Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft Cuts Anti-Virus Support For Unix / Linux
jasonmicron writes "As previously reported on Slashdot, Microsoft has completed the aquisition of Sybari Software this morning. Before the ink was even dry, Microsoft cut all new antivirus support for all Unix and Linux definitions. Current customers will continue to receive support but new customers will not have the option to purchase the software under Unix / Linux. From TFA: Post acquisition, Syabri becomes a Microsoft subsidiary focusing on marketing anti-virus and anti-spam protection for Microsoft messaging and collaboration servers. It will continue to market Sybari's Lotus Domino products but will not sell Antigen versions for Unix and Linux."
And you're surprised by this why?
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
*sigh*
Well, if you're so upset, start your own Unix anti-virus company. Not so easy now, is it? It's always easier to complain than to do something.
Truly, if this stuff was allowed to go on in other industries we would barely be out of the stone chisel stage. Something needs to happen to bring the PC world to it's knees so that things start to shape up.
All of this in-fighting and patents/closed source/non-standardization needs to end... and NO Linux is not the be-all-end-all solution as it is just as bad at times.
http://teasphere.wordpress.com - A little spot of tea
Probably due to the lack of viruses/customers.
I know lots of people here are going to cry foul, but come on: Who was gonna buy anti-virus software for linux from Microsoft?
They don't sale or support Unix or Linux. What is the problem? They need to focus on their customers. That makes plenty of business sense.
Lacking <sarcasm> tags,
This just means that more viruses that affect Micro$oft systems will be lying around on *NIX boxes. Micro$oft has just created a safe haven for viruses that they no longer patrol. I wonder how long it will be before Micr$oft declares that *NIX is the problem, because the unprotected *NIX boxes keep infecting Micro$oft boxes. Every OS should be on the lookout for viruses that can infect ANY OS. This is gonna bite Micro$oft in the butt. You heard it here first from Anonymous Coward!!!
Honestly I think the parent was commenting on the practice of buying out the competition. Or, more acurately in this case, buying up a supplier for the competition so you can cut their legs out from under them. On a larger scale it's the exact kind of practice that prompted the creation of anti-trust laws in the US. Of course this is a niche product, so I'd leave it to a lawyer to determine how much anti-trust law applies.
Ah, just what Microsoft wanted a list of more companies to buy.
Once their work is finished, there will be no Linux antivirus tools left, so windows will be more secure!
No one used these products to stop Linux/Unix machines from getting compromised. This software was run on Linux/Unix machines to stop Windows clients they served from getting compromised. It filled a real need, if one filled by other products as well. MS killed them because it probably plans to integrate the functionality into its Windows server offerings and does not like offering software that does not lock you in to their OS's.
There are a couple of good reasons for having anti-virus software on a unix/linux mail server, even though they don't get viruses. First, it can protect Windows email clients. Second, anti-virus software can also pick up things like phishing emails, which are platform-agnostic.
Fortunately, good quality free (speech and beer) anti-virus software is available from http://www.clamav.net/ - and it's packaged in many linux distros.
If the Unix virus scanners were intended to stop the spread of Windows malware, couldn't this potentially lead to MS shooting themselves in the foot?
Um. Most viruses come in via Email. SMART large companies do NOT run M$ as their external mail servers. They do anti-spam and anti-virus on the external mail gateways, usually some form of UNIX + Sendmail (sendmail with mimedefang and spamassassin running on linux here).
It's just good business sense. If you could cripple your competitors' OSes while acquiring things you wanted, wouldn't you do it?
It is also blatantly illegal under the Sherman Act in this case. Don't hold you breath until the DOJ takes action though, we also saw them bought and paid for years ago.
Gee, I thought the free market was supposed to encourage things that were good for customers. It doesn't seem like crippling competitors by taking away features helps anybody but the company that does it. Sounds like a market failure to me.
Need a Python, C++, Unix, Linux develop
Virus detection programs on UNIX or Linux are usually deployed on mail servers that kill the viruses before they hit Windows-based mail clients.
Therefore, cutting support puts Windows mail clients connected to UNIX mail servers at threat.
Stupid, stupid decision from a company that claims to be serious about security.
Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.
Companies buy other companies all the time, and make decisions that will impact a group of end users every time. The reason this is such breaking news on /., IMO, is that it's Microsoft "appearing" to give the shaft to *nix platforms. I'm sure MS didn't say "let's buy this company so we can stick it to the Linux guys." They have made unethical decisions before, but this would have been just stupid business sense. The primary reason they purchased this company, as the article states, is to have anti-virus technology for their messenger components. Why invest time and resources internally to develop something when they can just buy the technology already working? Cutting support for *nix was just a bonus. In all reality, would it make better business sense for them to continue developing and supporting software for the OS's that directly compete with them? No!
Some people may recall a company called Sequent. Here's a perfect example of a company who had a great product, and threatened a titan in the industry (IBM). IBM purchased them, took the technology that they wanted (low-level locking that exists in AIX 5L today), and trashed the rest of the company. It left all the PTX customers out to dry. But why would they care to continue developing PTX on Sequent platforms when they wanted to advance their POWER-based servers running AIX?
This is really nothing exciting IMO. So Microsoft acquired a company and dropped support for *nix. That is the most logical thing they could have done with the acquisition. Please try again for interesting news instead of touting the "you bastards!" picket sign outside the Evil Empire's headquarters.
We switched to Vexira from Central Command. Midway through our contract, CC was kind enough to tell us we had to upgrade to their new software, and by the way, you have less than a week to do it. This was between Christmas and New Years. Did I say the the new software didn't support our existing OS? (RH 7.2, patches from Progeny.)
Every time we've used proprietary AV software we've gotten screwed.
Solution: apt-get install clamav.
Never shake hands with a man you meet in a fertility clinic.
If I wanted to run Microsoft software, I'd be running Windows instead of Linux, now wouldn't I?
Besides, do you really trust Microsoft enough to use an anti-virus product from them?
No matter where you go... there you are.
A funny thought here ... in the end MS products will be affected. When they ( MS ) cut their line of AV support for Linux/Unix what happens in the the MS workstations on the other side get the viruses. Arent they just shooting them self in the foot ?
Lima India November Uniform X-ray
That's how it works. Deal with it or get the fuck out of our country, you fuking communist!
In other news, MSFT just sold all your customer data to some fucking company in Qatar. "It was good business," said Microsoft CEO Stever Ballmer.
"even though you know you'd do the exact same thing if you were microsoft"
Microsoft is not a person.