Posted on 02/14/2005 7:59:35 PM PST by HAL9000
Gates speech to crown RSA show
Analysts: Microsoft chairman may unveil antivirus push
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- As a host of information-technology security experts and professionals descend upon the RSA Conference, the industry sector's largest annual gathering, many are awaiting with bated breath a scheduled keynote speech by Microsoft's Bill Gates.
Gates, who also serves as chairman and chief software architect of the world's biggest software firm, is set to officially kick off the conference in San Francisco with a keynote speech Tuesday morning.
Analysts widely expect Gates will use his speech, entitled "Security: Raising the Bar," as an opportunity to outline Microsoft's efforts to develop products aimed at combating computer viruses, spyware and other malicious threats faced by consumer and corporate computer users.
With the company's eventual full-blown entry into the antivirus market now all but inevitable, some observers said Gates could see the conference as a chance to officially launch a consumer antivirus product.
"We are anticipating a consumer product announcement at the event, which could happen before the actual speech," said Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co. analyst Nitsan Hargil.
"While no information on this has been released, we anticipate an announcement of a consumer antivirus product to be released via Microsoft's MSN portal later this year," Hargil asserted. A test version of such a product is likely in the next few months, with a full version probably on tap to reach consumers by the end of the year, he added.
At Prudential Equity Group, analyst Michael Turits said he also doesn't have any particular information on Microsoft's time frame for its antivirus product, but offered that "the Gates keynote seems an appropriate launch vehicle, if they're finally ready."
Speculation about the timing of Microsoft's foray into the security segment has been widespread among security companies and on Wall Street.
Talk about Microsoft's plans heated up last week when it bought Sybari Software, a company that makes software to help guard corporate networks against e-mail viruses and spam messages, sending a chill up the spines of many investors in rivals McAfee Inc. and Symantec Corp.
News of that acquisition sent investors fleeing from positions in both rivals in heavy-volume trading.
However, while Microsoft's entry in the market has clearly unnerved some investors in security stocks, its move into the antivirus market isn't necessarily a recipe for guaranteed success.
Prudential's Turits believes "the reality of a Microsoft entry could be less noxious than the presentiment."
"Microsoft has typically taken several years to develop a product that can take significant market share from the incumbents," he said. "In addition, we believe Microsoft will continue to meaningfully partner with third-party security vendors."
To be sure, Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft could also face an uphill battle in convincing customers about the prowess of any antivirus product.
Hargil at Friedman, Billings, Ramsey said he's unconvinced about Microsoft's security credentials and believes that "many customers see Microsoft as the source of several security issues."
The company's dominant Windows operating is the main target of malicious software attacks.
"We would point out that while every Microsoft announcement causes disruptions in the marketplace, we believe that the company's interest is currently centered on convincing both consumer and corporate customers that their operating system is secure, rather than being a dominant security player," Hargil said.
The Prudential analyst said he also remains "extremely skeptical" about Microsoft's chances of penetrating the enterprise security market.
Similar to the way Microsoft offers both a consumer and enterprise firewall product, Turits said he expects Microsoft to offer versions of its antivirus and spyware products for corporate customers.
"And just as in firewall, we expect them to be less robust that third-party offerings," the analyst contended.
"More importantly, while Microsoft could make some headway in the small business market, we expect large enterprises to have even less trust for the security of Microsoft security products than they do for the security of the underlying applications and OS [operating system]," he added.
Whatever the case, the record 11,000 attendees expected at this year's RSA Conference will have plenty to digest, with keynote speeches also on tap from the likes of Cisco Systems Chief Executive John Chambers and Symantec Chairman John Thompson, among others.
Expected keynote speeches -
Tuesday, Feb. 15 (all times Pacific)
8.35 a.m. -- Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates9.55 a.m. -- RSA Security (RSAS: news, chart, profile) Chief Executive Art Coviello
10.35 a.m. -- Symantec Chief Executive John Thompson
Wednesday, Feb. 16
8.45 a.m. -- Cisco Chief Executive John Chambers
10.05 a.m. -- Computer Associates (CA: news, chart, profile) co-founder Russell Artzt
Thursday, Feb. 17
8.45 a.m. -- Sun Microsystems (SUNW: news, chart, profile) Executive Vice President John Loiacono
9.45 a.m. -- VeriSign (VRSN: news, chart, profile) Chairman Stratton Sclavos
Prediction: The worst is yet to come for Windows security problems.
and the real goal of this is not virus protection - its digital rights media content management built into every device managed by MSFT software.
Hide your data.
That's certainly been their history with competing applications in the past.
Microsoft is moving into this area because the market-leading Norton products have turned to pure crap from what they were. Take a look at these user reviews, inlcluding such classics as "I only gave it on star becauase zero stars isn't an option":
http://www.pcmag.com/member_ratings/0,1757,ss=0&s=1594&a=135393,00.asp
Unfortunately, McAfee is just as bad, in fact, Norton's pathetic new products seem to be attempting to emulate the McAfee feature line.
That doesn't mean that I would endorse the new Microsoft products, certainly not yet until we've seen if they're any good, but mainly because for security you're better off running a variety of products, to diversify your protection.
Those that are serious about security will continue to look to 3rd party leadership, which will be pushed into improving/correcting their products. Those that have no A/V whatsoever will be given a limited product that has a few features with each version of Windows. Bottom line, this should help the overall protection of PC's, and make the bad guys job a little harder, which is what it's all about.
In other news:
Bill Clinton may unveil "character-building" regimen.
Howard Stern may unveil "dignity" guide.
Osama bin Laden may unveil "religious tolerance" teachings.
LOL! Good one!
What's so funny, I doubt I will, you need diversity in your security package and relying on a sole vendor for security isn't a good idea. There are a LOT of freepers however that claim the new MS spyware removal tool works better than any other choice on the market, read the posts, they're everywhere. Even if true, I'd only recommend it as a compliment to one's toolchest, and not the sole solution. And the fact remains, almost all spyware is easily blocked by turning off "third party cookies" in Internet Explorer, which doesn't affect your first party cookies at all. I point it out all the time, but for some reason, some people would just rather bitch than actually correct the problem.
What's so funny
Your first post, like 99% of your FR posts, touted MS, "but I doubt I'll endorse this.."Ha!
Now you reply with more claims of MS endorsements explaining "you doubt you will." LOL!
Oh, you will alright. Thanks for the laughs along the way.
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