RSA: Gates promises new version of IE by midyear

IDG News Service - Microsoft Corp. by midyear plans to release a test version of a new Internet Explorer browser that better protects users from scams and malicious code while they surf the Web, the company announced today.
Responding to a surge over the past year in online scams involving spyware, Microsoft has also decided not to charge for its antispyware product, Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates said in a keynote address at the RSA Conference 2005 in San Francisco.
"We have looked hard at the nature of this problem and have made the decision that this antispyware product will be available at no additional cost to Windows users," Gates said. "I am very excited that we have this technology, and it really addresses a burning need for our users."
Microsoft bought antispyware software maker Giant Company Software Inc. in December and released a beta of Windows AntiSpyware last month. Until today's announcement, the company hadn't said whether it would sell the product or give it away. Other companies, including traditional antivirus vendors, offer antispyware products.
In addition to its free consumer product, Microsoft will offer a for-pay antispyware product for corporate users that will support enterprise needs for management and deployment, said Amy Roberts, a director in Microsoft's Security Business and Technology unit. She couldn't say when the enterprise antispyware product will be available.
A second beta version of the consumer Windows AntiSpyware product is scheduled to be available in the first half of this year, Roberts said in an interview after Gates' keynote.
With phishing threats growing and perhaps because of competitive pressure, Microsoft has changed its plans for Internet Explorer. The company's plans previously called for a new version of the ubiquitous browser to be included in the next version of Windows, code-named Longhorn, due in 2006.
"We have decided to do a new version of Internet Explorer," Gates said. The new Internet Explorer 7 will "add new levels of security," he said. A first beta is due in mid-2005.
While offering few details about Internet Explorer 7, Gates said the security enhancements will protect customers against phishing and other malware. The features will also be included in the version of Internet Explorer for Longhorn. IE 7 will be for users of Windows XP with Service Pack 2, but Roberts couldn't say when the final version of the Web browser will be available.
Internet Explorer is part of Windows and is used by most Web users, but it has a bad security reputation. Other browsers such as Firefox, Netscape