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Security software firm Kaspersky Labs has filed antitrust complaints against Microsoft in Europe. The complaints center around Microsoft disabling third party antivirus software in Windows 10 to favor its own Windows Defender.
https://betanews.com/2017/06/07/kaspersky-microsoft-antitrust/
From blog.kaspersky.com:
Antitrust: Pursue It in Europe We Must
Herewith, the next chapter in our thriller-detective (antimonopoly) series…
As you’ll probably be aware, late last year we turned to Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) with a complaint against Microsoft. And just recently, we did the same thing in Europe – filing complaints with both the European Commission and German Federal Cartel Office.
So, why are we doing this? Here’s why: we have users – hundreds of millions thereof all around the world. These folks trust us and depend on us to protect their data. They expect only the highest level of protection – that’s why they chose us (and even if they chose different independent antivirus software, they’re still affected by all this). And it’s namely the right of these folks to choose exactly what they want that we’re trying to protect.
We see clearly – and are ready to prove – that Microsoft uses its dominant position in the computer operating system (OS) market to fiercely promote its own – inferior – security software (Windows Defender) at the expense of users’ previously self-chosen security solution. Such promotion is conducted using questionable methods, and we want to bring these methods to the attention of the anti-competition authorities.
Btw, our filing with Russia’s FAS has already borne some fruit: Microsoft has fixed some of the issues that we highlighted – and did so without waiting for FAS to issue an official statement (as I explained in a blogpost in early May). So, what can I say? Here’s a sincere thank you to Microsoft for that! Those steps are in the right direction and most encouraging.
But that still leaves today the other approaches and practices we pointed out in our claims that it hasn’t yet put straight. Accordingly, we’re not planning on settling for what we’ve already achieved, and will be carrying on our fight to protect the interests of both the users and the AV industry.
Read the full article here
Following anti-trust complaints, Microsoft defended its proprietary AV software
By Greg Masters | June 23, 2017
Microsoft is making its case against anti-trust complaints that it uses its dominant position in the marketplace to unfairly promote its proprietary anti-virus software at the expense of offerings from third-party competitors.
Kaspersky Lab recently filed complaints in Russia, Germany and with the European Commission alleging that the Redmond giant squeezes out options from the competition. While Kaspersky admitted that Microsoft has made some concessions as a result of its filing with Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS), other practices have not been addressed, the charges claim.
In particular, the protest takes aim at a preponderance of pop-up dialogue boxes asking, “Do you want to run this program?,” at every step when Windows 10 users attempt to run anti-virus software from a third party. Also offensive to Kaspersky was the warning that pops up: “You should only run programs that come from publishers you trust.”
Read the full article here
I love the irony of MS having a warning that pops up: “You should only run programs that come from publishers you trust.”
Unfortunately some of us have to run programs that come from publishers we don’t trust, like Microsoft.
Windows 10 Home 22H2, Acer Aspire TC-1660 desktop + LibreOffice, non-techie
From Kaspersky’s blog, “Cybersecurity depends on partnership”
August 10, 2017
Microsoft has announced today that it is addressing the concerns we recently raised with select governing organizations in Russia and Europe. We are grateful Microsoft is addressing these issues completely, making sure that both partnerships and diversity are preserved on the market for both user and industry benefit.
These changes will include Microsoft providing cybersecurity developers more time to prepare for upcoming Windows updates as well as receive the final Windows builds earlier. This action will allow vendors to test every aspect of their security solutions’ behavior in the new version of the operating system, prior to its release, to ensure excellent compatibility. The more your security solution is compatible with your operating system, the less it affects performance and stability.
That also means that there should be no switch-offs due to incompatibility issues. If you’ve paid for a security solution, you can expect it to be updated on time, so that it can work smoothly with all the OS updates you install.
Another important point that will make users’ security better is the fact that in Windows 10, cybersecurity companies are now allowed to show their own notifications to help users renew security solutions licenses before and after they have expired. Keeping the security solution and its databases (which are not renewed after the license has expired) up to date is absolutely necessary to ensure a strong level of protection, so these notifications have to be unmissable.
Read the full article here
From Microsoft’s blog, “Evolving our Windows approach to AV, thanks to partner feedback”
By Rob Lefferts / Partner Director, Windows Enterprise and Security
August 9, 2017 11:00 pm
Microsoft agrees to changes coming in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.
…
Part of delivering on that commitment is listening and responding to feedback from our customers and partners. We work closely with AV partners like Kaspersky Lab, and at our Microsoft Virus Initiative forum last month, we made great progress in building upon our shared understanding of how we deliver Windows 10 updates and security experiences that help ensure the ongoing safety of Windows customers.
I’m pleased to share these discussions have helped us clarify our roadmap and implementation plans. As a result, we are making updates to our AV partner requirements today that reflect the interests of the community and our shared customers. We will also implement changes in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.
…
We appreciate the feedback and continued dialogue with our partners and are pleased to have found common ground with Kaspersky Lab on the complaints raised in Russia and Europe. We look forward to our continued partnership with the industry.
Customers deserve the best and most up-to-date protection possible. Microsoft and our security partners share a commitment to keep them safe.
Read the full article here
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