Microsoft last week shut down a free utility out of Australia that bypassed one of Windows Vista security features, spurring cries from critics of too harsh tactics. Vista only allows updates of code accompanied by a signed digital certificate. The utility, Atsiv, allowed unsigned code to be loaded into Vista. Symatec labeled the utility as “rootkit like” activity and so Microsoft worked with Verisign to revoke Atsiv’s digital certificate. Atsiv’s makers, however, say that the utility was created to allow legitimate code, such as device drivers, to be loaded into Vista, even if those drivers don’t have signed certificates.
Julie Bort is the editor of Microsoft Subnet and Network World's Online Community Editor. She also writes the Open Source Subnet blog and is the editor responsible for the Cisco Subnet and Open Source Subnet web sites. If you have an idea for a blog, or a news tip on Microsoft, Cisco or Open Source technologies, contact her at jbort@nww.com, 970-482-6454 or follow Julie on Twitter @Julie188.
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