While Microsoft doesn’t offer specific details regarding their soon to be released anti-virus and anti-spyware products, the company is making developers aware of their plans for a subscription-based security service. ‘A1’ will probably be based on the products of two companies which Microsoft purchased: an anti-virus publisher, GeCAD, acquired in the summer of 2003, and last month’s acquisition of Giant Company Software, a maker of anti-spyware tools.
Rumor has it that there may be a free version of the spyware tool made available. However, the bundle of both anti-virus and anti-spyware software will most likely be restricted to a subscription service similar to offerings by Symantec and McAfee. Look for future versions of Windows to have some parts of ‘A1’ built-in to the operating system, especially a security health verification tool.
It was only a matter of time before Microsoft took interest in the ever expanding security software business. If Microsoft wrote better and more robust operating systems, much of the need for these tools would be eliminated along with their expense (and revenue for Redmond). |
