The news shook the web: Kaspersky had sued Microsoft in Europe for monopolistic practices with Windows Defender, and the Russian company published some harsh statements in the process. Redmond suggested that the whole conflict arose due to a lack of communication between both parties, and although that wasn't very convincing at first, it's clear that the situation has improved. With several changes scheduled for the Fall Creators Update of Windows 10 and new tweaks to the notification system, Kaspersky officially announced the cessation of hostilities… for now.
For a moment we imagined we were facing a variant of the classic "Netscape vs. Microsoft", with the difference that now, the software in dispute was an antivirus. Kaspersky has had run-ins with Redmond on Russian territory, but when it took the fight to European courts, the specialized media decided to follow the situation. Kaspersky's words were not kind: Microsoft "misleads" users and abuses a privileged position to offer Windows Defender as a security solution, harming its competitors. Two of the most criticized points were the obligation to use the notification system integrated into the operating system (a restriction that only applies to antivirus), and the arbitrary deactivation for "compatibility issues".
That said, recent developments indicate that any legal battle will have to wait. A Kaspersky spokesperson confirmed through the official blog that the company will withdraw its lawsuits against Microsoft in Europe. Apparently, Redmond responded positively to the requested changes, which we will see reflected in the Fall Creators Update of Windows 10. With this update, antivirus developers will be able to use their own notifications to report license status, and Microsoft will add persistence to those messages, so that the user decides between renewing their antivirus or activating Windows Defender as an alternative. Finally, Microsoft will seek to work more closely with antivirus creators and eliminate compatibility details before its updates are published.
In summary: Kaspersky declared its satisfaction, and there will be no war. How long will this last? Nobody knows. If Microsoft fulfills its part, it will be something very healthy; however, the simple presence of Windows Defender in the operating system could reignite the flames.
