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Vista's OneCare not to include anti-virus says Microsoft
No anti-virus for Vista, at least not from Microsoft. Touting the enhanced security that Vista will bring, Microsoft will be coupling other protection tools with the OS, though as expected an anti-virus solution will have to be provided separately by the customer or retailer. The Microsoft “OneCare” system that Vista will include had many companies wondering just to how far MS would go with software protection, considering that there is a massive market based around people selling software to protect Windows to begin with. If there are no security holes, viruses or exploits for Windows or its components, where would companies like Symantec, Trend Micro and McAfee fit in? Some just plain aren't worried:
”Symantec, though its assisted enquiries from investigators, has said it would rather take on Microsoft in the marketplace than cry foul to regulators over Microsoft's entry into the consumer anti-virus marketplace. McAfee has made no suggestion it's about to object to Redmond's encroachment on it traditional turf, either. So it seems Microsoft has either decided anti-virus technology is better delivered as a service or else figured out that's a better business model to pursue.”
Let's hope that an average user hearing news about “no anti-virus for Vista” doesn't take it to mean the OS will be unprotected. Then again, OneCare is still a long ways off from a Vista version so we have yet to see how well it performs. Odds are, there will still be plenty of room for anti-spyware and other 3rd party software.
”Symantec, though its assisted enquiries from investigators, has said it would rather take on Microsoft in the marketplace than cry foul to regulators over Microsoft's entry into the consumer anti-virus marketplace. McAfee has made no suggestion it's about to object to Redmond's encroachment on it traditional turf, either. So it seems Microsoft has either decided anti-virus technology is better delivered as a service or else figured out that's a better business model to pursue.”
Let's hope that an average user hearing news about “no anti-virus for Vista” doesn't take it to mean the OS will be unprotected. Then again, OneCare is still a long ways off from a Vista version so we have yet to see how well it performs. Odds are, there will still be plenty of room for anti-spyware and other 3rd party software.
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User Comments (9)
Post a comment| nathanskywalker on January 30, 2006 1:09 PM | hmm.... [link] If there
are no security holes, viruses or exploits for Windows or
its components, where would companies like Symantec, Trend
Micro and McAfee fit in? Some just plain aren't
worried: lol, right, mabye Ms will do better, but
they are never going to build an unbreakable system.
"unbreakable-syste," really is an oxy-moron anyway. Though,
from the sound of things, windows vista(previously named
longhorn) is going to be at least a bit harder to crack than
Xp. though the passwords probably still won't be more than
an inconveince to experienced users. Of course, that new
feature is supposed to require a password whenever a lesser
acount tries to install something, and therefore alert you
if some malware is trying to install itself. Let's just
hope Ms isn't getting to overconfident and they really have
come up with something this time....
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| JMMD on January 30, 2006 1:43 PM | I'd prefer that MS just worked on having a super tight OS. I
wouldn't have much faith in their A/V system if they did
create one.
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| DragonMaster on January 30, 2006 2:34 PM | I think that they are just too cheap to pay people to make
upgrades, which is why there's not going to be an AV
solution.
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| Masque on January 30, 2006 2:37 PM | Like nathanskywalker mentioned, there's really no such thing
as an unbreakable system...MS or otherwise. I really am
looking forward to Vista....the vids I've seen have really
piqued my interest.
|
| vigilante on January 30, 2006 3:00 PM | All Microsoft need do is block the doorways that viruses and
malware use to get in in the first place. Such as allowing
executables to run from E-Mail or Internet temp locations.
Block scripts from being able to run and install just by
visiting a web page. If they would just make SURE there is ALWAYS a box asking if you want to allow such and such program to install itself, then there is 70% of all infections. If a user deliberatly downloads a file and runs it, in steps in a regular antivirus app. But I agree that MS should not try to enter the AV market. They would only do like they did with their Antispyware, just buy up some company and slap their logo on it. Then passive people would think just because Windows came with some basic AV, that they won't need anything else.
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| DragonMaster on January 30, 2006 3:43 PM | Then passive people would think just because Windows
came with some basic AV, that they won't need anything
else. It's already happening with XP's, OS X's and
Linux distros' integrated firewalls. Most have really basic
features only.Also, I found a really basic "firewall", if I can call it like this, that is really poor-featured as some OS integrated ones coming with Win2k! In the network adapter, there's a config window where you have a "TCP", "UPD" and "other" white list and an option to block every other ports.
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| MonkeyMan on January 30, 2006 3:51 PM | Absolutely awesome. Microsoft has alot of confidence in
Windows Vista, but I'm not exactly sure they should be so
content just yet. Hackers are always working hard to break
security codes, and I think it will only be a matter of time
before they find some security flaws. Maybe I'm wrong
though, maybe Microsoft has made the ultimate security
system. I guess only time will tell.
|
| Need_a_Dell on January 30, 2006 5:29 PM | Mac OSes have little to no antivirus programs out there, due
to it's tight security features. If Vista can do the same,
then antivirus program manufacturers may be out of a job!
(The virus writers as well!) When I read this story, I was
pleased to see that Microsoft is going to take the right
direction with its newest OS. XP was a vast improvement when
it came to stability, but it was chock-full-o security holes
which made the computer almost useless. Service Pack 2 did
help somewhat, but XP has a long way to go. From the looks
of it, Microsoft seems to be taking a page from Apple's book
by building an OS around security first, and then features
later.
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| gamingmage on January 30, 2006 8:39 PM | Come on Microsoft do it for the consumers. Please? For one
time for the consumers? Jk jk. Hopefully a good Anti-virus
is packaged with the OS.
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