The big wait

Will Microsoft's second attempt at entering the anti-virus field result in the 'vast shake-up' of the AV industry that was expected last time?

The big news in June was the announcement that Microsoft had signed a definitive agreement to acquire the intellectual property and technology assets of Romanian anti-virus manufacturer GeCAD Software Srl.

As might be expected there followed significant excitement in the anti-virus industry, with large amounts of speculation flying in all directions. At this point, however, no details have been revealed other than the fact that Microsoft plans to launch an AV product in the future.

Of course, this is not the first time Microsoft has ventured into the anti-virus field. The company's toes were left a little scalded after its first dip into the anti-virus arena when, in 1993, it released a re-badged version of a Central Point product with MS-DOS version 6.

Despite the eventual flop of Microsoft Anti-Virus ('MSAV'), there were similarly excitable reactions when the product first entered the market. Indeed, in VB's review of MS-DOS 6 (see VB, May 1993, p.17), Dr. Keith Jackson predicted:

'Many anti-virus vendors are going to be hit very hard by the inclusion of anti-virus features within MS-DOS... Place your bets as to who will be most affected, but I am in little doubt that a vast shake-up is imminent.'

Well, on that occasion Microsoft failed to shake more than a snowstorm, but VB wishes Microsoft better luck this time, and awaits with eager anticipation to see what falls out over the next six to 12 months - interesting times lie ahead.

What do you think? Send your comments to comments@virusbtn.com

01 July 2003

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