Microsoft reaches for security

There's a saying here in the south (and maybe everywhere): Make yourself a big enough target and eventually, someone will take a shot at you.  It's true, and Microsoft is a great example of how that works in business.  Microsoft is one massive target.  And it gets shot at more often than any other company in the world, so far as I can tell.

And Microsoft gets it from every side. For hackers, Microsoft is a favorite pasttime.  Consumers scream because their programs aren't completely ready before they're released (with good reason), and industry experts can always point out a failing of Microsoft.  But to give the company credit where credit is due, it's making serious efforts to improve security and protect users.

Windows Vista and Office 2007 were the first very public indications that Microsoft is really focusing on security.  New warning systems in OS and the Office programs should help users to understand when they are at risk, in a very Microsoft way.  Is it infallible?  No.  Nothing Microsoft does is infallible because the company promises too much too soon and then has to cut corners to even come semi-close to meeting those promises.  But the efforts that Microsoft is making in security are certainly a step in the right direction.

A CW article today tells of more efforts on Microsoft's part to improve security using data mining capabilities.  The company is teaming up with Digital Resolve, Inc., to use anti-phishing technology in Internet Explorer browsers.  At least it's an attempt to improve the most at-risk, and most used, Internet browser.  And combined with the new security technologies that are included with Vista and Office, I think we'll be looking at a more secure version of the Microsoft OS and applications. 

Of course, for Microsoft it's a viscious circle. Security improvements will only serve to encite more and more intense attacks.  But that's a fact of life that's going to continue until users are fully aware of their risks when online, and maybe for some time even after that.  But at least Microsoft is making attempts to protect consumers.