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Kaspersky: Anti-Virus Ball In Microsoft’s Court
Doug Caverly
Staff Writer
2006-06-16
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Eugene Kaspersky, the head of Anti-Virus Research at Kaspersky Lab, believes that Microsoft, criminals, and malware will determine the future of the anti-virus industry. More specifically, he hopes that the former will help limit and crack down on the latter two.
 | | Anti-Virus Ball In Microsoft's Court |  |
The Redmond-based software giant is preparing to launch its own line of security products, and it probably won't be long before those offerings become integrated into versions of Windows. While some people are questioning this business strategy - asking consumers to buy more Microsoft products in order to fix the Microsoft products they've already purchased - Kaspersky believes the company will reshape the market in a positive way.
The virus expert is of the opinion that Microsoft will prepare its newest products adequately before launch - as it has not, according to some, done in the past. And as far as the competition goes, Kaspersky thinks vendors that incorporate Microsoft's Antigen engine will have secure futures. Even vendors who don't take that step may do well enough, as long as they offer "better," or at least alternate, solutions.
Despite this assurance, Kaspersky writes that "the most negative consequences" of Microsoft's entry into the market will be felt by "manufacturers whose engines aren't used in Antigen," as well as by "businesses which rely on income from the market sector which Microsoft is entering," and "manufacturers with engines which are inferior in quality to Microsoft's." Parties that stand to gain the most, he said, include "manufacturers whose engines are used in Antigen."
Still, Kaspersky has reason to believe there is a rich market for security software of all types. Crimeware has doubled over the past year, and law enforcement is lagging behind occurrences of cybercrime. There has likewise been an increase in the variety of malware and methods of attack: he lists the threats in 1996 as "viruses and primitive Trojans," but his compilation of current problems is comprised of seven bullets, with an eighth reading "etc."
Kaspersky maintains that the "arrival of the software giant on the IT security market will have a positive impact on future developments in this field and will raise the quality of security solutions." Even if Microsoft's products don't meet expectations, he thinks their (omni)presence in the market will spur competitors on to better their own offerings.
And as a note: Kaspersky's comments only pertain to "‘standard' antivirus solutions: for home computers, workstations, corporate file and mail servers."
Kaspersky Lab joined the Microsoft Virus Information Alliance in March of this year.
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Technorati: Kaspersky, Microsoft
About the Author:
Doug is a staff writer for SecurityProNews, InternetFinancialNews, SearchNewz, and WebProNews.
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