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Windows' Patchguard Hinders Security Vendors

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the only-game-in-town dept.

eldavojohn writes "Windows' PatchGuard seems to be upsetting third party security vendors such as Symantec, Sana Security and Agnitum. It sounds like the 'black hats' will be able to bypass this security feature (which will be in all copies of Vista) but force security software companies to give up developing software for Windows. From the article: 'PatchGuard will make it harder for third parties, particularly host intrusion-prevention software, to function in Vista,' said Yankee Group analyst Andrew Jaquith. 'Third parties have two choices: continue to petition Microsoft to create an approved kernel-hooking interface so products like theirs can work, or use "black hat" techniques to bypass the restrictions.' Apparently, using these techniques is not a difficult trick."

3 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. Oh noes! by Aladrin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Oh noes, windows has security! What'll we do?"

    C'mon, get a grip. Despite the fact that this is a dupe, it still angers me that the 'major' pc protection companies can't deal with windows actually securing itself. They would actually consider using blackhat techniques instead of the provided methods? They'd be fools, too. Any blackhat technique they use would be immediately patched by Microsoft. Doesn't take a genius to see that.

    --
    "If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
    1. Re:Oh noes! by Nigel_Powers · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Don't kid yourself...this is NOT a case of Windows securing itself -- this is revenue protectionism at its best. Microsoft is actively trying to make third-party security vendors a thing of the past.

      In all of this, Microsoft forgets the most important thing -- It's my freakin computer! If Microsoft hinders me from getting done what I (remember me? I'm the consumer) want, then I have to reconsider my OS decision -- which I did -- about 5 years ago -- and never looked back.

  2. Should be an optional feature. by DNX+Blandy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Window's PatchGuard" should be an optional feature. If you dont' want to use it, (like me!), you should be able to NOT include it when installing etc. Being able to do what you want is the best way, forcing users only pisses them off.