A software company that Microsoft acquired this week to help beef up computer security may come with a bug of its own--a company claiming ownership of the programs.
The exclusive rights claimed by Sunbelt mean only Sunbelt can legally create and distribute software development tools for Giant's programs. If legitimate, the claim means Microsoft would need permission from Sunbelt before letting software partners build links to Giant's programs, which are designed to combat spyware and spam. Without such links, the software may not work well with programs from third parties.
Sunbelt President Alex Eckelberry said he and executives from Microsoft are in cordial talks about a number of "business and technical issues" relating to the Giant acquisition. So far, the companies have had no disagreements or disputes, he said.
Microsoft issued a statement on Friday saying it will be the sole owner of all new versions of the Giant anti-spyware system that it develops, regardless of previous legal agreements between Giant and Sunbelt.
"There's nothing about these pre-existing commitments that will prevent us from bringing to market the product we think is needed and is right for our customers," said Amy Carroll, director of product management in Microsoft's security business and technology unit.
In addition, the company does not expect Sunbelt to restrict its ability to let other software developers tap its programs, Carroll said.
"We're very comfortable we will be able to offer software developer kits without running afoul of these agreements; we don't see that as an issue at all," she said.
Microsoft plans to honor a Giant contract and furnish Sunbelt with special updates through mid-2007 that enable Giant's programs to spot new kinds of spyware.
When it announced the acquisition, Microsoft said it planned to use Giant's technology to block spyware from infecting Windows PCs. Because of its popularity, Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser is a favorite target of spyware developers.
Spyware monitors people's activity on the Internet in order to steal passwords and log-in information. Another variety, called adware, delivers pop-up advertisements. The unwelcome software has become a huge annoyance for many unwitting computer users who've inadvertently downloaded the stuff while surfing the Web.
Programs from Giant, a 12-person company based in New York, can scan a person's PC for spyware and remove it. Microsoft intends to incorporate the technology into its products and expects to release a new version of the Giant product next month.
Some reports have said that Microsoft may eventually charge customers to use the tools to clean spyware off Windows, but the company has not yet made any announcement about pricing.
It's a target because Microsoft's security model is fundamentally flawed. Microsoft has *always* valued bells and whistles over security, and there is no real sign that this has changed.
In the past, MS has valued features and integration more than security. I agree. But I strongly disagree that MS has shown no improvements, and I think you are way off base if you suggest that IE's enormous install base has nothing to do with its status as a target for virii. It sounds like your irrational hatred for MS is causing you to overlook some rather obvious conclusions.
Bells and Whistles, Microsoft...IE are you daft. This is one of the biggest reasons people are jumping ship from IE is that it has no bells and whistles. That isn't to say that the security issues are part of the reason IE is target because it is. But, it is also because so many people are using it. However, unless Microsoft improves IE and adds some bells and whistles that will not be the case for long.
Also, doesn't anyone else find it odd that instead of fixing the security holes in IE and Windows so that spyware is harder to make/install/activate that Microsoft has choosen to just help detect it and remove it? Seems to me that once again Microsoft is sliding down the wrong tree and getting splinters in nasty places.
So now what we will have is an OS with security holes, a browser with even more security holes and a program that is supposed to detect and remove programs that use these security holes but has its own security holes. Makes sense to me!
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Also, doesn't anyone else find it odd that instead of fixing the security holes in IE and Windows so that spyware is harder to make/install/activate that Microsoft has choosen to just help detect it and remove it? Seems to me that once again Microsoft is sliding down the wrong tree and getting splinters in nasty places.
So now what we will have is an OS with security holes, a browser with even more security holes and a program that is supposed to detect and remove programs that use these security holes but has its own security holes. Makes sense to me!
Robert