Viruses and worms are primed to become more complex, vicious, and dangerous as the days of quick and easy exploits come to an end thanks to Microsoft's efforts to finally lift its game.

Speaking at the Auscert conference in Queensland on Monday former Bell Laboratories research, IT security author and founder of IT security firm Lumeta, Bill Cheswick said improved security will force malicious code writers to construct more complex wares that will either circumvent or push conventional defenses such as antivirus software and firewalls to their limits.

Read more: PC World.