Anti-malware Vendors Stare Down Microsoft Threat

Captain Rose writes "Matt Hines at eWEEK has stepped up to report the other side of the story CNET inked recently on the perceived death knell that Vista will deliver to independent anti-spyware vendors. There's definitely a fight in store (David v. Goliath), though who knows how long we'll have to wait to see it play out now that Vista's delayed yet again. Is this a bit of foreshadowing on how the new Microsoft OS will address the self-replicating, zero-day spyware threats?" From the article: "Most industry watchers concede that it will be hard for Microsoft to easily displace the enterprise security businesses of leading vendors such as Symantec, McAfee and Trend Micro, which market integrated packages of applications to companies wishing to solve long lists of problems. However, for firms that are focused on only one of those problem areas, analysts said, Vista and the other Microsoft security products could pose a significant threat."

Comments

They need not worry

[Anonymous Coward]

If Microsoft stays true to form, their security tools will be full of security holes. They might even spawn a second tier industry similar to the anti-virus/worm/etc industry.

Re:They need not worry

[tktk]

I think you've just described a user's worse nightmare.

An OS with security holes protected by a security tool that has security holes. So malware writers will attack the security holes of the security tool to attack the security holes in the OS.

You'll have to download updates to close the security holes in the security tool used to attack the security holes in the OS. Then you'll have to download updates for the security tool to close the security holes in the OS.

Ow...I think I brained my hurt.

I understand M$'s desire to squash these guys

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

I understand M$'s desire to squash these guys. Every time some server custodian buys another Symantec/Trend/McAfee license, the thought in the back of that custodian's head has to be "I wonder how much less of Symantec/Trend/McAfee's shit I would have to deal with if we didn't have so many M$ platforms running around."

Re:Write better malware

[BSDFreak]

You mean they don't already do that?

I already have anti-malware from Microsoft

[iminplaya]

format.com

Do you want security or not?

[Anonymous Coward]

Linux Fanboy: See how insecure Microsoft is. How could any REAL OS allow malware to be installed so easily? They should really beef up security so this doesn't happen, or stop producing Windows and let Linux take their market share. LINUX ROCKS!!!

Microsoft: You are correct. In the next version on Windows we will be focusing more on security, and we will not allow malware to be so easily installed, and for the stuff that does get installed, we will also provide you a way to remove it and save you money from having to buy another product.

Linux Fanboy: See!!! Microsoft is a monopoly! They are improving security of their product, and as a result these companies that produce anti-malware software will be suffering! Microsoft is crippling the software industry! This would never happen with Linux!

Re:Self replicating ...

[mabu]

My guess is a "journalist"

Re:Don't worry!

[norman619]

"So to avoid messy lawsuits, Microsoft needs only to design and market a secure operating system. They don't technically get more money, as they don't have an add-on product to sell-- but the anti-virus vendors basically go out of business and the cost of owning a PC goes down, which helps Microsoft keep the price of its software afloat." LOL that's all they need to do huh? "design a secure OS." You obviously don't know a whole lot about why Windows has the issues it has. It's not simply crappy code. It's a victim of it's own success. Windows is the most attractive dragon in the land and hackers, crackers, virus coders are the Dragon Slayers fighting for bragging rights or just looking to piss it off. No matter how secure your OS is if it's the OS used by 99% of system in the market guess where the hackers and so on are gonna put their energies? no matter how secure youe Os is someone will find a chink in your armor and share the info and soon you will be in the same situation Windows is in now.