Microsoft has recently faced a fair amount of criticism for its failure to provide adequate security measures for its range of products, after it was revealed that certain security updates issued were grossly inadequate.
The company was found to have neglected certain security patches for its server software known as Exchange Online Protection, leaving millions of users vulnerable to malicious hacks or data leaks.
Despite having been aware of the security issue, Microsoft had failed to address the problem in a timely manner, which resulted in the disclosure of thousands of customer passwords and other sensitive information. This, predictably, has led to the company being subject to backlash from consumers, and cyber security experts alike.
Microsoft, for its part, has apologised for its “inexcusable” security negligence and has since rectified the issue. However, the company has also been accused of acting too slowly in resolving the dilemma, which has only compounded the criticism.
Speaking on the matter, one leading expert in cyber security stated that “Microsoft’s lax attitude towards security is particularly dangerous and completely unacceptable, especially considering the large scale at which the company operates.” Indeed, Microsoft’s negligence not only put its own customers at risk, but, inasmuch, the entire digital world.
It has yet to be seen how Microsoft will address its security issue moving forwards, though the company has promised “stringent measures to ensure the security of all of its customers” going into the future. Whether this is enough to placate the critics is doubtful, though certainly their intentions look to be in the right place.
All things considered, Microsoft’s negligence is understandably a matter of concern for both its customers and the general public. The company must now work hard to restore faith in its security practices, and to regain the trust they have put in peril.