Friday, 22 September 2006

Symantec, Adobe Object to New Security Features in Vista

Symantec has lodged an antitrust complaint about Microsoft bundling its own security features that lock out third party providers, while Adobe is challenging the free inclusion in of Microsoft's own electronic document creation and reading software reporting Windows Vista.

For its new operating system, Microsoft has developed its own fixed-layout document standard known as XML Paper Specification (XPS). Vistahas a new printing architecture based on XPS, and the operating system will be able to natively render documents created in the format. Adobe says that XPS, which includes both reading and creation tools, could negatively impact the sales of its PDF software.

Symantec claims that the features will do just that, giving precedence to Microsoft's own security offerings. Windows Defender, for example, will be integrated into Vista, and Microsoft recently launched its own all-in-one security suite known as Windows Live OneCare.

Symantec says that Microsoft’s own security offerings such as Windows Defender and the Windows Live OneCare all-in-one security suite will shut out third parties [such as itself]. Symantec is also unhappy about a new feature called PatchGuard in Vista, which is designed to prevent malicious software such as rootkits from modifying critical system files in Windows Vista. The feature, however, also locks out security vendors that need such low-level kernel access to be able to detect and prevent security threats.

Microsoft has said that if the European Union (EU) requires changes to Vista's security components, it will delay the operating system's launch in Europe and potentially put customers at risk.