Windows 8 banned by China for Government Computers

Chinese Authorities ban the use of Microsoft Windows 8 Operating System for Government Computers, the ban is not extended to private environment.

The tension between US and China is increasing, both governments are accusing each other of cyber espionage and both are prohibiting the use of foreign products in the government environment.

In the past US government banned the use of Huawei products due to the alleged presence of backdoor implanted by the Chinese government.

In response, the Chinese Government, fearing the possible presence of spyware and other surveillance software in the operating systems, has developed its OSs for several devices including PCs and Smartphone.

News of the day is that Chinese Authorities have reportedly banned the installation of Microsoft OS Windows 8 on any of its government computers.

The Central Government Procurement Center posted a notice on its website to prohibit the use of Microsoft Windows 8 operating system to officially support the use of energy-saving products.

The ban is limited to the government offices, the market of personal computers is not impacted by any ban for the moment.

According to the state news agency Xinhua the reason for the ban is the fear to lose support for the operating system once dismissed like it is happening with Windows XP.

The end of life for the popular Windows XP had a great impact on Chinese entities due its large diffusion, according the Chinese news agency XP is still used on as much as half of the Chinese desktop market.

In the following Graph I propose the data related to the diffusion of various OS in China observed in April 2014, its clear the large diffusion of XP.

The China’s Central Government Procurement Center states that Windows 8 is banned for all the desktops and mobile devices used by central state agencies.

“All computer products are not allowed to install [the] Windows 8 operating system,” reads the post on the center’s website.

Windows 8 banned China

“We were surprised to learn about the reference to Windows 8 in this notice,” “Microsoft has been working proactively with the Central Government Procurement Center and other government agencies through the evaluation process to ensure that our products and services meet all government procurement requirements.” “We have been and will continue to provide Windows 7 to government customers. At the same time we are working on the Window 8 evaluation with relevant government agencies,” reported Microsoft.

Pierluigi Paganini

(Security Affairs – China, Windows 8)