This is an extract from BBC News

Microsoft 'taking security risks'
Bill Gates and Microsoft
Vista is a crucial release for Microsoft
Microsoft is taking security risks with its forthcoming Vista operating system, says software firm McAfee.

The security specialist has taken out a full-page advert in the Financial Times to alert readers to its concerns.

It feels the tech giant is increasing risks of hacks and viruses by locking out third-party software firms from its in-built security system for Vista.

The row also involves the European Union, which is watching Vista's release for signs of monopoly abuse.

"With its upcoming Vista operating system, Microsoft is embracing the flawed logic that computers will be more secure if it stops co-operating with the independent security firms," wrote George Samenuk, McAfee's chairman and chief executive in the advert.

'Preventing releases'

McAfee says Microsoft is stopping security firms from accessing the core of the operating system, called the kernel, and is therefore preventing them from releasing third-party security add-ons.

If Microsoft wants to make Vista more secure, it should provide equal access to the platform
Symantec weblog

Attacks on the kernel of an operating system - such as malicious drivers for peripherals and rootkit hacks - have become commonplace among users of Microsoft's Windows XP.

Microsoft is locking security firms - and other software developers - out of the core in an effort to prevent kernel attacks on Vista.

"Microsoft seems to envision a world in which one giant company not only controls the systems that drive most computers around the world but also the security that protects those computers from viruses and other online threats," the advert said.

"Only one approach protecting us all: when it fails, it fails for 97% of the world's desktops."

'Constructive dialogue'

A Microsoft spokesman said: "Our goal is to deliver a fully innovative, secure version of Windows Vista that is compliant with EU law. We have an ongoing and constructive dialogue with the European Commission on these issues."

The European Commission is involved in the debate after it fined Microsoft 497m euros (£335m) in 2004 for anti-competitive behaviour.

Security firms such as McAfee and Symantec believe Microsoft's actions around security for Vista amounts to a similar anti-competitive stance.

Last month the European Union competition commissioner, Neelie Kroes, accused Microsoft of orchestrating a "co-ordinated campaign" to discredit her.

McAfee and Symantec have both stated that the core security systems for Vista have already been breached by hackers.

"These new technologies, along with Microsoft's unwillingness to make compromises in this area have serious implications for the security industry as a whole," Symantec said on its security weblog.

It added: "If Microsoft wants to make Vista more secure, it should provide equal access to the platform that its own developers have to ensure that security vendors can continue to innovate on the platform, and to ensure that consumers and manufacturers can continue to choose the best security solutions for the platform."

M(qualcosa)s playing God again!!!!!!

I have never used McAfee except at work where one had no choice!  I've only used AVG on my own machines. (But this might also mean that AVG won't work with Vista either!!!)  M(qualcosa)s will not be allowed to sell Vista in Europe unless varied third parties have access.
Vololiberista

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When are you gettin Linux installed?   

Microsoft can do what ever they want with there own product 

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its basicly McAffe agreeing with the EU that MS are commitiing monopolu abuse... a monopoly they started so they control it and that is wrong somehow??

if another company could make a PS that could compare to MS then this problem wouldnt exist its just jealousy on the bottom lines!

Heh. Can anyone guess why the next computer I buy will be a Mac?


Vololibrista, why do you call it M(qualcosa)s?

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Because we're not free to use M and $ M(qualcosa)s lawyers insist that we cannot use an abbreviation of their name and it has to be displayed in full. So, whenever one writes M and $ the system automatically creates the full name. Yet another M(qualcosa)s nail in our freedom!!!
Vololiberista

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Significa "something"