Microsoft is backing its pledge to make security a top priority with significant research and development investment, and future releases of its major products will be "considerably cleaner," said Christiansen, vice president of IDC's e-business infrastructure and Internet security software program, in Framingham, Massachusetts. IDC is a unit of International Data Group, the parent company of the IDG News Service.

Microsoft is increasing its share of the security software market by boosting sales of its security products, while taking sales away from security vendors by improving the security features of its non-security products, such as its operating systems and applications, Christiansen said.

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