Bonum Certa Men Certa

Microsoft Inside — Part IV: Microsoft Everywhere, Looking to Poach Developers, Not Disclosing What It Really Wants

Not a new strategy

Master Skywalker Youngling: Microsoft loves Linux? 'Course we do



Summary: As it turns out, just about everyone looking to recruit for a Microsoft-connected project/company (working on Raspberry Pi, Ubuntu etc.) near Microsoft is 'former' Microsoft, but people who are being approached aren't being told so, at least not upfront; those are very familiar and old tactics, which merit a word of caution to all

THIS is the last part of this series (see the first part, second part, and third part for some background and context). It concerns what people from Microsoft, who really dislike GNU/Linux, are working on while trying to enlist people who actually do like Linux. It is reminiscent of what Microsoft did to rivals which were companies rather than a community (the latter is harder to squash as if it was a cockroach). The language of 'pest control' is used by Microsoft itself:



“Linux infestations are being uncovered in many of our large accounts as part of the escalation engagements.”

--Microsoft Confidential



In Part III we showed some correspondence between a bunch of Microsoft people and a prominent developer, whom we won't name. 2 days later the Microsoft contact said: "So, what’s the best number to reach you? Phone interviews are going on today. I’d like you to speak with the Hiring Mgr."

Guess who...

"The Hiring Mgr is Aubrey Edwards. Please look at his LinkedIn so you have an idea of who you’ll be chatting with..."

We do not grant you the rank of master: Linux sucks; Riiiiight.... We'll destroy Linux; Microsoft being Microsoft; Microsoft loves Linux; Who are you kidding?No response. Notice how pushy...

Same contact, but later that day: "Hi! Just trying to reach you as interviews are going on today. Hiring Mgr is avail 5pst or 6pst..."

The developer belatedly responded: "Hi. I do want to know more about the job but I was thinking about having to work with msft ppl... and I don't know. I may not be the best fit..."

Same developer later: "Here's the thing....if they want to customize Ubuntu...they need to either license or have different repos. So... it's a little challenging license wise..."

Then the contact gave away that he or she had already/also worked for Microsoft: "Haha! There are many fab ppl at Msft! It’s like most companies... some ppl rock and others are ... I’m an ex-Msft ee that left a long time ago. They were great to me tbh!"

Well, paid salaries. How "great"...

Sabotaging companies by breaking the law can be "great"... if all one cares about is money.

The contact persisted: "I’m not clear on the tech specifics. I’d think it would be worthwhile to chat with Aubrey. He can tell you a bit more about the team working on this particular project. Your choice! He’s open tonight and then prolly making a hiring decision since this project is an ASAP fill."

Who's Aubrey? Let's see...

Microsoft Lambastes Linux



The developer thus responded with "thanks... But I don't want anything to do with Aubrey."

It says "Microsoft posts a page denigrating the growing operating system. Critics call it business as usual."

Aubrey is even mentioned by name.

"Thanks anyways," said the developer. How many more such developer were targeted by this same group? Hard to tell...

Even the contact acted all surprised, stating: "Whoa! Interesting. Very interesting."

To summarise, what we have here is a bunch of 'former' Microsoft people (still working near Microsoft and also with Microsoft) using a person to contact GNU/Linux developers without disclosing the Microsoft connections. This contact too used to work for Microsoft and says "I’m an ex-Msft ee that left a long time ago. They were great to me tbh!"

Watch out. These people have plans. They still work for Microsoft, but they aren't saying so.

Recent Techrights' Posts

Microsoft Problems in Europe Even Before the Cheeto Tariffs
The case of Romania, Europe's notorious Microsoft fan
Oman in 2025: GNU/Linux Growing to 5%
what can Microsoft do about it except sabotage the PCs?
Microsoft Shares Collapse Again (Down $101), Fifth Round of Microsoft Mass Layoffs in Less Than 100 Days in 2025
disaster
Windows Has Fallen to All-Time Lows in Switzerland Since GNU Celebrated 40th Anniversary (GNU’s 40th Birthday in Biel, Switzerland)
GNU/Linux has been doing well in Switzerland
 
