I always get a chuckle out posts about Windows needs to do more about security which pop up ever once in awhile and especially when a new versions of Windows is being talked about. I’m not suggesting that Microsoft shouldn’t do everything that it can but when I see posts from people like Harry McCracken wishing that Microsoft would do more to make managing Windows security I wonder if they have forgotten their Microsoft history.

The post of Harry’s I am referring to in this case was the one where he was talking about what he would like to see in Windows 8. For the most part I agree with him but when it comes to the security issue he had this to say

Some silver bullet for security management hassles. On a day-to-day basis, the single biggest difference between using a Windows computer and a Mac isn’t that Windows types are more likely to suffer devastating security breaches. It’s that they spend more time futzing with anti-virus utilities and other security software. The worst ones are a horrendous timesink, and even the best ones demand more of your attention than they should. I’m not sure what Microsoft can do here, but I think it would be very much in its own self-interest to address the ongoing drudgery of Windows security.

Harry is totally correct in his assessment about the current crop of security software programs. The problem is that Microsoft’s hands are tied which is why things like Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is a separate download.

Perhaps we have forgotten about the whine-fest of Netscape running to the DoJ for some way to save their business, or how about the recent treatment of Microsoft as some sort of massive ATM by the EU over things like Windows Media Player. Then of course there is the whole uproar that happened when Microsoft said that starting with Vista they were locking down the kernel so no-one but Microsoft products could have access to it aka PatchGuard.

Anti-virus company started screaming blue murder and there were whispers of another run to the DoJ so Microsoft pulled back on the best idea they ever had when it came to system security. It is also this same reason that makes them provide MSE as a separate download because if they didn’t you can be guaranteed the moon would be turning blue and the security companies would be lining up to howl at it.

On the one hand we – the consumer – all want Microsoft to do a better job but the moment that they do all hell breaks loose and they have no choice but to either go with half measures or pull back altogether. If you want to make sure that the blame is being spread around fairly start tossing some of it at the companies that would fight to be first in line to take Microsoft to task, and the DoJ, is they truly got serious.

[Editor’s Note: Steven cross-posted this at WinExtra. –mrh]