Kaspersky: Microsoft Not Locking Rivals Out of Vista Security

Microsoft, the world’s leading producer of software, is not attempting to block rivals in the computer security space from access to the core, or “kernel,” of its upcoming Windows Vista operating system (OS) to make it difficult for them to tailor their products to the OS, Russian computer security firm Kaspersky Lab said Friday, Reuters reports via WashingtonPost.com.

The statement was made by Natalya Kaspersky, chief executive and cofounder of Kaspersky Lab in reference to charges last week from McAfee, another antivirus provider, that Microsoft was attempting to create a monopoly for its security offering by blocking others from the core of the Vista OS, according to Reuters. Symantec, also a computer security vendor, had previously expressed concern over security features within Vista as well.

Kaspersky told Reuters, “From what we have seen of Vista, we cannot tell that Microsoft is blocking access to the core.”

The Redmond, Wash.-based firm responded to McAfee’s accusation by saying that it has in the past and will continue to work hand in hand on Vista with computer security vendors. Kaspersky echoed that sentiment by saying that Microsoft did indeed hold its annual get-together with computer security vendors over the summer, and she didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary, according to Reuters.

Microsoft introduced its first computer security offering in June, dubbed Windows Live OneCare.

Windows Vista is slated for release to businesses and manufactures in November, and the consumer release is expected in January.