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Comment by JustSomeNobody | Hacker News Reader

I'll never understand why AV is a third party software solution. I don't buy an Audi and then go to some other company and buy ABS and seat belts. This is a MS issue and should be handled in house.

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Why doesn't Microsoft supply every component? Because of Anti-Trust Lawsuits. Microsoft has a monopoly position as a desktop operating system vendor. Any time they bundle software with the OS, it's grounds for a lawsuit in Europe.

>I'll never understand why AV is a third party software solution.

It has been first-party for many years - MSE was released 2009-09 per Wikipedia.

Exactly!

Maybe not a great analogy: ABS components and seat belts are, in all likely hood, manufactured by a third-party who specialises in such.

But I don't have to go get them installed myself. So it's Audi's problem, not mine.

Right, but MS provides AV or you can install a third party option instead. Just like you can install aftermarket brakes, suspension, ECUs or even seats and seatbelts in your Audi.

PCs often (mostly?) ship with third-party anti-virus software because AV companies pay them to install it.

Ok but now you are talking about a different product (a PC) vs Microsoft Windows. The third party AV vendors are paying the PC manufacturer to bundle their products, they are not paying Microsoft.

In the PC case both Windows and AV are third party products.

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