Agnitum: Sabotage 64-bit Editions of Vista!

Agnitum has been keeping an eye on Microsoft. And, consequently, Mikhail Penkovsky, Director of Sales and Marketing, Agnitum, feels comfortable to ask "Will Microsoft shut out Internet Security Competition by 2008?" A question Penkovsky answers affirmatively. He also feels comfortable enough to propose the sabotaging of the 64-bit editions of Windows Vista.

"We believe that Microsoft is executing a series of logical steps aimed at shutting down the competition and winning a significant share of the security software market. The classic series of "Competitive Strategy" books by Michael E. Porter state that one of the best methods to secure your market position is to create technology barriers that prevent your competitors from entering the market," states Penkovsky.

The security market for x64 machines lacks consistency as it is at the beginning of its evolution. Agnitum position is that Microsoft had expected little objection to the implementation of PatchGuard, as the 64-bit technology is still young and it will take at least a couple of years for the majority of users to migrate to 64-bit computers. The fact that implementing Kernel Patch Protection is situated in a place with non-defined legislation is also an advantage in Microsoft's favor even though the European Commission and other legislative bodies are looking into the matter. Just last week, Gartner has forecasted that PatchGuard changes in 64-bit Vista will take several years to complete and will create compatibility issues with the integration of HIPS products.

"Every "patch Tuesday" proves again that a choice of one vendor is no choice at all. In security, this is especially true. Microsoft's Kernel Patch Protection is already broken. It is going to be attacked continually - and broken again and again," added Penkovsky.

Microsoft had initially announced that the APIs for PatchGuard will be released with the starting edition of Vista, but those plans turned to dust, much to the dissatisfaction of the security community. As the Redmond Company revealed that the APIs will come concomitantly with the operating system's first Service Pack, Agnitum doesn't expect them sooner than 12 to 18 months. In response, they propose to sabotage the 64-bit Vista.

"Our best recommendation at this point is to not move to 64-bit computing under Windows Vista until Microsoft provides third-party security vendors with the ability to give you, the customer, a choice in whose security software you use," said Penkovsky.