Anti-malware company Symantec has accused Microsoft of withholding key information about its upcoming Vista OS, in an attempt to gain an unfair advantage in the security market. Symantec claimed this week that Microsoft is refusing to hand over the APIs for Windows Defender, its anti-spyware product which will be included in Vista. Without the APIs, Symantec claims that it isn't able to ensure that its own security products are compatible with Vista. Microsoft, though, insisted on Wednesday afternoon that the APIs are now available.
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Member since:2005-11-29
Jesus christ MS I'm all for Vista but goddamn if Symantec wants to release their crappy suite of Security let them use it.
In the end, let your product shine through quality not because of hidden APIs.
This is why only a select few teams at MS produce anything worthwhile.
Member since:2005-07-10
Well Symantec has always tried to hack their way around the API's provided. Such as that stupid security center, Symantec turns the thing off for their security products. Both corporate and consumer. However why is it that McAfee always seems to do a good job both corporate and consumer in using the API's provided.
The Symantec was so upset with the SP2 release was that their process put it self between the kernel and the shell (can't remember the article but that is all I can remember if that is even right), and McAfee uses the kernel and shell calls via the API to protect the operating system.
I don't think there is any "hidden" API, I just think Microsoft has done a good job at locking down what can access the kernel and what cannot. And I think Symantec so it doesn't have to reprogram its whole crappy suite (corporate and consumer) is making complaints.
I just hope Microsoft doesn't give in and open a door for Symantec that interupts all the work they have been doing on the core of their OS.
Member since:
2006-01-31
Microsoft has done stuff like this in the past, but Windows is their (Symantec's) easiest way to make money; they need to have software available for the Vista launch. The news that MS is trying to provide their own security software must come as a blow to Symantec.