Microsoft’s plans to improve the security of Windows through the purchase of an anti-virus company almost a year ago appear to be stuck in limbo. The software giant entered the AV market with the surprise acquisition of little known Romanian AV firm GeCAD Software for an undisclosed sum in June last year.

At the time Microsoft said it would use GeCAD’s expertise and technology to “enhance the Windows platform” and extend support for third-party antivirus vendors. “The knowledge and experience acquired from GeCAD will contribute to Microsoft’s understanding of how systems are attacked, enabling Microsoft to more effectively focus on platform improvements,” it said.

Speaking at the recent Infosecurity Europe show Jonathan Perera, Senior Director at Microsoft’s Security Business and Technology Unit, said the company is not ready to announce a product strategy for GeCAD almost a year after the acquisition. GeCAD’s technology is been used in programming interfaces to make it easier to plug anti-virus software into Windows, he said.

That covers “extending support for third-party antivirus vendors” but it doesn’t cover the “platform improvements” Microsoft promised. Since the purchase of GeCAD we’ve had Blaster, MyDoom, NetSky and now Sasser so Microsoft is not exactly short of reasons to push on with improvements. So why the apparent lack of progress?

The Register