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Rival calls foul over Microsoft's delivering Security Essentials via Windows Update | |
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| Time: 07:57 EST/12:57 GMT | News Source: ComputerWorld | Posted By: Chris Hedlund | ||
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Microsoft this week began offering U.S. customers its free antivirus program via Windows' built-in update service, a move one major security firm said may be anticompetitive. Last Monday, Microsoft started adding Security Essentials to the optional download list seen by U.S. users running Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 when they fired up the operating system's update service. The move followed an Oct. 19 kickoff of a similar program in the U.K. "Commercializing Windows Update to distribute other software applications raises significant questions about unfair competition," said Carol Carpenter, the general manager of the consumer and small business group at Trend Micro, on Thursday. | ||
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| #1 By 17855 (67.52.227.2) at 11/5/2010 8:41:15 AM |
| This is not the default behavior of Windows Update. You have to opt-in too get this notification. |
| #2 By 655 (206.83.48.110) at 11/5/2010 9:27:12 AM |
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"Would you like some cheeze with that whine?"
Just because most security suites are overpriced vs. Microsoft providing a viable free alternative. Next! |
| #3 By 428624 (142.32.208.233) at 11/5/2010 10:42:46 AM |
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Trend Micro has software that keeps its AV up to date.
Microsoft has software that keeps its AV up to date. Is Trend Micro saying Microsoft shouldn't keep its software up to date? |
| #4 By 143 (216.205.223.146) at 11/5/2010 2:44:30 PM |
| Like we didn't see this coming. |
| #5 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 11/5/2010 2:52:24 PM |
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#3: Is Trend Micro saying Microsoft shouldn't keep its software up to date?
Sigh. No, that's not what they're saying at all. US antitrust law states that, if you are in a monopoly position in a market, you cannot bundle products together with the aim of reducing competition. Bundling IE with Windows is what got MS in trouble in the 90's. Now they're bundling an AV solution. MS has always included software with Windows that had 3rd-party commercial competitors, but the MS software was usually light on features. Now that SE seems to be a decent product, it's rubbing right up against the line of antitrust violation. |
| #6 By 16797 (99.236.143.109) at 11/5/2010 3:06:59 PM |
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Except that MS is not in a monopoly position it was 10 years ago. Plus, so many non-Windows mobile devices are being sold these days that it's really less of an issue.
From what I see, they are only offering it as optional update. So first, you have to change settings to get optional updates and even then, you have to go there and check it. Maybe they should just tell MS to add other *FREE* AVs there. |
| #7 By 8556 (173.27.244.6) at 11/5/2010 4:09:51 PM |
| #6: 91%, non-phone, computer OS market share is indeed a monopoly, especially in government as thinking hurts the brain after it has been dormant for many years. |
| #8 By 15406 (99.240.77.173) at 11/5/2010 5:11:10 PM |
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#6: Except that MS is not in a monopoly position it was 10 years ago.
I would argue that they still are a monopoly with +90% of the market share as Bob pointed out, but then I don't know what the exact threshold or conditions the gov't uses to determine this. From what I see, they are only offering it as optional update... Yes, via Microsoft Update. That isn't the problem -- they shouldn't be offering new products via WU or MU at all, IMO. It is, by definition, an update site. Maybe they should just tell MS to add other *FREE* AVs there. I've argued in the past that is not optimal for MS as they would bear the expense of maintaining it, validating 3rd-party software and the potential liability that entails. On the other hand, anything that helps the state of Windows security on a global scale is a plus, but they could have done it differently. They had to know that the AV co's would complain. |
| #9 By 84937 (64.223.231.121) at 11/5/2010 8:40:00 PM |
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It's in Microsoft's (and it's customers) best interests to secure thier OS offerings as best as possible. An AV program is essentially providing protections from unidentified or unprotected flaws or attack vectors in the OS.
The commercial AV vendors don't have a right to exist. By the same standard, they should complain every patch Tuesday. Microsoft is interfering with thier businesses! Microsoft is partially to blame for the mess on the Internet. It's a responsible thing to do to help clean it up. |
| #10 By 20505 (12.235.241.162) at 11/6/2010 9:17:58 AM |
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Latch,
I think AV software for ones own OS is a different matter than any other type of software. It is hard to argue against any company offering a product to lock down the OS. I would argue that this software should be included with every copy of windows and should be installed by default. It might just lead to fewer botnets. |
| #11 By 16797 (99.236.143.109) at 11/6/2010 9:27:04 AM |
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It is interesting that they did let MS have Windows Defender included with Windows though. And that Malicious Software Removal Tool is pushed through Windows Update every month, yet nobody complains.
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| #12 By 428624 (70.67.12.154) at 11/6/2010 9:53:28 AM |
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Free Software = Bad?
Microsoft offers free versions of SQL Server, VB, C# too. They now offer a free disk imager in Win7. Free backup tool. No, this is just unjustified whining. |
| #13 By 9589 (67.237.70.132) at 11/7/2010 12:42:42 AM |
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I have been using SE on all my computers since it came out. Outstanding job, Microsoft. SE is great. And, I've saved hundreds of dollars, too.
If the AV companies of this world offer a superior product, consumers will gravitate to their product(s). However, the cost is on the order of $50 a year per PC. Odd is that none of the AV companies complain about free AV software. In fact, some of the for profit AV companies offer a lesser free version of their product. Apparently, that isn't anticompetitive to THEIR competitors. Nor is providing automatic updates during the subscription period. Meanwhile, a lot of "ink" has been spilled on these pages regarding the low esteem that people have toward Microsoft's cellphone software. I guess so long as it sucks, no complaints a la Defender in the AV arena. However, my bet is those same people that have been snickering and pointing at Microsoft for their listless efforts in the cellphone software arena will be howling like banshees should their product make a turn around. Funny, I don't here any complaints about Firefox offering their product for free . . . By the way, who pays for the hundreds of millions of dollars in cost to program, promote, and offer for download that product? Could it <dare I say> competitors of Microsoft? The horror! In any event, I can just hear how this news is being reacted to by the EU (the "country" without a constitution). Hey, that new Airbus airplane has been falling out of the sky lately. Better hit Microsoft up for another billion to get Airbus back on track. |
| #14 By 2960 (72.205.26.164) at 11/9/2010 10:55:16 AM |
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@#6,
Wut? |
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