Microsoft Locks Accounts of WireGuard and VeraCrypt Developers, Disrupting Software Updates

Locks Disrupt Open-Source Software Distribution Microsoft

has locked the online accounts of two prominent open-source developers, halting their ability to release software updates.

Jason A. Donenfeld, creator of the WireGuard VPN protocol, reported that the lock prevents him from shipping updates to users. Separately, Mounir Idrassi, developer of VeraCrypt encryption software, stated that the account restriction could lead to boot-up failures on Windows devices relying on the tool.

The locks occurred without prior notification from Microsoft, according to both developers. WireGuard, known for its efficiency and security, serves millions of users worldwide through various implementations. VeraCrypt, a fork of TrueCrypt, provides disk encryption for sensitive data protection.

TechCrunch reported these events as the second instance of Microsoft locking a high-profile developer's account in recent times, though details of the first case were not specified.

WireGuard users, the account lock means no new software updates can be distributed, potentially leaving systems vulnerable to known security issues.

Donenfeld noted that this affects the core development repository hosted on platforms tied to his Microsoft account. VeraCrypt users on Windows may encounter boot-up problems if their systems depend on bootloader components from the locked account. Idrassi indicated that without access, he cannot release fixes or updates, which could exacerbate compatibility issues with future Windows versions.

Both developers have publicly raised concerns about the lack of communication from Microsoft. No official response from Microsoft regarding these specific incidents was available in the reports.