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In FT ad, McAfee joins Symantec in accusing Microsoft of hamstringing rivals working on Windows security tools.
The story "McAfee knocks Microsoft over Vista roadblocks" published October 2, 2006 at 10:47 AM is no longer available on CNET News.
Content from Reuters expires after 30 days.
Maybe because there programs have so much overhead?
And one of the key weakness is access to kernal and MS is now trying to fix that weakness. Too bad for the virus makers and their dependents like Symantec and McAfee
Symantec and McAfee sprang up to fill a niche market. Now that Microsoft is actually making some progress in doing what it should've done years ago, the others cry foul.
Lets face it: infected computers are their bread and butter. They don't WANT Vista to be secure, because then no one needs their bloatware.
I don't have a lot of confidence in Microsoft's ability to actually lock down their OS, but at the same time I have NO empathy for Symantec and McAfee.
"No they haven't!"
"Yes, they have!"
Sounds like a bunch of kids on a playground.
I say we wait until MS ships Vista and a bunch of copies are in the hands of Joe Sixpack and his friends.
Then we'll know if Vista is realitively secure or if it will follow in the Microsoft tradition.
They put further browser development on the back bunner since
there was no longer a need to compete while there was nothing
left to compete against.
Now Microsoft wants to "Netscapetisize" McAfee and Symantec
into obliviation, eliminate the competition and become the soul
provider of security software for an inherently UNsecure OS..!
Once Microsoft rules the security world there will no longer be
any incentive for new development which will only lead to an
even more UNSECURE OS allowing "alternative" (secure) OS's to
flourish the way "alternative browsers" did after the stagnation
of Internet Explorer.
I pitty the fool that jumps on that band wagon..
Do I trust MSFT to get it right, even with the locked down core? We'll see, but I'm skeptical. Hell, Windoze Defender on four different machines has YET to find anything questionable on any of them (yet, ewido and ZoneAlarm SS have). ALL these security companies are doing [i]now[/i] are just trying to protect their OWN skins and the lucrative business model that they've had for all these years; they aren't interested in making Windows more inherently secure (because if it was, then more than a few of them would be out hitting the pavement, looking for a new profession that doesn't need their abhorrent programming skills).
At least it'll be nice and quiet for at least a few days w/o all those Windows users clogging up the b/w (evil grin)...
/P
It would be naive to think that Symantec and McAfee do not have some inkling of ulterior motive for these so called complaints. But they really do have a valid point here. I find it hard to believe that closing off access to the kernel code would make Vista more secure. Security through obscurity has never been a good security model.
Firefox just had a zero day exploit. Linux has a vulnerbility in the kernel CD driver that affects almost every version of Linux.
The reality is many pieces of these products are created by either a single person or a small team with little or no code review if it functions properly.
Operating Systems are extremely complex machines created by humans with tools created by humans. There will always be issues.
in this case whole industries (virus/security software makers),
have made Windows the dominant OS because they can benefit
from either fixing or exploiting Window's inherent weaknesses.
I'm no MS Windows fan, but MS is doing the right thing in
locking their OS down, albeit about 15 years too late. MS didn't
make that decision without knowing that the likes of McAfee and
Symantec would not be too happy about it, but that's McAfee
and Symantec fault. They are the ones that have banked on MS
always getting security wrong. They've been dependent on MS's
mistakes too long. Besides, I'm sure they have SW engineers
fervently hacking together a virus/worm/exploit for Vista that
only they will have the fix for.
NEVER, period and done with.
The one time they WERE linked to an exploit being spread, it was because some idiot accidentally put a virus that they found in the wild onto e-mails sent form them.
MS has a responsibility to do what is best for their OS, which is inherently the best for the consumer. Maybe MS should buy out Mcafee or Symantec.
People frickin complain too much about MS. They're just another company trying hard to compete against other companies and entities such as linux. They're more fragile then you'd think. So they add a few more features into their OS... big deal? The SHOULD add more features into their OS, especially if they plan to compete against Apple, which comes loaded with applications as well. I don't favor one OS over another or one company over another, I just think it's natural what MS is doing and too many people and companies and countries are just whining over something they don't understand.
They also forget NO OS is invincible. If it were, there would be no need for security or AV apps for those OSes to begin with. So they better rethink that mentality.
So why is MS wrong for finally following suit? Because they can't hack into it as easily now? Thats the ONLY reason I could see anyone whining like they are.
Count the Shills!
The real issue is that Vista allows for MORE companies to hook into their Security Center fearture in Vista. McAfee and Symantec will now have to compete with 8+ more companies. They HATE this. It will cost them money. That's why they are angry. And, they want to use the "anti-competitive" smoke screen to get people like you confused.
They also want to stop MSFT from giving end users additional security features. Who exactly does that help? It clearly hurts the normal PC user who just wants to use their PC for work/play. It clearly hurts MSFT as their customer sat goes down. It ONLY HELPS people like Symantec and McAfee who sell software to protect PCs.
Who is the real "lap dog" here? Those who want basic security features built into a modern OS? Or, those who will fall for a rich CEO using sensational language to manipulate people like you?
"Here boy, fetch." The Symantec CEO needs another million in stock options for security features that every OS should have natively but they want to force you to pay for.
"Regulators tried to get Microsoft to get changes its business practices, but none has succeeded." (this line is not attributed to anyone)
It's factually incorrect - check out the EC-designed WMP-less version, which has sold only ~1700 copies. Check out the IM changes in Korea. Check out the API and interop protocol licensing in the US, as well as in the EU (as to the latter). Seems those are changes in business practices that were mandated by regulators.
I wish for the industry that I was wrong, but...get the facts straight.
Go protect 95,98 and XP
I believe Microsoft is a threat to the world of innovation and has to be stopped in its tracks and now. So all you M$ lovers be warned for soon your data will not be yours but theirs because they are trying to sew the world up as a M$ extension. So if you value 'freedom' abandon the M$ ship now before it is too late.
Secondly Mcafee anti-virus has been so bad for years - plus their firewall is the worst. I remember years ago when i got it for free from comcast it totally messed up my computer - i had to uninstall it. Zone alarm and AVG work great. Norton charges outrageous prices for a product that does not even work - you can not even get a toll free number (it took hours to find) or tech support of any kind. Nortons "Internet package" can be defeated with msconfig and turning it off! Of coarse it also locks up your computer - another waste of money - no refund i did ask for it.
Then the "desperate companies" run to Europeans who can not invent anything -- the socialists to cry foul and demand they open their software up - unbelievable. The same ones that demanded the usa turn over the Internet invented by the usa military. The same Eurpeans who find Microsoft - why don't they invent their own software? If they did it would be like a A380 airplance no doubt or the concord! Please boycott Mcafee and Norton As i did years ago.
Pandas is better - AVG is even better and its free! Norton and Mcaffe are so bugged i can not even believe they are still in business. By the way I build computers and have no vested interest in any of these companies.
- Their prroducts have not worked for years!
- by dragonsprayer October 3, 2006 8:00 PM PDT
- McAffe and norton have been last for years! AVG and shareware! gogo!
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