By Julian Goldsmith, 4 October 2001 10:30
NEWS Microsoft has answered its detractors by launching a programme to beef up its software security. The software giant has been panned in recent months over its Internet Information Server's vulnerabilities to Nimda and Code Red malicious code. Microsoft has contacted 1,000 of its largest customers to outline the program, its Strategic Technology Protection Program and consult with them on their biggest security gripes, according to US wires. Brian Valentine, Microsoft's senior vice president at its Windows division, told Reuters: "With the virus attacks of late ...and how vicious those attacks have been... it's incumbent on Microsoft, being in the leadership position we're in, to help drive forward the industry in this area." The first phase of the program will involve Microsoft delivering free to customers a Security Tool Kit that includes a raft of security patches, 'hot fixes' and software updates. It also contains software to 'lock down' or reconfigure IIS to its most secure settings. Microsoft has also changed its configuration policy on new software and will now default all new licences to 'lock down' mode. The company will also offer free technical support for users who are attacked by a virus. User community condemnation of Microsoft's apparently lax attitude to security came to a head last week when research house Gartner Group advised users to switch from IIS to Apache or iPlanet web servers.
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