An official from the National Security Agency (NSA) claims that the ultra-secretive cyber security bureau of the U.S. government has lent its assistance and resources to toughen up the newly released Windows 7's overall IT protection capabilities when it comes to hacker attacks and the like, and they're also offering similar help to Red Hat, Sun Microsystems, and Apple as well. The declaration was included in a prepared statement that was delivered this Tuesday by the NSA's information assurance director, Richard Schaeffer, during a Senate Subcommittee hearing on Homeland Security and Terrorism.

According to Schaeffer, the NSA plans to work in partnership with the Microsoft Corporation and parts of the Department of Defense to leverage its one-of-a-kind operational proficiency of computer hazards and system bugs to improve the latest Microsoft OS (operating system) security guide without limiting the user's ability to do their daily tasks, whether those tasks are being done in the private or public sector. Furthermore, everything was done in harmony with the Windows 7 release instead of months or years later during the OS's lifecycle.

Microsoft has accepted assistance from the NSA several years back as well, so this isn't an unprecedented event. In fact, the Washington Post reported way back in 2007 that the clandestine yet ubiquitous U.S. department even offered help in shoring up the lukewarmly received Windows Vista. The very same news article states that Microsoft requested the NSA's cyber security assistance with its Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP platforms too.

The latest assistance that the NSA extended to Microsoft involved the creation of criteria for cataloguing computer vulnerabilities and unclassified security checklists that defend against a multitude of cyber threats. The agency also included the release of an exclusive security configuration guide for Windows 7. Moreover, the NSA has presently turned its attentions to working with Red Hat, Sun Microsystems, and Apple in order to integrate secure foundations for the abovementioned companies' respective products.

Schaeffer proclaims that the NSA is becoming more and more aware of how critical it is for the department to team with private and public organizations when it comes to protecting national security systems and broadening the level of IT security found in commercial products and services. Doing so is a win-win situation for everyone concerned, particularly the consumers of such software-based goods.