The European Commission warned Microsoft today against foreclosing competition in computer security by tying security upgrades into its new Windows Vista operating system.
Responding to expressions of concern by the US software giant over the European Union regulator's stance, an EU competition spokesman said it was up to Microsoft to ensure compliance with EU antitrust rules in the new system.
Existing competition and diversity were the best way of improving software security, he said, adding: "Such diversity and innovation could be at risk if Microsoft was allowed to foreclose the existing competition in computer security markets . . . by bundling its own security products into its dominant operating system."