Is Microsoft An Ogre

Is Microsoft a monopoly? In the loose sense of the word, yes.
Is Microsoft bad for consumers and entrepreneurs? Most think so.

Sophos on Symantec's Vista Complaints

The scope of security vendor Symantec's recent set of complaints against Microsoft concern a future feature of Windows Vista entitled PatchGuard, which Microsoft describes as a facility that protects the operating system kernel against being patched or rewritten by an outside, unauthorized source - for instance, a rootkit.

Nothing about the way PatchGuard works would hinder Sophos' architecture for an enterprise security suite. In fact if Microsoft wants to use its own methods to close off the kernel, that's a good thing. There's no need for some other company, in the name of security, to pry it open again, just to see how the kernel can be pried open again, in order for it to devise a way to seal it closed.

One of the more interesting quotes from the story above is : "Microsoft is using their dominant position," Symantec vice president for consumer engineering Rowan Trollope told the AP, "to regulate what security can be provided on their system and how that security is provided."

[Well, you see, they own the product, so why not.]

Read the article HERE.


In the past, Microsoft has fueled its amazing growth by leveraging its way into new markets in order to acquire new customers. The problem that Microsoft has been facing recently is that they have come to dominate so many different markets that there are not enough markets left (where they can leverage their monopoly power) that can be captured for the purpose of sustaining the growth that their shareholders require.

Source : sillydog.org

For Example :

REDMOND, Wash. — July 18, 2006 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the acquisition of Winternals Software LP [ a.k.a SysInternals], a privately held company based in Austin, Texas, that provides Windows®-based enterprises with systems recovery and data protection solutions in addition to offering a freeware tools Web site called Sysinternals.

[ And their best known SECURITY product is RootkitRevealer ]

Read the press release HERE.

But what does it mean for the freeware users ?
Another excellent product about to be swallowed up ?

Vista

And what of the new Vista. The new resource hog about to be released. Those purchasing new computers will have no choice. It will come bundled with their new hardware. A lot of people will be upgrading to Vista when it’s finally released, but it’ll be more out of necessity than passion.

All Vista versions to ship on single disc - a hackers dream come true

The classifications are
Windows Vista Home Basic : Fat
Windows Vista Home Premium : Fatter
Windows Vista Business : Fattest
Windows Vista Ultimate : JEEZ - how big is this thing.

Security vulnerabilities thrown in at no extra charge.

A Microsoft representative also denied that Windows Anytime Upgrade would prove an attractive target for hackers, saying Vista was "the most secure version of Windows yet."

Source : News.com - don't forget to read the comments

Windows Secure

I am sure that MS could make an alternative OS for those that have no wish to upgrade to Vista. Call it Microsoft Lite or [am I dreaming here] Microsoft Secure.

A return to the core NT security model. A OS that is secure - one that doesn't bend hundreds of rules so that some useless application is able to perform its questionable task. An OS that is safe to use.

And then I woke up - and all we will get is Vista