Comments on: Microsoft plans free anti-malware http://www.itwriting.com/blog/1068-microsoft-plans-free-anti-malware.html Tech writing blog Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:09:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Clyde Davies http://www.itwriting.com/blog/1068-microsoft-plans-free-anti-malware.html/comment-page-1#comment-114277 Clyde Davies Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:44:34 +0000 http://www.itwriting.com/blog/1068-microsoft-plans-free-anti-malware.html#comment-114277 Microsoft writes a fundamentally secure operating system and then compromises the security in order to support legacy applications, <i>ergo</i> it becomes a monopolistic supplier shipping shoddy products. Microsoft then provides its own free antivirus software to plug long-standing gaping holes in Windows's defenses and remedy deficiencies in third-party products, <i>ergo</i> it is a monopolistic supplier seeking to put these third parties out of business. Damned if it does, damned if it doesn't... Microsoft writes a fundamentally secure operating system and then compromises the security in order to support legacy applications, ergo it becomes a monopolistic supplier shipping shoddy products.

Microsoft then provides its own free antivirus software to plug long-standing gaping holes in Windows’s defenses and remedy deficiencies in third-party products, ergo it is a monopolistic supplier seeking to put these third parties out of business.

Damned if it does, damned if it doesn’t…

]]> By: Julian M Bucknall http://www.itwriting.com/blog/1068-microsoft-plans-free-anti-malware.html/comment-page-1#comment-114179 Julian M Bucknall Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:02:30 +0000 http://www.itwriting.com/blog/1068-microsoft-plans-free-anti-malware.html#comment-114179 Tim Regarding the business side of all this, I'm going to guess that it's going to be about configuration management: having your Windows Server R2 regularly analyzing the PCs on the local network to see that they're configured properly according to the company policy. This will, as a byproduct, ensure that malware is removed by the configuration process. Cheers, Julian Tim

Regarding the business side of all this, I’m going to guess that it’s going to be about configuration management: having your Windows Server R2 regularly analyzing the PCs on the local network to see that they’re configured properly according to the company policy. This will, as a byproduct, ensure that malware is removed by the configuration process.

Cheers, Julian

]]> By: Tim Biden http://www.itwriting.com/blog/1068-microsoft-plans-free-anti-malware.html/comment-page-1#comment-114177 Tim Biden Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:16:54 +0000 http://www.itwriting.com/blog/1068-microsoft-plans-free-anti-malware.html#comment-114177 I agree with all of your points and I have to add 1 more to the Counter-arguments. Microsoft is one of the worst about writing bloated code. If they really attempt to do a "decent job" at antivirus and anti spyware, it will be the slowest running antimalware software ever. Of course, they could just do it the same way they've done everything else and just make it good enough to get by. This may make it a bit faster... BUT you can bet they'll make it uber-convenient. This is how they won the browser war. They will not make a great piece of software, just good enough to use and put it on every computer they ship to make it convenient for Average Joe. Sadly, using this tactic they will probably win the antimalware war too. I agree with all of your points and I have to add 1 more to the Counter-arguments. Microsoft is one of the worst about writing bloated code. If they really attempt to do a “decent job” at antivirus and anti spyware, it will be the slowest running antimalware software ever.

Of course, they could just do it the same way they’ve done everything else and just make it good enough to get by. This may make it a bit faster… BUT you can bet they’ll make it uber-convenient. This is how they won the browser war.

They will not make a great piece of software, just good enough to use and put it on every computer they ship to make it convenient for Average Joe. Sadly, using this tactic they will probably win the antimalware war too.

]]> By: Michael Foord http://www.itwriting.com/blog/1068-microsoft-plans-free-anti-malware.html/comment-page-1#comment-114171 Michael Foord Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:26:54 +0000 http://www.itwriting.com/blog/1068-microsoft-plans-free-anti-malware.html#comment-114171 But the computer manufacturers are getting a kickback from the AV companies - so how will this move stop the pre-installed trialware problem? Particularly because (my understanding) this product won't be built into Windows but will be a separate download. The non-tech savvy users will still have the same problems. But the computer manufacturers are getting a kickback from the AV companies – so how will this move stop the pre-installed trialware problem?

Particularly because (my understanding) this product won’t be built into Windows but will be a separate download.

The non-tech savvy users will still have the same problems.

]]> By: Gary Sims http://www.itwriting.com/blog/1068-microsoft-plans-free-anti-malware.html/comment-page-1#comment-114162 Gary Sims Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:08:24 +0000 http://www.itwriting.com/blog/1068-microsoft-plans-free-anti-malware.html#comment-114162 Another counter-argument is that it increases Microsoft's monopoly and puts all the antivirus people out of business. Instead Microsoft should be working to make their software secure. Just my 2c, Gary Another counter-argument is that it increases Microsoft’s monopoly and puts all the antivirus people out of business. Instead Microsoft should be working to make their software secure.

Just my 2c, Gary

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