Some people are talking about what this means for the online security industry – particularly makers of antivirus/anti-malware software.

“Chromebooks have many layers of security built in so there is no anti-virus software to buy and maintain,” Google says in a blog post. “Even more importantly, you won’t spend hours fighting your computer to set it up and keep it up to date.”

“Similar claims from Apple (that its computers are safe “right out of the box“) or from Oracle (that its machines are “unbreakable“) have only been invitations to the security industry to prove otherwise,” writes Andy Greenberg in a post for the Firewall security blog at Forbes. “But this time is different: Google may have built something so simple that it renders security add-ons–and the industry that sells them–irrelevant.”

Of course, for Chrome OS to render this industry irrelevant, it will have to sell very, very well. It still remains to be seen, not only whether or not Google’s OS will be a hit, but whether or not the entirely cloud-based computing experience is something the majority of consumers and businesses will more toward in the future.

Some bullet points Google gives in its Security Overview for Chromium OS (the open source OS on which Chrome OS is based):

• Chromium OS has been designed from the ground up with security in mind.
• Security is not a one-time effort, but rather an iterative process that must be focused on for the life of the operating system.
• The goal is that, should either the operating system or the user detect that the system has been compromised, an update can be initiated, and—after a reboot—the system will have been returned to a known good state.
• Chromium OS security strives to protect against an opportunistic adversary through a combination of system hardening, process isolation, continued web security improvements in Chromium, secure autoupdate, verified boot, encryption, and intuitive account management.

The overview has all of the technical details.

Chrome OS devices will become available on June 15. More on Google’s announcement from Google I/O this week here.

Be honest, you did a double take with that last sentence didn’t you? No you read it correctly.

It’s quite clear that Norton is trying to go viral with this campaign. But, who can blame them? With Twitter,  Facebook, MySpace, Digg, YouTube and other various social networks making it so easy to share media, it truly seems like a no-brainer to try and make something viral. Now the question is will it succeed? Tell us what you think.

Sure, the Norton commercials will pique the interest of some, but others will just see pointless advertisements that make no effort to show the product. There is fine line when it comes to viral marketing, you want to make it memorable… but you don’t want to take it too far. How do you feel about the ads below, are these ads a little too silly, even for viral marketing? Let us know.

Dokken vs. Chicken 1

Dokken vs. Chicken 2

Dokken vs. Chicken 3

Kimbo Slice vs. Caterpillar 1

Kimbo Slice vs. Caterpillar 2

It’s unclear if this campaign will be successful for Norton, but I can tell you first hand that it worked on me. I saw one of the "Dokken vs. Chicken" commercials last week… since then I’ve talked about it to a few people, tweeted about it and now written an article about it. What have you done to me Norton?

Which commerical is your favorite? Let us know what you think.

The service has two very strong elements going for it. For one, it is from Microsoft, which means it comes from a well-known brand that practically all consumers are familiar with. Secondly, it’s free, and that is another word that resonates with consumers.

"Consumers have told us that they want the protection of real-time security software but we know that too many are either unwilling or unable to pay for it, and so end up unprotected," said Amy Barzdukas, general manager for consumer security at Microsoft. "With Microsoft Security Essentials, consumers can get high-quality protection that is easy to get and easy to use — and it won’t get in their way."

Microsoft says Security Essentials is designed to run quietly in the background on PCs, and alert users only when there is an action for them to take. The company also says it limits CPU and memory usage, so there is less of an impact on everyday performance. They say this is even true on older or less-powerful PCs. Here are the requirements:

- Operating System: Genuine Windows XP (Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3); Windows Vista (Gold, Service Pack 1, or Service Pack 2); Windows 7

- For Windows XP, a PC with a CPU clock speed of 500 MHz or higher, and 1 GB RAM or higher.

- For Windows Vista and Windows 7, a PC with a CPU clock speed of 1.0 GHz or higher, and 1 GB RAM or higher.
 
- VGA display of 800 × 600 or higher.
 
- 140 MB of available hard disk space.

