Microsoft plans to train police in ways to break the encryption built into its forthcoming client PC operating system Vista.

Professor Ross Anderson of Cambridge University warned MPs in a parliamentary committee session that if such a move was being considered then the police should start learning at the earliest.

The need to decrypt hard drives was a prominent reason given for extending
the length of time that the police could hold terrorism suspects.

"It is our goal to give PC users the control and confidence they need so
they can continue to get the most out of their PCs," said a Microsoft
spokeswoman.

"At the same time, we are working with law enforcement to help them
understand its security features and will continue to partner with
governments, law enforcement and industry to help make the Internet a safer
place to learn and communicate."

This is not the first time such links between Microsoft and the security
services have received attention. In 1999 journalist Duncan Campbell alleged
that Microsoft had reached a secret deal with the National Security Agency
in the US to allow them backdoor access to Microsoft systems.