A major update to Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system could leave computers<\/p>\n
vulnerable to hackers and malware as the service pack prevents some antivirus programs<\/p>\n
from operating, the company said. The list of security products that Windows Vista<\/p>\n
Service Pack 1 blocks includes Zone Alarm Security Suite 7.1, Trend Micro Internet Security 2008,<\/p>\n
and BitDefender 10. It also blocks the 2008 version of the Jiangmin antivirus product.<\/p>\n
Microsoft said the blocks occur because the antivirus programs are not compatible with Vista SP1.<\/p>\n
Microsoft also said Vista SP1 prevents a small number of other programs from working properly,<\/p>\n
including Novell’s ZCM Agent and The New York Times reader software.<\/p>\n
Microsoft has delayed widespread distribution of Vista SP1 until it can resolve<\/p>\n
compatibility issues with some software drivers that control PC peripherals. As a result, Vista SP1<\/p>\n
won’t be available as a manual download until mid-March on Windows Update. Even then, installation<\/p>\n
will be rejected on PCs with the problem drivers. Affected users who want to access the<\/p>\n
software regardless will be able to download it directly from Microsoft.com.<\/p>\n
Microsoft will automatically push Windows Vista SP1 to customers who have signed up<\/p>\n
for automated downloads from Windows Update starting in mid-April.<\/p>\n
Windows Vista SP1 includes more than 300 hot fixes for the operating system, which Microsoft<\/p>\n