Vista modified for third-party security vendors

[imhotep]

Vista modified for third-party security vendors

Symantec and McAfee, are you feeling satisfied? Probably not, but Microsoft
is doing its best to appease you (and avoid antitrust accusations).

On Friday, the company held a press conference announcing that it would open
the Windows kernel to third-party security companies. By offering an
extended, kernel-level API (Application Programming Interface), Microsoft
will give anti-virus makers a way to access the Windows kernel, potentially
avoiding conflicts with Vista's PatchGuard technology. Only available in
the 64-bit version of Vista, PatchGuard protects the kernel from being
modified by a third-party.

Microsoft is hoping that the APIs will dispel fears that Vista would force
customers into using a Microsoft-provided security solution. At the
conference, Microsoft Senior Vice President and General Counsel said, "We
felt that this was again the right kind of solution that meets the needs
and obligations that we have under competition law, whilst also meeting the
needs of computer users around the world."

http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2006/10/15/5618

Imhotep

 

[Leythos]

Follow-Up fixed to maintain thread

Vista modified for third-party security vendors

Symantec and McAfee, are you feeling satisfied? Probably not, but Microsoft
is doing its best to appease you (and avoid antitrust accusations).

On Friday, the company held a press conference announcing that it would open
the Windows kernel to third-party security companies. By offering an
extended, kernel-level API (Application Programming Interface), Microsoft
will give anti-virus makers a way to access the Windows kernel, potentially
avoiding conflicts with Vista's PatchGuard technology. Only available in
the 64-bit version of Vista, PatchGuard protects the kernel from being
modified by a third-party.

Microsoft is hoping that the APIs will dispel fears that Vista would force
customers into using a Microsoft-provided security solution. At the
conference, Microsoft Senior Vice President and General Counsel said, "We
felt that this was again the right kind of solution that meets the needs
and obligations that we have under competition law, whilst also meeting the
needs of computer users around the world."

http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2006/10/15/5618

Imhotep

 

[Guest]

Microsoft is hoping that the APIs will dispel fears that Vista would force
customers into using a Microsoft-provided security solution.

Has anyone accuseed Symantec or NAI of anti-competitive practice over the
foisted preinstalls on most new computers, some of which are very hard to
remove?

Luke 6:41-42 41

-The one about splinters and planks... ;-)

 

[Leythos]

Has anyone accuseed Symantec or NAI of anti-competitive practice over the
foisted preinstalls on most new computers, some of which are very hard to
remove?

You would have to sue the vendor of the PC, as Symantec does not force
any vendor to use their products and many don't.

 

[Gerry Hickman]

You would have to sue the vendor of the PC, as Symantec does not force
any vendor to use their products and many don't.

I agree, I don't think it's a good comparison.