Bill Gates giveth, and Bill Gates taketh away

Do you think that somewhere on the org chart in Redmond, WA, there's a position for Director of Ironic Developments at Microsoft?

Microsoft Corp. disclosed plans Thursday to offer frustrated users of its Windows software new tools within 30 days to remove spyware programs secretly running on computers. But it might cost extra in coming months.

In a shift from past practice, the world's largest software manufacturer said it may charge consumers for future versions of the new protective technology, which Microsoft acquired by buying a small New York software firm. Terms of the sale of Giant Company Software Inc. weren't disclosed.

[...]

Microsoft, whose Windows operating systems have often been criticized for lax security, traditionally has given consumers — at no charge — separate programs to improve security. It also has increasingly built other protective tools, such as firewall software, into Windows to repel hackers.

It sure is a good thing that the many security vulnerabilities in Windows and Internet Explorer have led to this moneymaking opportunity for them, isn't it? I just love that kind of synchronicity. There's still a kink or two to be worked out, but I have faith in their abilities to make things happen.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on December 18, 2004 to Technology, science, and math | TrackBack