14 DAY TRIAL // Sophos is not optimistic when it comes to the security performances that Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows Vista will deliver. And from its position as a world leader in IT security and control solutions, Sophos is an indisputable authority in the industry. Following the launch of Windows Vista, applauded by Microsoft as the most secure Windows platform to date, company representatives have went out on a limb and issued predictions related to the level of security of the new operating system.
Microsoft's own security expert Michael Howard ventured to say, that in addition to outselling Windows XP by two to one, Vista will also reduce the number of vulnerabilities compared to its predecessor by the same factor.
"My prediction for Windows Vista security bugs is pretty simple, and yes, I realize I am going out on a limb here. There will probably be a number of security bugs in the following months, I have no clue what that number will be. (...) So here's my prediction. We will see significantly less critical vulnerabilities in the operating system over the next 2 years, as compared to Windows XP, perhaps by a factor of as much as 50%, and a 30% reduction of important vulnerabilities," Howard revealed back in March 2007.
However, not only does security company Sophos fail to share Microsoft's optimistic view for Windows Vista, but has presented an increase in vulnerabilities and attacks as the only sure thing for the future. "It's not in our nature to examine chicken entrails and predict the future number of vulnerabilities with such precision, so we'll leave that to Microsoft! However, it's encouraging to hear that they are thinking positively. The only thing that is certain is that there will be more vulnerabilities and more attacks, and that Windows Vista users will need to take security seriously," commented Graham Cluley, Senior Technology Consultant at Sophos.
Just keep your eyeballs on Softpedia. An exclusive interview with Graham Cluley focused on what else but Sophos and Windows Vista, drops tomorrow.