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Raw Bytes Computer News KPBX FM 91.1 Radio National Public Radio Network Frank Delaney Producer Broadcast on Thursday Morning 7:35 AM During Morning Edition Support Public Radio ! The Theater Of the Mind |
In computer news this week 10/04/2006 |
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Is the new Windows Vista the end of all 3rd party
anti-virus software ? The
current controversy in the pc industry today are the protests from the
traditional anti-virus software vendors – notably Mcafee – which
kept the name of its originator John McAfee – and Symantec –
which dropped the name of Peter Norton, and the dozens of other anti-virus
software companies too. Their protests center over the upcoming release of
Microsoft’s totally new operating system, named Vista – which
will replace its current windows xp operating system, and which they claim might
put them out of business. Ever
since viruses emerged in the pc world 20 years ago – they
created a huge market for 3rd party vendors selling anti virus software.
If you ask “shouldn’t Microsoft themselves have protected
you from viruses that attacked
their operating system ?” the answer is yes, but at the time they were
too busy trying to dominate the entire computer world to take time with this
trivial matter, and it was tremendously convenient for them to allow other
companies to deal with the problem.
Microsoft
entered into agreements with these anti-virus software companies, revealing
to them many of the secrets of their proprietary code, so that these
companies could understand the inner-workings of Microsoft operating
systems, and be able to combat
the viruses that attacked it. This was a back scratching business agreement
that benefited all companies involved. Although the image I see in my head is
the large shark swimming around, and the little pilot fish sticking close to
it to get their scraps it tosses off. So this
worked for almost 20 years, but now things have changed. The biggest change is that now
Microsoft has 2 anti-malware products of their own; Windows Onecare
antivirus, and Windows Defender anti-spyware and adware. Microsoft did their usual thing of
buying existing companies that already had a product, and they have been free
beta-testing both of these programs for over a year now, and are now actively
selling them. So now
when you buy a new computer with the new Windows Vista
operating system, Microsoft wants you to buy both of their anti-malware
programs so you will be protected. But they also understand how the Fair
Trade Commission and the European
Commission work, so they’re not totally freezing out the other
anti-virus software companies; they’re just not giving them as much
information and access as they had in the past. A
spokesman for McAfee has made the
following comments: “Microsoft
has "shut off" independent access to the Windows Vista kernel. Microsoft
is embracing the flawed logic that computers will be more secure if it stops
cooperating with the independent security firms.”. Microsoft says it has supplied adequate documentation and support to
partners. "The security threat landscape has evolved and Microsoft has
to continue to evolve Windows to provide a safer, more secure computing
experience." So the anti-virus vendors
position is “"Microsoft's new approach is misguided in principle,
bad for innovation and competition, and bad for users." And Microsoft is saying
that this is not the case. And only one thing’s for sure –
we’ll all see soon. For Raw Bytes This is Frank Delaney (C) 2006 MTA Micro
Technology Associates http://www.mtamicro.com/kpbx.html PO Box 31522 Spokane, Wa 99223-1522 (509)624-7230 |
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