Microsoft is coming under increasing fire over the security of its Windows software.
While criticims of Windows security vulnerabilities are nothing new, Microsoft plans to take control of security on Windows Vista, their next release.
This means that third-party software vendors could be prevented from protecting Windows Vista.
This comes after a series of serious security flaws were found in Windows applications, with Powerpoint, Word, and Internet Explorer all vulnerable - and still unpatched.
It remains an issue of acute embarrassment for Microsoft - that a billion-dollar multinational software development company which receives extensive revenues from licence fees - not simply allows the security exploits to go unnoticed until third-parties notify of them, but also leaves user machines vulnerable while third-party security companies are able to roll out fixes to the public.
Additionally, third party security development companies have already released a patch for the flaw - weeks before Microsoft plans to release their own version.