Microsoft sees 32TB of unreleased Windows builds leaked

Update: After this article went live, I was pointed in the direction of an update to the story from Andy, the administrator of Beta Archive. He posted on the forum saying:

The Register article https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/06/2 ... s_10_leak/ has got BetaArchive a fair amount of attention this evening. They claim, and I quote "32TB of Windows 10 internal builds, core source code leak online".

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First of all let us clear up a few facts. The "Shared Source Kit" folder did exist on the FTP until this article came to light. We have removed it from our FTP and listings pending further review just in case we missed something in our initial release. We currently have no plans to restore it until a full review of its contents is carried out and it is deemed acceptable under our rules.

The folder itself was 1.2GB in size, contained 12 releases each being 100MB. This is far from the claimed "32TB" as stated in The Register's article, and cannot possibly cover "core source code" as it would be simply too small, not to mention it is against our rules to store such data.

At this time all we can deduct is that The Register refers to the large Windows 10 release we had on March 24th which included a lot of Windows releases provided to us, sourced from various forum members, Windows Insider members, and Microsoft Connect members. All of these we deemed safe for release to BetaArchive as they are all beta releases and defunct builds superseded by newer ones, and they were covered under our rules.

If any of this should change we will remove these builds from the FTP and we will happily comply with any instructions to do so by Microsoft.

With regards to the BBC article https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-40366823 about two Britons that have been arrested following an alleged Microsoft hack, we don't believe there is any connection with this alleged "Windows 10 core source code leak".

Microsoft is experiencing a massive leak in its security, with files leaked that relate to Microsoft's USB, storage, and Wi-Fi drivers for Windows 10 posted to Beta Archive last week. Beta Archive, if you didn't already know, is an enthusiast website that tracks Windows releases, and asks its members to donate money or contribute something Windows-related after accessing a private FTP full of archived Windows builds.

In an email to The Verge, a Microsoft spokesperson said: "Our review confirms that these files are actually a portion of the source code from the Shared Source Initiative and is used by OEMs and partners". The Register is claiming that 32TB of data was leaked, including unreleased Windows builds - something The Verge reports that "most of the collection has been available for months, or even years".