Microsoft to implement ”Antivirus” and ”Anti-phishing” i

Microsoft has detailed its forthcoming privacy and security plans, which include

enhancements to Internet Explorer 7 and the addition of digital rights management

software into applications at the document level.

Despite earlier plans not to do a browser update until Longhorn’s release in

2006, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates confirmed that code for IE 7 will be

available this summer in beta and in full by Christmas.

  The browser will incorporate antivirus technology from recently acquired Sybari,

and enhanced anti-phishing software.

“Anti-phishing will definitely be built in to IE 7,” said Brendon Lynch, senior

privacy strategist at Microsoft.

“We are looking to make it very visible and easy to use to ensure that it’s

really effective. The technology works in a similar way to anti-spam technologies

by picking up keywords and writing styles.”

  Looking further ahead, the Redmond giant plans to introduce more control over

rights to information, even within documents.

  SQL Server 2005, due for launch in November, will see the encryption of all data,

with individual user access based on clearance levels.

  Lynch explained that some customers are interested in using the same technology

within documents, so that certain paragraphs of text could be hidden from

unauthorized users while still allowing them to view the remaining parts of the

document.

“Office 12 will see some of this technology,” he said. “Then the same principles

can be applied to other applications.”

  Much of the technology to perform these tasks is in existence. Metadata in Word

documents already records keystrokes, and logs which computer opened which

document.

In addition computer systems using Server 2003 and Office 2003 can be configured

to lock down documents from selected users.

Source : TopTechNews