On a similar theme to my last mention of the Redmond clan we now read of questionable tactics by one of their closest allies – Symantec, the makers of Norton Anti-Virus, which has become a widely unwelcome part of the Windows experience whether users want it or not.
According to one scribe at Forbes Magazine, a publication not exactly famous for scare stories or inadequate research, the gnomes at Symantec are now facing a class-action suit for [allegedly] using fake results and scary text in their software to compel users to pay for upgrades or renewals.
The lawsuit claims the company designed its programs to scan users machines and give doom-laden warnings of potential threats…even when nothing was found. In a statement a Symantec spokesman says the firm “does not believe the lawsuit has merit and will vigorously defend the case.”
If – and it’s not as bizarre an idea as it sounds – they lose it will be interesting to see MS’s response. Will they drop Norton and go with another vendor, or just leave users at the mercy of the technological Swiss Cheese that is ‘Windows Firewall’?
Stay tuned, kids – this could get good…
