Microsoft's Security Push Only Raises Eyebrows: So Far

by , 9:00 AM EST, February 28th, 2002

Industry pundits are skeptical of Microsoft's new security efforts. According to a recent Reuters News article, many industry experts don't believe that Microsoft can make a secure OS or applications. From the Reuters article:

"Microsoft and security is an oxymoron," said Howard Lev, group product manager of appliances at Symantec Corp. SYMC.O "Historically, they haven't been that interested."

Jim Bidzos, chairman of the conferences unit of RSA Security Inc. RSAS.O, a leading computer security company, could not resist taking a jab at Microsoft at a recent conference in San Jose, Calif.

"I love the Microsoft security story. I loved it the first time I heard it in 1991," he said as the crowd of computer security professionals erupted in laughter. "The day people who stop products from going out the door because they're not secure enough become heroes then we'll know they're serious."

"We managed to embarrass Microsoft into doing something," said Bruce Schneier, chief technology officer of security monitoring firm Counterpane Internet Security. "When push comes to shove we'll see what they do. I'm hopeful, but not optimistic."

Microsoft is feeling pressure from its millions of customers, according to the article. Not the least vocal of whom is the US Government. From the article:

Noting that the U.S. government is the single largest consumer, Richard Clarke, the White House cyber security czar, made the stakes clear at a recent conference: "We're going to stop buying products unless they're secure."

The Reuters News article, titled Microsoft Security Push Faces Skepticism, by Elinor Mills Abreu, makes some good points about the problems facing Microsoft in its push to become more secure.

The Mac Observer Spin:

Not counting the Mac Business Unit, Microsoft has put almost no effort into security for any of its products at any time in its history. This is especially true when compared to the enormous resources the company dedicates to focus groups and licensing terms that are designed to tie you to the company's products and extract the maximum amount of money from you.

Now that security has finally raised enough of its head for the Wintel sheep to start bleating about it, the company is putting a public face on this subject. Whatever.

As for the "security experts" in the world, where have they been for the last umpteen years when MS's products were always a security risk? While we are loathe to look a gift horse in the mouth (actually, we frequently perform oral examinations on all gifts of an equine nature at TMO), it seems that MS is not the only entity trying to score PR points on the subject of security. Color us jaded.

Microsoft Security Push Faces Skepticism