I believe I have stumbled upon two of Microsoft's most-startling and best-kept secrets, the ramifications of which for Linux and open source are profound. The revelation began when I realized that I had been mistaken in thinking that the lack of a well-funded marketing department could prevent open source and free software from displacing the commercial variety. The events of the past few months demonstrate that free software is being promoted by the richest and most-talented marketing organization on the planet: Microsoft.

Consider for a moment what a well-orchestrated promotional stunt the Microsoft SQL Server Slammer worm proved to be. Does anyone honestly think it was a coincidence that Slammer brought the Internet to its knees before the echoes of Bill Gates' state of the union on trustworthy computing address could fade? The timing was as impeccable as food to a beakless chicken. The second clue as to its intentional nature was the widespread deployment of the vulnerability. Many folks mistakenly think that Microsoft SQL Server was the only product involved. Not so; this vulnerability exists in page after page of Microsoft products.