Gemini Links 07/04/2025: Stock Market, Galène, and DMT Entities
Links for the day
During the Weekend We Said Fedora DEI Requires Proprietary Software, Now the Chat About It Is No Longer Accessible Over the Open Web
is this just a coincidence and an habitual change in Element?
Links 07/04/2025: US Measles Fatalities and China Launches HDMI and DisplayPort Alternative
Links for the day
Links 07/04/2025: More Cuts to Science Funding, Snail-speed Internet in Germany
Links for the day
Gemini Links 07/04/2025: Leasehold and Safe Gifts
Links for the day
In Some Countries, Laptops and Desktops Become a Dying Breed (Even Before Tariffs), Windows Has Nowhere to Go
expect more GNU/Linux on new and existing laptops
When the Credibility or 'Quality' of Clients Ceases to Matter, It's About Helping Rich Companies Like Microsoft Censor Critics (No Matter the Risks)
Bad ideas typically result in undesirable outcomes
UAE: GNU/Linux and Android at Record Levels, Windows at New Lows and Falling Below Apple
Even iOS is measured as bigger than Windows this month
Links 07/04/2025: Reddit Occupied (Social Control Media Controlled by Oligarchy), Demise of Globalisation Ongoing
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Sunday, April 06, 2025
IRC logs for Sunday, April 06, 2025
Links 07/04/2025: Leaving Gemini/smolweb and Mastodon Migrations
Links for the day
In Iraq, Windows 3.1 (Percent)
There's also zero
One Person's Take on Jef Spaleta, the New Fedora Project Leader
"With a little searching, I wonder what else may be found regarding Microsoft."
Links 06/04/2025: Flood, Cool Gemini Capsule, and Long Form
Links for the day
Links 06/04/2025: Science, Politics, and Pricier Goods
Links for the day
LLM Slop Has Virtually Killed unixmen.com and Many Other Sites
There's no longer any incentive to write real articles in there
Sharp Declines for Microsoft Windows in Bangladesh (Pop. ~175,000,000), Big Gains for GNU/Linux
Microsoft Windows has been having a really hard time in poor countries
Links 06/04/2025: Fake Reviews, Privatisation Heists, and "AI" as Smokescreen for Impoverishing Humans
Links for the day
Taking a Moral Stand Against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and the Worst Offenders/Facilitators
Any other stance would sidle with moral depravity or moral hazard
Links 06/04/2025: Many New Acts of Repression and Elements of Financial Depression
Links for the day
In Qatar GNU/Linux Rose From Under 1% to Over 4% in Two Years (or Over 5% If Counting ChromeOS)
It's a big improvement compared to what we saw last year
LLM Scrapers Are a Nuisance, But They're Also a Reminder It's Time to Make Your Site Static
Perhaps the best protection is the ability to endure surges
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Saturday, April 05, 2025
IRC logs for Saturday, April 05, 2025
Links 06/04/2025: Attacks on Education, Fake Patents, and Fake (Illegal) Patent Courts
Links for the day
France: Apple and Microsoft Down, GNU/Linux Up to New Record Levels
How will tariffs against France impact things in the coming months?
Open Source Initiative (OSI) Privacy Fiasco in Detail: What Was Reported to the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA)
We hope to finish this whole lot within a week, then move on to election, lobbying etc.
Links 05/04/2025: Tariffs Backfiring, YouTuber Arrested, X/Twitter Set to be Fined
Links for the day
Gemini Links 05/04/2025: Offline is For Everyone, Copyright Colonialism, and More
Links for the day
Links 05/04/2025: TikTok Unsold (Still), Royal Society is Dead
Links for the day
Techrights Will Spend the Next Few Years Writing a Lot About Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs)
It's a growing problem
The State of EPO Staff's Health in Rijswijk or The Hague
We're going to cover the EPO some more later in the month
NVIDIA Corp Lost 36% of Its "Value" Since Cheeto Inauguration, But "Gen Hey Hi" (GenAI) is Totally Not a Bubble
Selling loads of unneeded hardware based on hysterical hype; like selling shovels during a Gold Rush
GNU/Linux Growing in East Asia, Windows by Default No More?
GNU/Linux is now on the shelf
Slopwatch: Anti-Linux 'Articles' From Linux-Hostile LLMs
It is almost always negative things and nobody can be held responsible for it except the charlatans prompting the LLMs
Links 05/04/2025: Fentanylware (TikTok) "Sale Looks Highly Imminent" (US), Stock Market Drowning in Panic
Links for the day
Gemini Links 05/04/2025: Moving Plants, No to Smartwatches, RAID Hygiene
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Friday, April 04, 2025
IRC logs for Friday, April 04, 2025