Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Concerns Over Security Software

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the you-wanted-to--pay-for-this-right dept.

Arthbunot Bullwinkle writes to mention a BBC article exploring concerns about the future of security software. The piece looks at trends toward 'free' security products, such as ZoneAlarm, and wonders aloud about where those products will find themselves after Windows Vista is released. From the article: "'Now maybe the good ones will actually get rid of that attack but at the same time they may drop maybe 10 or 20 other attacks onto your system.' The bottom line, according to Mr Day, is that when you download free security software you cannot be certain what you get. But completely free security software may be a thing of the past when the new version of Windows hits the shops early next year. "

6 of 116 comments (clear)

  1. RIP IPTables by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm pretty sad Windows Vista is apparently killing this off.

  2. Errrm by Craptastic+Weasel · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe chris had troubles fixing computers, as stated here but we would hope there would be LESS of a need for 3rd party security apps with Microsoft's next gen Windows release...
     
    btw, what about Kate Russell below him, I wonder how she feels about pentration testing...
     
    I sacrifice my karma in the name of cthulu!!

  3. Some key explanations are missing. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny
    when you download free security software you cannot be certain what you get.
    ...On the other hand, when you buy Norton, you can be certain that what you get is crap.

    But completely free security software may be a thing of the past when the new version of Windows hits the shops early next year.
    ...However, retail security software will continue to exist as these products cater to a demographic that does not understand computers, and these people will always exist.
  4. Re:Paid software safer? by gettingbraver · · Score: 2, Funny

    Because Microsoft says it is!

  5. No more free security software? by twitter · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is Bill Gates planning an invasion of Canada? I know his "Trusted Computing" initiative is designed to eliminate choices, but will that junk really work?

    --

    Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.

  6. Re:"By using ZoneAlarm..." by The+MAZZTer · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wow, you believe what a random guy wrote on a random website? OK How about I try:

    ZoneAlarm is NOT malware.

    Haha! You're confused now!

    And as for that webpage, if the author simply didn't make their button url have the word "advert" in it it probably wouldn't be blocked by ZoneAlarm, durr. Adblock knows better than to let "advert"s though as well.