Industry pundits are skeptical of Microsoftis new security efforts. According to a recent Reuters News article, many industry experts donit 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 havenit 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 theyire not secure enough become heroes then weill know theyire 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 weill see what they do. Iim 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: "Weire going to stop buying products unless theyire 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.