Why isnt anti-virus software already part and parcel of all OS's?

**no1_vern** · July 30th, 2012, 09:11 AM

Why do we still have standalone anti-virus software? Why haven't the OS manufacturers already integrated AV into the various OS's?

**GroundZero3** · July 30th, 2012, 09:20 AM

Vern where have you been? MS has been having issues with this for a long time

EU Opens Antitrust Investigation Of Microsoft Over Internet Explorer's Options For Alternative Browsers

Windows 8 will have anti virus software installed

Windows 8′s built-in antivirus will put third-party products first | Ars Technica

**no1_vern** · July 30th, 2012, 09:25 AM

IE isn't Antivirus, is it? Also IE is separate from the OS(or is supposed to be). I guess what I was asking was why isn't AV built into the kernel of the OS natively? NOT as a separate program. IS that impossible?

**GroundZero3** · July 30th, 2012, 09:28 AM

IE was built into the OS a long time ago (you had to jump through hoops to get rid of it completely from the system). After the ruling (and I believe it was XP and service pack 1) where you could make those changes.

**no1_vern** · July 30th, 2012, 09:35 AM

UM, I am talking about --ANTIVIRUS-- not IE. I don't care what program is used to access the 'net.

I am hoping someone will tell me why ANTIVIRUS is not already BUILT INTO all of the Operating Systems(not just windows). Is it that Malware is just not enough of a threat?

What am I missing?

**GroundZero3** · July 30th, 2012, 09:43 AM

You are missing the point of what the EU antitrust trial and Microsoft was about then. Please look it over and you can insert whatever software package into the question you are asking whether is be Antivirus, web browsers, etc

That is the point im trying to make!

Microsoft Faces EU Antitrust Probe Over Web-Brower Choice - Bloomberg

And then I answered your questions, Windows 8 will have antivirus installed. OSX Mountain Lion does not have antivirus software built in

**RicheemxX** · July 30th, 2012, 11:34 AM

Yeah the reason behind this is as GZ said, the rulings against MS and their tying software to their OS. If I recall there was even a ruling about windows media player. Regulators felts that it gave MS an unfair advantage over other companies and that if they pushed their software other companies wouldn't be able to compete.

Because of that ruling in the EU MS has to offer a browser choice, and I think they had to strip out media player integration over in the EU (not sure there). So imagine if they started adding in other proprietary software!! Shit would hit the fan!

For other software, Linux users just never worried about it as much. There just isn't that big a threat there yet. Apple is now integrating more AV tools, but again they always took the view that it can't happen to us so why bother!!

PS - it wasn't all that long ago that Apple didn't even acknowledge the existence of malware/viruses that affected Macs.

**stroyal** · July 30th, 2012, 12:33 PM

Same reason there is not a full burner program, or even burning capability till XP, as well as an Unzip program.

Seems to me there is one more that I'm forgetting.

But they are slowly adding them, anyway

**RicheemxX** · July 30th, 2012, 01:55 PM

Well I think some of that had to do with licensing, much the same reason there isn't blu-ray support on Windows or there isn't going to be a native DVD encoder in Win 8. Surprisingly though it looks like we'll finally get a native pdf viewer.

Some of it has to do with regulation, some with licensing and some probably even has to do with company agreements to not create certain integrated software.