Researchers at Symantec are questioning whether security modifications added to the kernel of Microsoft’s Vista operating system could prevent the anti-virus company, and other third-party software makers, from enjoying the same level of integration they’ve enjoyed with previous Windows operating systems.

As part of a research effort examining the next-generation operating system’s kernel, the software’s very core, Symantec’s analysts have been led to believe that Microsoft’s work to better protect the product may impede innovation by other security applications vendors.

At least one other company, consumer firewall software maker Agnitum, has also complained publicly that Vista won’t allow the same level of kernel-access as earlier iterations of Windows.

Source: eWeek