Microsoft to "remove" anti-virus from Vista

[Auggie2k]

Microsoft will omit anti-virus protection in Vista, the next version of Windows, which it plans to ship late this year. As with previous versions of Windows dating back to Windows 2000 at least, Redmond is promoting Vista as a landmark improvement in Windows security. Jim Allchin, co-president of Microsoft’s platform products and services division, told reseller magazineCRN that safety and security, improved user experience, and mobility features will be key additions in Vista.

But there will be no anti-virus software, the Windows development supremo said during a questions and answers session with CRN. For unspecified business (not technical) reasons, Microsoft will sell anti-virus protection to consumers through its OneCare online backup and security service.

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.

We’re not sure which because Allchin ducked CRN’s question on why anti-virus software won’t feature in Vista by saying the answer was “complicated”, but not based on technical concerns. Curiously, basic anti-spyware protection - via Windows Defender - will feature in Vista.

Vista will also include a major revamp of Internet Explorer (IE 7), features designed to thwart phishing, and group policy management features that make it easier to control the use of USB devices. Windows’ built-in firewall will be revamped to filter malicious traffic originating from a Vista PC as well as ingress filtering, the half on the equation that came with Windows XP.

Allchin said security in Vista is far improved from Windows XP SP2, whose heavily touted security features include technology that has made computer worms (though not Trojans based on the recent Windows Meta File vulnerability) less of a problem. “SP2 was a very good system, but compared to Vista it’s night and day,” Allchin said.

In a separate Q&A session, Allchin was grilled by Redmond’s local paper, The Seattle Times, during which he explained that Microsoft has changed its development program with Vista to include fewer release candidates for the operating system. New community-technology previews, with more frequent drops targeted at different audiences, will speed the development process, Allchin said.

The feature set in Vista has now been finalised and Microsoft’s focus has moved on to quality assurance. “Between now and RTM we’re doing nothing but listening to usability feedback, improving performance and quality,” Allchin told CRN.

Hmm, and Microsoft is all about security? Please.

[ducttapeBigSexy]

Whew - good thing - for a minute there, I thought Microsoft would actually be increasing the security of Windows! I'm guessing it'll happen around the time Windows become more stable and drops in price.

[Potato]

If it were included with Vista, wouldn't more people talk about the "monopoly that is Microsoft" and how their bundled software makes it difficult for competitors to... compete?

[boogiedan]

i actually believe its a good n wise move as..
each one of us has our own fav antivirus s/ware
good move!!

[Auggie2k]

I would of actually liked to see a Microsoft Anti-Virus program, not bundled but seperate to download like the Anti-Spyware.

[nightshadow]

Microsoft now gets a seperate product to sell to the unwitting masses and avoids anticompetitive cries from other antivirus makers. Users get the one thing they want most, a choice of the best products, the question is whether microsoft's offering will make the cut.
I for one am not suprised and predicted this when it was originally announced, as it's the only thing that makes business sense. Personally I would have prefered it bundled provided it was removable and/or did not interfer with other antivirus products. Of course the performance effect would have to be neglible.

[Auggie2k]

If it was bundled, I could only imagine it being spidered like Internet Explorer / Outlook Express / MSN Explorer / MSN Messenger.

But thank god for the likes of XP Antispy or soon to be Vista Antispy.

[VAMPYRE BLADE]

I been playing with a beta copy of vista since december and it hasnt crashed on me yet, but i am not super impressed either.

[CrashPeer44]

I would of actually liked to see a Microsoft Anti-Virus program, not bundled but seperate to download like the Anti-Spyware.

well i say they should ATLEAST Bundle Anti-Spyware with it as the program will help ALOT of dumb "Hey look yea free iPod's Enter my email" people who get spyware

and i gotta say it has popped up and helped me out a few times. It may not be the best, but better than nothing...I just hope the FCC is not dumb and ruins the world of US electronics with this new bill for backdoors. I'll Move if that happens.
But in the mean-time
Go Microsoft, it is time to Re-Kill Apple and their iPod.

[mcovey]

Brilliant.

I bet if it were bundled, there would be no way to uninstall it, it would suck RAM, and it would probably cause an antitrust suit in Euroland.

I'm fine with AVG manual scans every week or so. I don't leave it on cause it also eats RAM, and I don't download executables from places I don't trust (and even if I do trust them, I usually do a manual scan)... Windows is secure, if you just use a common sense approach, and don't use IE!

I'd rather go with my own solution. With a web browser as well... but without IE, what will I use to download Opera after my first install?? :icon_tong

[lifehacker]

bet if it were bundled, there would be no way to uninstall it, it would suck RAM, and it would probably cause an antitrust suit in Euroland.

I fully agree with that. I dont think they would be able to make a better antivirus than secondary software such as NOD32 or anyways. On the other hand though, some people are too dumb to see that they need an antivirus or just dont want to waste money on antiviruses (or learn how to crack...)

[shawners]

They should make the operating system so secure that there isnt a way for a virus or worm to get on there to do any damage.

[mcovey]

They should make the operating system so secure that there isnt a way for a virus or worm to get on there to do any damage.

Too late... it's called linux.

Well, to be fair there can be exploits but they're usually patched ASAP and it's become really easy to recompile your kernel, so no reason not to update. And there's no way a normal virus could get in because 99% of users run as a USER not as the admin like with windows... because superuser is so easy to go into when you need it.

[shawners]

Too late... it's called linux.

Well, to be fair there can be exploits but they're usually patched ASAP and it's become really easy to recompile your kernel, so no reason not to update. And there's no way a normal virus could get in because 99% of users run as a USER not as the admin like with windows... because superuser is so easy to go into when you need it.

Yah, but all the virus are created by linux users to put on microsoft.. If everyone used linux, there be more virus spreading since it be a bigger target area.

[esshbee]

Ive been browsing around and it looks to me like most of you dont like vista - I installed it on a clean drive and had no probs. Some drivers nneded fixing but with Driver Magician it was a breeze getting the latest drivers. Some older stuff may not update but theres loads of new stuff around anyway so no big deal.

I run a core2 duo with 2gb of ram, Asus motherboard, GeForce 8800, 250gb drive with a 160 gb with XP Pro on.

I just put in a Aria Pci adapter card with 2 SATA internal outputs, installed it ok, and I can see both drives in My Computer but I cant now boot into Vista. My dual boot program has 'vanished' .

Does anyone know a safe dual boot prog. which wont nuke my files if I install it please ?

Chhers,

esshbee:icon_salu