Wednesday, 31 January 2007

Windows Games Blocked by Sophos Anti-Virus

Sophos has made known that the application control feature built into its anti-virus software has been extended to give businesses the ability to control and block Windows computer games, including Solitaire, Minesweeper and FreeCell.

According to Sophos, the negative impact on company productivity caused by the games has meant that many organisations have shown significant interest in wanting to control their installation and use on company computers.

A recent Sophos poll survey of more than 450 system administrators reflected the security and efficiency concerns surrounding the use of computer games. 90.4per cent of respondents wanted the ability to block games, with 62per cent indicating this was essential.

Recognition of the drain on productivity has even been acknowledged by some of the games' creators.

"When I wrote Solitaire for Microsoft, I unleashed a monster of unproductivity onto the world," Wes Cherry, author of Microsoft Windows Solitaire told Sophos. "I bet there are millions of bosses out there who hate me. If I had a penny for every hour that has been wasted playing Solitaire in the office, I could hire Bill Gates as my golf caddie."