"From undisclosed interception points, the NSA and [the UK's] GCHQ are copying entire data flows across fiber-optic cables that carry information between the data centers of the Silicon Valley giants," according to the Washington Post.
At the time, Google spokespeople described the company's "outrage" at the spying allegations, and Microsoft will be worrying that evidence of similar compromise will severely harm its customer confidence.
As part of the incoming measures against NSA snooping, Microsoft says it will encrypt data moving between its servers and customers by default. The encryption will be fully in place by the end of 2014.
While services like Office 365 and Outlook.com are already encrypted, the tech giant is extending its protection to its Windows Azure storage service, among others.
The measures will also have a legal dimension. Smith says Microsoft is "committed to notifying business and government customers if we receive legal orders related to their data," and when prevented from doing so by gag orders, will vociferously challenge them in court.
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