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Journalism of Courage
Web search group Google Inc,is phasing out internal use of rival Microsoft Corp’s Windows operating system,because of security concerns following a Chinese hacking incident,the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.
Citing several Google employees,the report claims the decision to move to other operating systems,including Apple Inc’s Mac OS and open-source Linux,began in earnest in January,after Google’s Chinese operations were hacked.
Internet security firm McAfee Inc said at the time,the cyber attacks on Google and other businesses had exploited a previously unknown flaw in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser,which was vulnerable on all recent versions of Windows.
The FT quoted one Google employee as saying: “We’re not doing any more Windows. It is a security effort.” Another said: “Getting a new Windows machine now requires CIO (chief information officer) approval.”
Google said in a statement: “We’re always working to improve the efficiency of our business,but we do not comment on specific operational matters.”
Google,which already offers e-mail,Web and other software products that compete with Microsoft’s offerings,is developing its own operating system based on its Chrome browser. It will initially target netbooks,or inexpensive,pared-down notebook PCs.
Microsoft Windows runs about nine out of 10 of the world’s personal computers.
