Microsoft Anti-Virus Push: Good For Us, Bad For AV Vendors
As Microsoft readies it's latest security software for it's Windows operating systems, some say it may catch the eye of antitrust regulators. There is concern that if Microsoft ties it's new anti-virus software too close to it's operating systems or prices it too far below competing prices, it could potentially stifle competition from an already well-established anti-virus software market.
"Aggressive entry into the established anti-virus market, especially to the extent Microsoft bundles its solution into the operating system, is almost certain to draw regulatory scrutiny, especially in the EU (European Union)," Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. analyst Charles Di Bona said in a recent note to clients.
It almost seems like a Catch 22. On the one side, Microsoft is perpetually under the gun to protect their operating systems and make computing in general safer for home user and more secure for everyone who uses their software. On the other side, in the process of taking steps to help users secure their systems, antitrust regulators could cry foul for attempting to undermine competitors' ability to maintain their share of the market.
Bill Gates remained upbeat speaking at the RSA computer security conference in San Francisco this week. "It's a challenging area, and new threats seem to emerge all the time, but I'm optimistic that ... we will be able to mitigate the security problems."
