Security tools ready for Vista launch

by admin January 18, 2007 at 9:33 am

Microsoft is promoting Windows Vista as the most secure version of its operating system yet–but it’s still recommending outside help to shield against common cyberthreats.

All major security software makers, as well as many smaller ones, will have products available for Vista when the operating system is launched to consumers on January 30, Microsoft said Wednesday. That’s a different story from last November, when Vista was released for businesses. At that time, only one major security company, McAfee, was ready.

“Windows Vista is the most secure operating system we’ve ever built,” Ben Fathi, corporate vice president of the security technology unit at Microsoft, said in a statement. “Our security partners continue to play a vital role in adding layers of protection onto the Microsoft Windows platform.”

Microsoft is increasingly encroaching on the terrain of traditional security companies such as Symantec, McAfee and Trend Micro. Included in Vista are two of the three protection technologies that security experts typically recommend for any Windows PC: a firewall and a spyware shield. The new operating system lacks the third: virus protection, but Microsoft now sells that as Windows Live OneCare.

Full article: ZDNet