Fergie's Tech Blog

Microsoft slams F-Secure for Windows Vista virus report

Tom Sanders writes on vnunet.com:

A proof of concept virus security company F-Secure described as a "first Vista virus" doesn't affect the operating system at all, Microsoft had said.

The exploit that the security expert describes targets a new command shell technology called MSH that is currently under development under the codename Monad.

Contrary to what F-Secure suggested, MSH won't be part of Windows Vista, a spokeswoman for Microsoft told vnunet.com.

"The current plan is that Monad will not be included in the final version of Windows Vista. Monad is being considered for the Windows Operating System platform for the next three to five years," she said.

Instead, users will find "some of the technology" in the next version of Exchange that is due out in the second half of 2006, as we reported earlier. Microsoft hadn't previously given full disclosure about its plans not to include MSN in Vista.

The first operating system that possibly could be affected by MSH will be Longhorn server, not Windows Vista.

"It is a possibility that Monad’s timing could align with the update release to Longhorn Server, but it is too early to confirm that this will be the case," she said.

posted by Fergie @ 8/07/2005 06:34:00 PM