Symantec: Microsoft threatens security by denying Vista access (correction)

Stan Beer
Thursday, 28 September 2006 16:15

Business IT - Security

Symantec has slammed Microsoft for denying third party security vendors access to Vista through a software development kit prior to the operating system's release, saying the company is jeopardizing security for users through its actions. (Note: Symantec has contacted iTWire to correct a statement made by its spokesperson - see below)

• Announcements

Symantec spokesperson Catriona Turner told iTWire today that the security company had held discussions with Microsoft but had not been able to reach an agreement.

"We have asked Microsoft to give us access before the product (Vista) ships and they've said no. They said they'll give us access after the product ships," she said.

(Symantec has issued a correction to this statement saying: "Microsoft is not providing outside security vendors with timely access to technical information for Windows Vista as they have with past operating systems.  As a result, outside security vendors cannot develop compatible security solutions in a timely manner and customer choice will be limited.

"Customer choice for security solutions will also be limited because of Microsoft’s installation of PatchGuard, which will not allow independent security solutions to interact and be compatible with the core of the Windows Vista operating system, forcing customers to use only Microsoft security solutions.”)

Turner said that Microsoft's actions mean that security vendors will not be able to have products ready for the release of Vista.

"The effect of this will be to limit the choice of consumers to just Microsoft's own security products on release," Turner said.