Google 'moving away from Windows'
03/06/2010 11:26:15
Search engine giant Google is set to move away from using Microsoft Windows due to concerns around digital and information security, it has been reported.
According to the Financial Times, new employees at Google, including some working in IT security jobs, are given a choice between a Linux PC or Apple Macintosh to start with. If people wish to use Microsoft Windows instead they must gain permission from senior management.
Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant at Sophos security, said that it was "undoubtedly true" that there were more viruses and other malware written for Windows than Linux or Mac, impacting on the safety of information security.
Microsoft's web browser, Internet Explorer, was associated with the Google hacking attacks that took place earlier this year.
Due to the alleged security flaws in the browser, German and French governments banned it from use in the public sector.
Mr Cluley suggested that Google distancing itself from Windows "could be the first step towards Google proving that an enterprise company can survive without much dependency on Microsoft at all".
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