[WSIS CS-Plenary] Software Supremo

[Renata Bloem]

FYI

 

 

 

Reuters 07 Jan 2005, 08:21

SOFTWARE SUPREMO, Microsoft, has entered the world of virus fighting with a
free security program to remove spyware. 

The program, which comes with its own monthly updates, is seen as a move
towards the creation of a full antivirus software suite later this year. The
program, which can be downloaded from the Microsoft site, just removes
spyware after it has been installed and is a cure rather than a prevention.
However this seems to be just step one in Vole's cunning plan to compete
against programs from McAfee and Symantec. 

The software giant bought a Romanian antivirus firm, GeCAD Software, and the
wide-scale belief is that Vole will have a fully functional AV product in
the shops by March. 

AV makers, who have usually been happy to squabble amongst themselves about
who is the best, might be a little concerned that a large hairy vole is
playing in their yard. 

Symantec shares have dropped by six percent and McAfee were down by around
four percent yesterday as Microsoft's news was announced. While Microsoft's
free software is not an immediate threat, there is the fear that Vole will
use its size and influence to expand into markets now dominated by those
companies. 

Not that Vole would ever do anything like that. Because it would not. 

Update


SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O: Quote
<http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=MSFT.O&target=%2fstoc
ks%2fquickinfo%2ffullquote> , Profile
<http://www.investor.reuters.com/CompanyOverview.aspx?ticker=MSFT.O> ,
Research <http://www.investor.reuters.com/StockReports.aspx?ticker=MSFT.O> )
began offering anti-spyware program downloads for Windows users on Thursday,
taking the first step in offering its own computer security products and
sending shares of security software vendors lower. 

The new software, which eliminates programs that generate unwanted pop-up
ads and secretly record a computer user's activities, is based on a program
from Giant Company Software Inc., which Microsoft acquired last month for an
undisclosed amount. 

Windows AntiSpyware was launched in beta, or test, mode. 

The world's largest software maker also said that it would also begin
offering a tool next week to remove viruses and other malicious software
from computers. 

Both programs are part of an effort by the Redmond, Washington-based company
to offer its own computer and Internet security software. Microsoft is also
preparing a subscription service, code-named "A1," to provide regular
updates for such software. 

Shares in McAfee Inc. (MFE.N: Quote
<http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=MFE.N&target=%2fstock
s%2fquickinfo%2ffullquote> , Profile
<http://www.investor.reuters.com/CompanyOverview.aspx?ticker=MFE.N> ,
Research <http://www.investor.reuters.com/StockReports.aspx?ticker=MFE.N> )
and Symantec Corp. (SYMC.O: Quote
<http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=SYMC.O&target=%2fstoc
ks%2fquickinfo%2ffullquote> , Profile
<http://www.investor.reuters.com/CompanyOverview.aspx?ticker=SYMC.O> ,
Research <http://www.investor.reuters.com/StockReports.aspx?ticker=SYMC.O> )
, the two largest computer security software vendors, fell sharply on
Thursday in response to the news. McAfee was down 5.4 percent, at $25.20 in
late New York Stock Exchange trade while Symantec shares were 6.8 percent
lower at $23.33 on Nasdaq. 

Microsoft has been working for the last three years to improve the security
and reliability of its software under its Trustworthy Computing initiative,
as more and more malicious software targets weaknesses in Windows and other
Microsoft software. 

) Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved. 






 

Renate Bloem
President of the Conference of NGOs (CONGO)
11, Avenue de la Paix
CH-1202 Geneva
Tel: +41 22 301 1000
Fax: +41 22 301 2000
E-mil: rbloem at ngocongo.org
Website: www.ngocongo.org

 

 

 

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