Stephen Toulouse
Encyclopedia
Stephen Toulouse, also known as Stepto, is the Director of Xbox LIVE
Policy and Enforcement at Microsoft
. He frequently represents Microsoft and Xbox Live in various media, including on Larry Hryb
's "Major Nelson Radio" Xbox-related podcast, to discuss security and policy issues.
Prior to joining the Xbox team at Microsoft, Toulouse was the head of communications for security response with the Microsoft Security Response Center.
Toulouse later handled public relations for outbreaks such as Blaster
, Sasser
, and Zotob
. During the Windows Metafile vulnerability
Toulouse, together with noted Windows expert Mark Russinovich
, refuted claims by security pundit Steve Gibson that the WMF vulnerability was introduced in 1989 by a rogue Microsoft programmer as an intentional remote back door. Toulouse and Russinovich both pointed out the code in question was introduced long before user trust models were a part of the Windows operating system, and indeed long before Windows itself contained any networking capability.
When Toulouse left the MSRC, he was praised by several notable security journalists for his candor and honesty about Microsoft's security challenges.
services, building out a team of worldwide "enforcers" to implement the rules of the Xbox Live service. Toulouse was promoted to Director for Policy and Enforcement for Xbox LIVE in September 2009.
As a co-host of the Xbox podcast "Major Nelson Radio," Toulouse is the public face for the rules governing behavior and often explains and clarifies policies.
has praised Toulouse for his work with their group in combating homophobia in online gaming.
Xbox Live
Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation. It is currently the only online gaming service on consoles that charges users a fee to play multiplayer gaming. It was first made available to the Xbox system in 2002...
Policy and Enforcement at Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
. He frequently represents Microsoft and Xbox Live in various media, including on Larry Hryb
Larry Hryb
Lawrence "Larry" Hryb , also known by his Xbox Live gamertag Major Nelson, is the Director of Programming for the Microsoft gaming network Xbox Live. His blog "Xbox Live's Major Nelson" provides an "inside" look at operations at Microsoft's Xbox division. He picked the gamertag Major Nelson after a...
's "Major Nelson Radio" Xbox-related podcast, to discuss security and policy issues.
Prior to joining the Xbox team at Microsoft, Toulouse was the head of communications for security response with the Microsoft Security Response Center.
Microsoft Security Response Center
Toulouse joined the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) in November 2002. His first exposure to communications during a security response crisis was during the spread of the SQL Slammer computer worm in January 2003, where he was asked by Security Business Unit Vice President Mike Nash to handle creating a way for affected users to determine whether or not they had a vulnerable instance of SQL Server installed.Toulouse later handled public relations for outbreaks such as Blaster
Blaster (computer worm)
The Blaster Worm was a computer worm that spread on computers running the Microsoft operating systems: Windows XP and Windows 2000, during August 2003....
, Sasser
Sasser (computer worm)
Sasser is a computer worm that affects computers running vulnerable versions of the Microsoft operating systems Windows XP and Windows 2000. Sasser spreads by exploiting the system through a vulnerable network port...
, and Zotob
Zotob (computer worm)
"The Zotob worm and several variations of it, known as Rbot.cbq, SDBot.bzh and Zotob.d, infected computers at companies such as ABC, CNN, The Associated Press, The New York Times, and Caterpillar Inc." — Business Week, August 16, 2005....
. During the Windows Metafile vulnerability
Windows Metafile vulnerability
The Windows Metafile vulnerability is a security vulnerability in Microsoft Windows NT-based operating systems which has been used in a variety of exploits since late December 2005. The vulnerability was first discussed in the computer security community around 26 and December 27, 2005, with the...
Toulouse, together with noted Windows expert Mark Russinovich
Mark Russinovich
Mark E. Russinovich is a Technical Fellow in the Platform and Services Division at Microsoft. He was a cofounder of software producers Winternals before it was acquired by Microsoft in 2006.-Early life and education:...
, refuted claims by security pundit Steve Gibson that the WMF vulnerability was introduced in 1989 by a rogue Microsoft programmer as an intentional remote back door. Toulouse and Russinovich both pointed out the code in question was introduced long before user trust models were a part of the Windows operating system, and indeed long before Windows itself contained any networking capability.
When Toulouse left the MSRC, he was praised by several notable security journalists for his candor and honesty about Microsoft's security challenges.
Xbox Live
In August 2007, Toulouse joined the Xbox Live Services group as Lead Program Manager for Enforcement, describing his role at the time as "Helping to make sure the Live experience is a safe and enjoyable one for users." Over the next years he expanded his role to include policy and enforcement for the Xbox Live and Zune SocialZune Social
Zune Social is the online component of Microsoft's Zune initiative. It is a social networking website that displays a user's most-played artists, favorite and recently played songs, a list of the users friends, what your friends are listening to, and any comments about them...
services, building out a team of worldwide "enforcers" to implement the rules of the Xbox Live service. Toulouse was promoted to Director for Policy and Enforcement for Xbox LIVE in September 2009.
As a co-host of the Xbox podcast "Major Nelson Radio," Toulouse is the public face for the rules governing behavior and often explains and clarifies policies.
Apple
Toulouse suggested in a personal blog entry in 2006 that Apple's products enjoyed good security due to their small market share and that the company would have to focus on hiring a "Security Czar" at some point. Toulouse was ridiculed at the time, winning many Apple pundits' scorn for his suggestion.Sexuality identification on Xbox Live
In February 2009, while Toulouse was head of policy for Xbox Live, Microsoft attracted negative attention for the gaming service's policies towards members' expression of their sexual identity. While the service allows for self expression of sexual orientation in voice chat during games, at that time Xbox Live banned all mention of orientation — including of heterosexuality — in Gamertags and in profiles. Widespread criticism of this practice led to Toulouse publicly vowing to change the policy to allow for expression of sexual orientation. Changes announced in March 2010 permit Xbox Live members to express sexual orientation in their Gamertags and profiles. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against DefamationGay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is a non-governmental media monitoring organization which promotes the image of LGBT people in the media...
has praised Toulouse for his work with their group in combating homophobia in online gaming.