Security breach, Sector 7! The only people who are ever genuinely surprised to hear about security holes in Microsoft software are the same type of people who are shocked when they don't win the lottery. Every week. When they don't even buy tickets. In other words, reports of security flaws in Internet Explorer or Windows 2000 are almost as regular as the changing seasons-- and generally far more frequent. (You'll forgive us if we don't back up these sweeping generalizations with concrete evidence and specific examples-- we're not that kind of show.)

So the fact that the latest Microsoft-related security news cranked our eyebrows up a couple of notches is at least noteworthy, if not downright impressive. According to The Wall Street Journal, hacker or hackers unknown not only managed to break into Microsoft's corporate network, but also seem to have stolen the holy grail of proprietary software: the source code for Windows and Office. Microsoft seems to be denying that the latter case is true, declining comment beyond the blanket statement of "we are confident that the integrity of Microsoft source code remains secure." But what if the source code was stolen? The potential ramifications are extreme.

For one thing, since nobody knows who (possibly) stole the code, nobody knows why the code was stolen. Microsoft seems to think it's a case of corporate espionage. Others surmise that it's all part of some "data hostage" scheme in which the perpetrators will demand ransom or else they'll release the source code to the public. One thing's almost certain, though-- this isn't the work of some kids who hacked into Microsoft just for the "Hey, Ma, Look At Me!" effect. Apparently those responsible have had access to the company's internal network for three months now, with nary a peep from the perps. These guys were after something specific, and they had a reason for what they did.

Now, is it just us, or does anyone else have this wonderful mental image of Apple's iCEO (a man known to pull a dirty trick or two in business) desperately trying to destroy the evidence like Matthew Broderick in Wargames after he saw his hack on the news? This is Spinning Fruit to Mercurial Boy, come in Mercurial Boy: your operatives have been detected. Abort Operation Broken Windows immediately. Purge all files pertaining to the initiative, swallow your 384-bit key, and eliminate those in the know. We repeat, they are coming for you. Grab those negotiable securities and fuel up the jet.