Everyone sought gold in security in 2004. The average Internet attacker evolved from an online troublemaker to a calculating vandal, intent on profiting from compromising legions of PCs. Security companies merged to better compete, and Microsoft derailed its Longhorn plans to push out a massive security update for its popular Windows desktop operating system. Meanwhile, industry and the government formed working groups to decide how to improve the security of the Internet and software without ringing up a large bill for companies and consumers.
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