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0 pointsalentred3y ago0 comments

Although I agree that companies (Microsoft, Google, etc.) deliberately seek to authenticate you across the web, I do not think that the general mess with Microsoft authentication is on purpose.

It looks like generations of implementations (and likely generations of product management and development teams) layering on top of each other, "replacing" the "old" systems only to do the half of it, and integrating with acquired products.

Seen from outside, it just doesn't look like there exists a single team that understands the authentication and permission system end-to-end.

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makeitdouble3y ago

> I do not think that the general mess with Microsoft authentication is on purpose.

Microsoft has been dealing with online identity almost since the consumer web exists. MSN launched in 1995, Outlook was the poster child of webmail, ActiveDirectory is the behemoth of enterprise user management.

I don’t see Hanlon’s razor relevant when it’s on one of their core competency. They at least committed to throw part of their users under the bus to pursue their goals.

gbear6053y ago

As I see it, Microsoft has become so incompetent as an organization that they can no longer be said to have core competencies.

rightbyte3y ago

Ye exactly. The intent was probably to make their spyware login front work good. It would speed up adaption.

I think some people are mixing up Hanlon's razor with "if it is bad, the malice part can't be on purpose".

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