New No-Cost Security From Microsoft?
Come off it Microsoft — you know your own platform like no one else. I would have expected you to offer a ‘free’ security solution for your operating systems starting back in the Windows 3.1 day.
Well, in the latter half of 2009 [as reported by Redmond on their PressPass site] the software giant will finally launch their no-cost comprehensive protection software for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. And Microsoft offered these shocking words in their news release-:
“To address the growing need for a PC security solution…..
Growing need? This tells me that the folks at Microsoft don’t yet get security.
Say we briefly consider two points why Microsoft’s comprehensive protection should have happened sooner and why not only Microsoft, but other vendors must follow suit: First off, only the developer knows best how their operating systems and software applications are built. Second, because of their insider-like knowledge, it’s a given that these folks are automatically accountable for providing their customers out-of-the-box protection. Yet, they don’t.
Granted, Microsoft and others have improved significantly with their patching strategies, but let’s not lose sight of what patch releases ‘really mean’ to security — that vulnerabilities preexist and only later are they being uncovered. This is unsatisfactory as a business model and one in serious need of improvement.
Unfortunately, with Microsoft’s very recent ‘growing need‘ comment, they lose much in the way of credibility. And they show their finger is not on the pulse like it should be. Let’s hope their latest security software launch in late 2009 is a good one and all-inclusive for what users desperately needs — protection.
This one seems like a no-brainer to me. If you are an OS vendor then you have a vested interest in ensuring your OS is as exploit-free as possible. Microsoft is not selling swiss cheese, but computer operating systems. This means the OS needs to not be riddled with holes, and the company's culture must take security seriously.
Unfortunately, based on their track record, Microsoft honestly could care less about security and is only interested in selling more copies of their OS. But you would think that by being a more secure OS, Microsoft may be able to take advantage of added sales through a more secure OS, no?