A key developer behind the WireGuard VPN project reported on Tuesday that Microsoft had locked his account, preventing the team from releasing critical software updates to users worldwide. Jason A. Donenfeld, the creator of WireGuard, said he received no warning before Microsoft suspended his account, which is linked to the project’s software distribution channels. This is the second case in recent months where a high-profile open-source developer had their Microsoft account suspended without explanation, disrupting service for thousands of users.
Donenfeld confirmed the issue in a post on the WireGuard mailing list. He stated that Microsoft’s action blocked access to the account used to sign software packages and manage updates. Without this access, the WireGuard team cannot push security patches or new features to users, leaving systems potentially exposed to vulnerabilities. The developer has attempted to contact Microsoft for clarification but has not received a response.
This incident follows a similar case in March when another open-source maintainer, working on a widely used software library, had their Microsoft account locked without notice. That developer also lost the ability to ship updates, raising concerns about Microsoft’s account security policies. Open-source communities rely heavily on cloud services like Microsoft’s for account management and software distribution.
Microsoft has not publicly addressed either incident. The company’s standard procedure for locked accounts involves identity verification, but Donenfeld said he complied with all requests without resolution. The WireGuard project remains operational, but users are advised to check for updates manually until the issue is resolved.
Source: techcrunch.com