Microsoft is stopping security firms from accessing the core of the operating system, called the kernel, and is therefore preventing security and antivirus companies from releasing third-party security add-ons. The world’s two largest security vendors Mcafee & Symantec are now in lockstep protesting against what they see as an attempt by Microsoft to shut them out of the Vista security market. See this.

Microsoft is locking security firms - and other software developers - out of the core in an effort to prevent kernel attacks on Vista.

Mcafee said that the tech giant is increasing risks of hacks and viruses by locking out third-party software firms from its in-built security system for Vista and McAfee and Symantec have both stated that the core security systems for Vista have already been breached by hackers. Russian computer security group and potential IPO candidate Kaspersky seems to be on the Microsoft side and released a totally contradicting statement. Read this

Well there are multiple views on if microsoft is doing right in locking the kernel to outside vendors. PatchGuard is not new. Here’s an excellent article which deals with bypassing PatchGuard.

Technorati Tags: kernel, kernel lockout, vista, mcafee, symantec, security, patchguard

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