Windows Vista Discussion

[Osiris]

Ron O'Brien, Sophos' senior security analyst, commented on Friday that McAfee and Symantec's claims about a need to open up PatchGuard, Windows Vista's kernel lockdown feature, to security software makers were unneeded, and that basically the opposite would be better.

"I would say that the opposite is really true: that by not focusing on having Microsoft provide us with the means to access the kernel, and in fact using the APIs that have [already] been provided by Microsoft, we are not experiencing any problems with PatchGuard for our latest HIPS technology, Sophos Anti-Virus, or any of the other aspects of our security offering for either 32-bit or 64-bit versions of Windows Vista."

That simple statement will sure bring a lot more discussion between security firms and Microsoft, who seem to have created a whole debate over this very simple and valuable feature of Windows Vista, which seems to grow bigger everyday...it sure isn't finished, though.

http://www.betanews.com/article/Sophos_Microsoft_Doesnt_Need_to_Open_Up_PatchGuard/1161379239

 

[Osiris]

Vista Security Battle Escalates
The intense discussion between third party software makers and Microsoft continues to go back and forth. Companies like Symantec and McAfee feel that MS is simply not providing enough information to them to engineer proper security programs.



The verbal battle between software giant Microsoft and third-party security vendors like Symantec and McAfee continues to heat up. Although Microsoft recently announced it would provide developers of third party Windows security applications the necessary technical details to develop products for Windows Vista and avoid being identified as malware by Vista's built-in safeguards, developer McAfee is characterizing Microsoft's actions as "hollow assurances."



http://news.digitaltrends.com/article11580.html

 

[Juice Daddy]

So...

From what I have read through...

Vista has locked the kernel, thus making it nearly impervious to virus attacks, and McAfee and Symantec are annoyed because they will lose money due the the lack of need for their products in vista...
spelling?
Someone clarify please

 

[KSoD]

Yes JD that is exactly what it means. I dont see why McAfee and Norton are crying so much. Avast doesnt need access to the kernel and it protects better than both of them. lol

 

[savagenator]

ok...i didn't know that you didn't need to the kernal to protect the computer. I'm now starting to think that windows did the right thing for once.

Its like politics, if you listen to only the dumb people that dont understand why you are taking money away from them, you dont do a good job in the end.

 

[KSoD]

No you dont need Kernel Access to protect the PC. Actually denying Kernel access is what has kept OS X protected for so long.

Windows has finally implemented it and now the AV companies are ****ed cause M$ with OneCare can protect the Kernel while they cant.

But yet Avast does a good job as well. So why they cry i dont know.

 

[Juice Daddy]

lol

with that in mind, I think they should release at least one version of vista with the locked kernel

it's to bad that most of the fuss is about money, we could have a really great OS otherwise...

 

[Osiris]

Microsoft will operate 64-bit versions of Windows Vista as a tabernacle, with the kernel as the holy of holies, where only its own high priests of security may venture.

There's going to be a kybosh on naughty developers mucking about with the 64-bit kernel; patching will be banned. McAfee and others seem to have already learned of the new deal at Microsoft. Speaking at the RSA Europe conference in Nice, Microsoft security technology unit corporate VP Ben Fathi said the 64-bit kernel will be a "black box".

He compared developers insisting on the ability to patch the code to a Sony Walkman user invalidating their warranty by opening up the device. He said: "It's just not the way the box was designed...we're putting a stop to that."

Fathi conceeded for 32-bit systems the firm will never have the amount of control over security. He said: "That train has left the station."

For 32-bit versions of Vista, it'll be mostly as you were on security. Developers will be able to patch the kernel, only now they'll have to compete with Microsoft's own brand anti-spyware, encryption, and anti-spam offerings. Fathi lamented Microsoft had "missed a great opportunity" last time round.

Whether Microsoft top brass see that "great opportunity" as one to secure systems or to swallow the security market whole remains to be seen. The final version of the Windows Defender free anti-spyware program went live today. Fathi said Defender has already become the most popular download ever from Microsoft, though he was obviously choosing to omit patches from his reckoning.

Fathi trumpeted the firm's plan to make its database of malware more readily available to security developers. "We believe it is important for them [vendors] to have early access," he said, a statement that will doubtless have McAfee wondering why they're splurging so much on legal fees chasing access to Vista APIs.

http://www.regdeveloper.co.uk/2006/10/24/microsoft_at_rsa/

 

[Osiris]

GIGABYTE Announces Vista Ready Motherboards

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd, is proud to announce the GA-945P-DS3 2.0 has received the Windows® Vista™ Premium logo from Microsoft®, enabling users to take advantage of the stunning graphics and revolutionary new features Windows Vista has to offer. In cooperation with the Microsoft Taiwan WHQL lab, the GIGABYTE GA-945P-DS3 2.0 underwent a rigorous evaluation and testing process to ensure complete compatibility with Microsoft Windows Vista Premium. By officially passing the Windows® Vista™ Premium logo process, the GA-945P-DS3 2.0 enables users to experience the breathtaking Windows Aero™ 3D visual interface and a host of groundbreaking features with the potential to fundamentally change how they view, find and organize their digital information.

http://www.gigabyte-usa.com/News/Company/News_List.aspx?NewsID=1314

 

[Osiris]

MS Delays RTM Version Of Vista?
According to DigiTimes, Microsoft will delay the RTM version of Vista until the second week of November instead of the last week of October. Sources say the reason behind the delay is that Microsoft is still squashing bugs.



The RTM build 5824 was originally set to be released this week after reducing the number of bugs found in the Windows Vista Release Candidate 2 (RC2) version from 1,450 to around 500, the sources noted. However, additional bugs were found in the RTM build 5824 version, and together the bugs could paralyze an upgraded Vista-capable Windows XP OS, said the sources.

http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20061025A9047.html