Microsoft has faced criticism over the years for security flaws in its products. In an effort to reclaim lost ground, Microsoft expects that Vista will be significantly more secure and less vulnerable than its predecessors. However, two of the largest security companies, Symantec and Mcafee are asserting that Microsoft is leveraging its dominant position in the operating system arena to create unfair competitive advantage in the security space.
Both companies have taken a very public and aggressive stance in defending their core business. Part of the dispute arose from the limited access that was afforded to the Vista kernel. This will make Vista more secure but also has the potential effect of locking out other anitvirus companies. Most of the debate is going on in Europe, probably leading to a complaint filed with the European Union. Mcafee even took out an ad in the Financial Times to stake out their position. Part of the ad reads as follows:
"Only one approach protecting us all: when it fails, it fails for 97 percent of the world's desktops..."
Stay tuned, this fight is just getting started...
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