[plug] ATO eTax: media enquiry (fwd)

[Ryan]

This is not of quotable merit, but.. many of this, but ages ago
when Commonwealth netbank was distributed as a separate
application the same thing happened, only windows was
supported.

I went to great lengths to enquire why and I was
told by their 'top IT people' that the encryption algorithms they
use that have proven to be the most effective are licensed by
Microsoft, and that catering for other operating systems where
they could not use this same encryption would be a distinct
security vulnerability.

I don't know what the algorithm is or any more than that, but it
is possibly a similar deal relating to some for of licensing here?

Ryan

At 04:46 PM 19-07-01 +0800, you wrote:
>Hi All
>
>This subject has come up here before, so I figured some of you may be
>willing to voice your opinions to this Journo - I lack the time myself.
>
>Remember to send your comments to him, because he doesn't read the list.
>
>  - Matt
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2001 16:18:01 +0800
>From: Rhys Stacker <rhys_stacker at yahoo.com.au>
>To: zombie at wasp.net.au
>Subject: media enquiry
>
>matt
>
>my name is rhys stacker and i am a freelance journalist currently
>researching a story for wa business news (http://www.businessnews.com.au).
>
>i am looking into the issue of the Australian Tax Office's eTax software
>which is only available to windows users. the ATO says users of other
>platforms (Mac, Linux, Unix) must use an emulator.
>
>i have comments from various wa mac groups but i would like to see linux
>represented.
>
>should the ato create a multi-platform eTax? is it too much to expect all
>platforms to be catered for, with windows having around 90 per cent market
>share? is it too costly to have the software useable on all/most platforms?
>
>i can be contacted on the below details. my deadline, unfortunately is 8am
>friday (tomorrow), july 19 2001.
>
>thanks
>
>Rhys Stacker
>m: 0402 786 019
>e: rhys_stacker at yahoo.com.au
>
>
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