Microsoft Locking Out Third Party Security Software From Vista ?

The BBC has a report that’s meant to be about free security software for Windows (but doesn’t really say anything substantive on that matter) which contains a rather illuminating section on Microsofts latest adventure in security:

Laura Yecies of Zone Labs said: “Microsoft is certainly making it more difficult for the independent security vendors right now.

What a surprise! So what are they doing ?

“They’re essentially trying to take control of the security user interface functions.

Probably under the guise of “improving” Vista’s security (not that they’ve got a great track record in IT security anyway), but it leads into this rather nice piece of irony.

“Fortunately we have a pretty crack team which is finding new and innovative ways to continue to provide a very important security layer to our users.”

I couldn’t put it any better than the BBC themselves:

So the antivirus people are having to hack Windows so they can get close enough to protect it.

Of course Microsoft themselves would have no vested interest in stopping other peoples security software from working on Vista, would they ?

At the same time as Microsoft starts closing off parts of the operating system to security software vendors, it has also released its own security product known as OneCare. The all in one package is designed to look after your computer and all your data, leaving the whole gamut of security on Microsoft’s shoulders.

Can you say “monopolistic practices” ? I knew you could..

2 thoughts on “Microsoft Locking Out Third Party Security Software From Vista ?

  1. Here is an idea. Would MS dare open up an old version of Windows, perhaps Win 2000, to the open source community? I want to see what a community of developers could make of inheriting a pre-existing standard (rather than having to try to build one from scratch). It would help bring MS products to developing countries legally…and encourage the sale of other MS software (such as office, etc).

    Alternately, with Mac OS coming to life on Intel processors, they should consider offering the OS for free as a MS alternative, and concentrate of selling additional hardware (ipods, etc) and software to a suddenly much wider array of Mac users. The possibilities down that road are amazing – exciting.

    I am looking forward to the next two years of OS developments. A critical time for all players and I am waiting for someone to do something extraordinary.

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