Microsoft will offer consumers who use its Windows operating system free software to battle spyware and eventually antivirus software, chairperson Bill Gates said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the RSA Conference in San Francisco, the high-tech security industry’s largest annual gathering, Gates said that Microsoft is on track to deliver a broad antivirus product to consumers by the end of the year, following its acquisition of
Sybari Software, announced last week.
Gates, who also serves as chief software architect of the world’s biggest software company, emphasised the company’s commitment to continue developing products to help computer users guard against the threats from malicious software that can compromise privacy and slow computers to a crawl.
”Customers are concerned about the risk malware [malicious software] poses to their personal information, and frustrated by its impact on the reliability and performance of their computers,” Gates said.
Microsoft last month rolled out a free test version of the software that removes the unwanted spyware — which can redirect or ”hijack” internet browsers — based on technology from Giant Company, which Microsoft acquired in December.
At the time, Microsoft did not say whether it would eventually charge users for the program.
A paid version of the anti-spyware software will be aimed at corporate customers, who often require more complex infrastructure support.
In addition, the company will launch a new version of its Internet Explorer browser with tougher security features to help fend off threats like ”phishing” — the use of websites designed to look like a legitimate site of a bank or other firm in order to get passwords — along with viruses and spyware, Gates said.
A test version of the new browser, version 7, will be available this year and it will be incorporated in the next version of Windows, Longhorn, expected to reach computer users next year. – Sapa-AFP