In a speech at Microsoft's worldwide partner conference last night, CEO Steve Ballmer outlined new initiatives in the company's security efforts, including “improved patch management processes…and technologies”, global education programmes and tools for securing systems.

Specifically, “safety technology” updates to Windows software will make it more resistant to attack, “even if patches do not yet exist or have not been installed”, Ballmer said. "Our commitment is to protect our customers from the growing wave of criminal attacks."

The tone of this statement echoed Microsoft's early statements downplaying the threat of a class action suit, saying hackers are the criminals, not makers of software found to be vulnerable.

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