Microsoft responds to Google's security concerns

June 3, 2010 | 10:20

Tags: #mac-os #microsoft-windows #security #vulnerabilities #windows

Companies: #google #microsoft

It hasn't taken Microsoft long to respond to Google's decision to force employees to ditch Windows over security concerns, and the software giant claims Google is just being stupid.

Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc has posted a rebuttal on the Windows Team Blog which aims to counteract the harmful publicity the company's software is getting from Google's very public move to the Mac OS X platform for its internal systems.

Entitled "Windows and Security: Setting the Record Straight," the post opens with a pop at Google's own track record - pointing to reports of Yale University halting its move to Google Apps for Education "citing both security and privacy concerns."

LeBlanc also takes umbrage at the claims that Windows is the poor cousin of the operating system world when it comes to security, claiming that "when it comes to security, even hackers admit we're doing a better job making our products more secure than anyone else."

The post goes on to point to an Infoworld article which states that Apple's platforms are under increasing attack by malware writers - making a mockery Google's decision to concentrate on the platform to the expense of Windows for reasons of security.

LeBlanc finishes the rebuttal by pointing out the security enhancements that have made it into Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 8 - including Address Space Layout Randomisation technology to make it harder for buffer overflow attacks to work, Internet Explorer's SmartScreen Filter, and improvements to BitLocker's encryption capabilities - along with the advice that users should "enable Automatic Update to ensure they are protected from attacks."

Do you agree with LeBlanc that Google is the pot calling the kettle black with its claims of security concerns, or does the company have a very good reason for ditching Microsoft's software? Share your thoughts over in the forums.
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