Mafiasoft launches Windows protection racket

20 years ago

“Security software makers, the 800-pound gorilla has landed. Microsoft Corp. was to announce Wednesday that it is releasing software that aims to better protect people who use its Windows operating system from Internet attacks,” Allison Linn reports for The Associated Press. “The move pits the world’s largest software maker head-to-head with longtime business partners Symantec Corp., McAfee Inc. and others. Windows Live OneCare, which will protect up to three computers for $49.95 per year, marks the latest step in Microsoft’s effort over the years to make its operating system less vulnerable to crippling Internet attacks.”

“Windows, which runs on the vast majority of personal computers, has been a near-constant target of worms, viruses and other attacks, hurting countless users and forcing Microsoft to invest heavily in patching vulnerabilities and improving flaws,” Linn reports. “McAfee said Tuesday that it was preparing to release a new security service, code-named Falcon, this summer. A spokesman for Symantec, maker of the popular Norton products, said no one was available to comment on the OneCare competition. Hamlin said he expects the product to be profitable for Microsoft.”

Full article here.

“Microsoft has said that, so far, it has no plans to build OneCare into its Windows XP operating system as it has with its net browser and media player. However it is likely that PC makers will offer the service as an extra when consumers buy a new machine,” BBC News reports. “The launch comes as security firms warn of the emergence of a trojan that poses as a security update from Microsoft – the latest in a long line of viruses that try this trick.”

Full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “twelveightyone,” “Christian,” and “scott” for the heads up.]

MacDailyNews Take: The protection racket ramps up. And if it isn’t profitable for Microsoft initially, they’ll certainly be able to come up with some way or another to make sure that it’s profitable, right? This is like McDonald’s selling undercooked hamburgers, because they can’t figure out how to cook them properly, and then charging customers an annual fee for E. coli vaccine. We have to wonder what will happen if and when Microsoft’s security subscription earnings dip and need to be, ahem, “reinvigorated?” If you’re stupid enough to pay Microsoft $50 per year to “protect” the operating system that Microsoft should have made secure in the first place, then you deserve to use Windows for the rest of your life.

Here’s the best personal computer advice you’ll ever get: If you only use Windows, dump it and get a Mac. Take the $50 you would have wasted for trying to secure the Windows mess, add in all of your annual wasted time and the costs of your other Windows anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-malware software plus the processor cycles you waste running them, and apply it all toward your Mac purchase. Life’s too short to be taken for a ride by Microsoft.

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