[ahepp]

The article you shared says that Kaspersky filed a complaint, but I didn't see a clear statement there about what the outcome was. I do now see other reputable sources reporting that an agreement was reached in 2009 where Microsoft promised to allow vendors the same access to the kernel its security software had [0].

I think a proactive approach might have been for Microsoft to provide safer interfaces with the kernel, and then use those in its own security offerings.

That said, it does sound like EU competition regulation was a contributing factor here, and I think the EU is wrong on this one and that an OS vendor should not be required to provide unrestricted kernel access to allow security software vendors to compete.

Mostly unrelated, it seems somewhat interesting that this was Kaspersky insisting on kernel access... The US government seems convinced they are compromised.

[0]: https://www.ft.com/content/60dde560-194a-40d1-8c98-1d96d6d01...