Anti-virus heavyweights missing from Vista-certified list

Some of the biggest names in the anti-virus business -- Symantec, McAfee and CA eTrust, -- are missing from the list of vendors shipping products with the "Certified for Windows Vista" logo or the "Works with Windows Vista" logo.

In the list of Vista-compatible apps released by Microsoft yesterday, only one anti-virus heavyweight -- Trend Micro (3 products) -- made the cut.

Symantec's absence from the list is an eyebrow raiser, especially since the company has publicly announced full Vista support for its core product lines. According to Symantec, Vista-ready products include Norton Internet Security 2007, Norton AntiVirus 2007 and Norton Confidential.

McAfee has also outlined plans for supporting the new operating system.

Microsoft's own Windows Live OneCare Family Safety suite made the list, but only in the "Works with Windows Vista" category. The only other anti-virus product to feature on the list was ALWIL Software's avast! Antivirus product.

While Microsoft's list is devoid of pure play anti-malware vendors, there is a growing list of security applications available for Vista (32-bit) users. They include Kaspersky Lab, F-Secure, CA Anti-Virus, ESET NOD32, Panda Software and Sophos Anti-Virus.

On the 64-bit side, avast!, AVG, Kaspersky Lab, CA eTrust, McAfee and ESET and Trend Micro are shipping anti-virus products.