Google continues to conflict with Microsoft

Microsoft criticized Google after a search firm's researcher revealed the Internet Explorer security vulnerability.

Vice President of Internet Explorer, introduced by Microsoft Dean Hachamovitch
Test version of Internet Explorer 9 in September last year. (Photo: Reuters )

This is the second time in four months, a Google employee revealed a security vulnerability in Microsoft products. According to USA Today, engineer Michal Zalewski bluntly dismissed the request to delay the release of the discovery from Microsoft until the software giant released the patch.

Microsoft Chief Information Officer Jerry Bryant said Zalewski increased the risk of technology criminals exploiting browser vulnerabilities before the patch was widely studied, tested and released.

Bryant said: ' Microsoft is committed to working with researchers and their companies to find potential weaknesses before detailed information is published to reduce total risks for customers. The primary goal of Microsoft is to minimize risks for customers, not exaggerate it. In this case, the risk has been exaggerated . '

Bryant also said Microsoft is trying to determine whether hackers actually take advantage of the flaw and added that no attacks have been made so far.

Meanwhile, Zalewski said, he was forced to disclose IE's vulnerability because there was reason to believe that Chinese researchers had just discovered this weakness.

In September last year, Google expert Chris Evans also took similar actions. After discovering a weakness of IE, Evans revealed to the public before Microsoft wrote the patch. At that time, Evans said he didn't think Microsoft could quickly release a patch.

According to Arian Evans, vice president of business for WhiteHat Security, the findings of Zalewski and Evans point to ways for criminals and technology spies to take control of users' computers.

Google 's Chrome product is a direct competitor of IE, the most used browser in the world. Chrome is part of Google 's strategy to knock Microsoft Office off with Google Apps . In contrast, Microsoft is also determined to capture market share in Google 's advertising search industry with Bing search.