Caveat Emptor: Microsoft Co-President Says Vista Won't Need Extra Security Software
from the that's-a-first dept
For a long time, Microsoft had a symbiotic relationship with the makers of anti-virus software. Microsoft would release a new version of Windows that had plenty of security flaws, creating a market for these third parties. But all that's started to change of late. When it got into the security space itself, its one-time partners started up the argument that the company was a monopolist. And as Vista's drawn near, many have accused the company of unfairly locking them out of the Vista Kernel, which they claim denies them the ability to make their software work. And now it seems Microsoft is ratcheting up the war of words again, as co-President Jim Allchin said to reporters that Vista wouldn't need anti-virus software, and that he'd let his young son surf the web without it. Obviously, this isn't the kind of thing that the third-party security vendors want Microsoft to say, but can we now expect Microsoft to not sell its own anti-virus software to Vista users, since it must be a waste of money?
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Just like defrag?
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Doesn't need anti-viral software...?
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Doesn't need anti-viral software???
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After the first virus
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This isn't exactly the same as saying you won't need antivirus software when vista is actually released.
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Re:
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Windows
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From Microsoft's Vista Site
Together, these tools can help you protect your PC from malicious software."
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/features/foreveryone/security.mspx#more
Seems Jim Allchin's comments and what Microsoft advertises are two different things. I would think the programmers for Vista need to take Jim aside and let him in on how the REAL WORLD works...
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Windows DCMA oops, er..umm. Vista
But... the MS feeb said it didn't need it!? Now, I'm confused maybe I just stick with XP or switch to Linux.
Vista is a joke.
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What's with the
"I'll give you an example: My son, seven years old, runs Windows Vista, and, honestly, he doesn't have an antivirus system on his machine. His machine is locked down with parental controls, he can't download things unless it's to the places that I've said that he could do, and I'm feeling totally confident about that," he added. "That is quite a statement. I couldn't say that in Windows XP SP2."
He's not saying Vista *wont* need AV software; all he's saying is that, with his lockdown scheme and the new vista security features, he is *comfortable* with his son not having av installed.
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The quote is grossly misrepresented
for a discussion of what he actually he said. He never said or even implied that Vista wouldn't need anti-virus. All he said was that his son is so locked down and can't download or install anything, that he doesn't need anti-virus in that instance. It's a comment on PARENTAL CONTROLS, not the general case for anti-virus. Please read the full quote in context, not just the regurgitated drivel that passes for news elsewhere. I expected better from TechDirt.
BTW, I have run XP for the last year without anti-virus without a single problem. Most of those programs caused way more problems than they solved. However, I know I'm the exceptional case: I don't do stupid things on the Internet to invite problems in the first place. Maybe someday, when somebody invents the next great virus, I'll regret it...
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