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EC Watching Microsoft Security Moves
Rob writes "The European Commission is looking into Microsoft Corp's recent moves into the desktop
security market, according to Symantec Corp, one of the companies that stand to lose the
most if Microsoft leverages its monopoly to compete. We've not filed any official
complaint," a Symantec spokesperson said. "We've responded to a request for
information from the European Commission... we were not proactive, they came to us."
Microsoft announced last week that it will offer an enterprise desktop security
package comprising antivirus,
antispyware, firewall and centralized administration. That's in addition to its OneCare
consumer offering, currently in beta."
Symantec, their product, went crappy a long time ago. I had used it since it was Dr. Norton; and years ago it would have itself shutdown by exploits (i tolerated this)....then when i got anti-virus 2005 it would constantly shut down, corrput my (brand spanking new dell laptop), etc. I finally switched to CA ezTrust. Symantec has gone down hill.
And it is responsible, very responsible, of MS to offer anti-virus in their OS.
I mod down so you can mod up. Your welcome.
The fact is, Windows, as terrible as it may be can come with as much [spyware infested] programs as they want, for it's their product.
The fact is, Monopoly Inc.'s product, as terrible as it may be can come with as many bundled other products as they want, for it's their product.
Oh wait, or we could pay attention to all the antitrust laws that have been written and all the economics we have learned in the last 400 years and realize that monopolies tying new products to an existing monopolized product results in them completely bypassing fair trade and competition and results in them taking over more and more markets, products that are inferior (since the benefits of competition no longer apply), products that are unfairly priced (again competition is bypassed), the economy suffering (since one company gets more money than the value of the work/product they provide), the industry suffering (since their is no motivation/oportunity for innovation), and eventually (in theory) a single company taking over all markets.
I take it you slept through your freshman economics course? It is illegal for monopolies to bundle products and that is exactly what MS is doing and has been convicted of doing in the past. Unfortunately all of the punishments and remedies have been largely ineffective.