Last week Microsoft began offering U.S. Windows users its free antivirus program, Microsoft Security Essentials, through the Windows operating system's built-in update service. The offering works like this: if Windows detects that a user is not using any antivirus software, the option of upgrading to Security Essentials becomes available via the Optional section of Microsoft Update.
Critics Call Move Anti-CompetitiveMicrosoft was quick to point out that Windows Update wasn't automatically installing Security Essentials on these PCs; in fact, it says Security Essentials isn't even being offered via Windows Update, but instead through the Microsoft Update service (which also offers important updates for Microsoft software like Office and Windows Media Player).
Critics, including Trend Micro general manager of consumer and small business sales Carol Carpenter, say the distinction is barely recognizable since Microsoft has so closely interwoven Microsoft Update and Windows Update. Many PCs, including those running Vista and Windows 7, are configured to use Microsoft Update by default.
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Apple unleashed an update for Mac OS X this week which fixes a massive 134 vulnerabilities. To put that in perspective, Microsoft had a record breaking
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And although Microsoft Update was once optional in Windows XP, new PCs with new installations of the OS now use Microsoft Update as the default update
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In a relatively small Patch Tuesday update, Microsoft released three security bulletins to cover 11 vulnerabilities in Microsoft Forefront Unified Access |
Good news for those who were worried about getting bottlenecked roll-outs of system software updates on Windows Phone 7 devices: Microsoft
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And although Microsoft Update was once optional in Windows XP, new PCs with new installations of the OS now use Microsoft Update as the default update
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