Microsoft plays the security card in response to Google's Chrome Frame

I was doubtful that Microsoft execs would have anything to say about Google's introduction this week of a plug-in that allows users to run the Google Chrome browser inside Internet Explorer.

But I was wrong.

A day after I asked Microsoft execs for their take on Chrome Frame -- which Google is promoting as a way to bring more advanced features (like HTML 5) to IE 6, 7, and 8 users -- Microsoft responded. A spokesperson sent me the following statement:

"With Internet Explorer 8, we made significant advancements and updates to make the browser safer for our customers. Given the security issues with plug-ins in general and Google Chrome in particular, Google Chrome Frame running as a plug-in has doubled the attack area for malware and malicious scripts. This is not a risk we would recommend our friends and families take. For a deeper look at how the browsers stack up in security, take a look at the latest phishing and malware data from NSS Labs."

Do you think Microsoft execs have a valid point here or are grasping at straws to try to thwart anything with a Google label on it?