Comments on: Security vendors face new kid on block: Microsoft

Update for Windows XP includes security features such as a firewall, but antivirus firms say they aren't worried.

That takes me back...

Sure, Microsoft's a major threat in the Anti-virus arena, well maybe it will be this time around. Does nobody remember MSAV (that's Microsoft Anti-Virus) and, my personal favorite, the perpetually useless VSafe. These two came bundled with MS-DOS 6.xx and Windows 3.1? Those products had as much to do with anti-virus as what SP2 has to do with a firewall. In other words, the XP firewall will be great...until you get hacked, just like MSAV was just peachy until you got a virus.

[ScottSkibell]

Who would trust Microsoft with security?

Based upon the holes in Microsoft's current lineup, who in their right mind would really trust Microsoft with their security?

Third parties will remain more responsive to security and virus threats. They don't build the holes, they just fill them.

[lgmbackman]

My bet

My bet is that in a few years MS will ask customers to deactivate their firewall like their antiwirus software due to security concerns.

[Dachi]

SP2 is good news for AV companies.

SP2 comes with a firewall but it is not _that_ much different from the functionality of the last one, just a friendlier interface.

Popup blocking is a nice feature, but it is something offered by Google toolbar and many others.

SP2 does not come with AV software, however. Install SP2 on a computer without AV software and it will nag you to install some, referencing this page:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/antivirus/default.mspx

So currently MS is basically hooking up their AV partners, I wonder why they are not complaining.