Posted on: Tuesday, September 23, 2003

Microsoft weighs security service

 • Microsoft developing own search technology

By Helen Jung
Associated Press

SEATTLE — Too busy to update your flawed software? Microsoft Corp. is considering whether Microsoft, flaws and all, should automatically do it for you.

Microsoft said it is considering whether to sign up users of future versions of its Windows operating system to a service that automatically downloads and installs software fixes on their computers unless customers specifically opt out of the service.

No decisions have been made, but it is one way the company is considering tightening computer security in the future, after the "Blaster" worm and other variants infected hundreds of thousands of computers around the world since Aug. 11.

"We think it would help the safety of a lot more customers if they had the benefit of the patching there (automatically)," said Steve Lipner, director of security engineering strategy. The service would be for home users and small businesses, he said.

Microsoft has also launched a "Protect Your PC" campaign to suggest ways consumers can guard their computers against attacks such as the Blaster worm.