- An Internet connection is required for installation and to download the latest virus and spyware definitions for Microsoft Security Essentials.

-  Internet Browser: Windows Internet Explorer 6.0 or later or Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or later.

- Microsoft Security Essentials also supports Windows XP Mode in Windows 7. For more information see the system requirements for Windows XP Mode in Windows 7

"Microsoft is focused on the challenges that prevent consumers from running up-to-date anti-virus software today, particularly in emerging markets where there is a growing prevalence of malware," said Jon Crotty, security analyst at IDC. "With Microsoft Security Essentials, Microsoft is helping to reduce some of the barriers that constrain consumers from running AV."

The product takes advantage of "real-time protection," and is the first Microsoft security product to make use of the company’s new Dynamic Signature Service. This is a technology that is said to help ensure users stay protected by the most current virus definitions available without having to wait for the next scheduled download.

Tech ‘Solutions’ Your Small Biz Can’t Use

Another Idiotic Mainstream Media Article…and his title is very appropriate. Well Gene Marks is pretty much an idiot. Gene lists 10 things your small business DON’T need in any particular order:

1. RSS Feeds
2. Spam Filters
3. Antivirus Software
4. Blogs
5. Search Engine Optimization
6. Mobile Applications
7. Customer Relationship Management Software
8. AdWords
9. Online Video
10. Web 2.0

Here is a rundown one by one of all of Gene’s points with my responses back:

1. RSS Feeds

I love how Gene starts the list of with this one:

“Instead, he was “fed” an endless stream of meaningless items displayed in an overly large browser window that winds up distracting more than informing”. Well duh Gene it is the users responsibility to subscribe to RSS fees that are useful. If they prove not to be then simply delete it. To say RSS is useless is completely illogical. Gene in what way do you propose would be easier to keep track of updates on blogs and websites?

2. Spam Filters and 3. Antivirus Software

LOL, so spam filters and antivirus is not a good thing for companies to use, LOL. No comment.

4. Blogs

Now this is simply laughable. Probably the worst recommendation in this long list of crap. One of the easiest and cheapest ways for small business to get off the ground if through a blog. Blogs are easily picked up by everyone in the world, easy to advertise on and simply a way for the small guys voice to be heard. Whether your a company of 1 or 500, having a blog is smart thing to do. Creating this type of customer interaction is necessary in today’s web. If you don’t believe me look at the top companies performing online. Do most all of them have blogs? Yup

5. Search Engine Optimization

Ok so all business can simply forget about ranking in search engines right? Gene the crap you pointed out was buying from spammers. If you did a hour of research into this matter you would see thousands and thousands of companies are spending more and more each year on this type of marketing. Why? Because it works.

6. Mobile Applications

As mobile devices like LG Voyager and Apple’s iPhone allow for a more adequate browsers interface, you bet your life more people will be accessing the web and using web based mobile applications more. Just look at the growth of podcasting in the last few years.

7. Customer Relationship Management Software

I use Outlook and I am fine with that.

8. AdWords

Sure I can live without AdWords, but it doesn’t mean other businesses can. To make such a broad based sweeping recommendation is ludicrous Some companies survive on AdWords alone. Hey Gene ever hear of conversion analysis? Check it out sometime.

9. Online Video

Online video is fast becoming one of the best ways to market your business online. Video integration into your website is pretty much key no matter what service or product your offering online. Your saying you need Time Warner’s budget to maintain and create great video content? Hardly. Just look at the most viewed videos that are on YouTube weekly.

10. Web 2.0

Do you even know what Web 2.0 is? Do I? Does anyone. How can you expect someone to come along and define it. I personally feel Web 2.0 has to do with more user generated content and making the web more of community for each and every website rather than websites simply broadcasting their message. Why don’t you try and define it instead of simply saying no one can.

Wow, what a list huh? How off based can you be? I am sure Gene is just trying to help here, but once again this is one mans simple opinion and should not be construed with what is actually going on in the world. Is their even an editor at MSNBC. Nice job buddy.

Join the Sphinn conversation today on this subject.

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