Google has told employees to stop using Windows operating systems on their work machines and instead opt for a Linux OS or make use of a Mac.
"Security concerns" have been cited as its primary motivation for the move, according to a report in the published yesterday in the Financial Times.
A number of the Google's employees whose identities were not revealed were reported by the FT as saying Google was actively moving staff away from Windows following the hacking attacks on Google from China at the end of last year.
The attacks were thought to be connected to a flaw in Internet Explorer 6 being run on Google's Windows machines, allowing malware to access the company's computers in its Chinese offices.
Despite what could be seen as rational security concerns Windows dominates the market both in sales and in terms of being targeted by malware employees were also quoted as claiming it was an attempt by Google to push them onto its own operating system that it is thought to be developing.
"A lot of it is an effort to run things on Google product," one employee told the FT. "Before the security [problem], there was a directive by the company to try to run things on Google products. It was a long time coming."
Employees claimed that to stay on Windows, they had to gain the approval of senior executives.
Google would not comment directly on the matter. Instead, a spokesperson for the company said: "We're always working to improve the efficiency of our business, but we do not comment on specific operational matters."
Microsoft could offer no comment at the time of writing.
The cyber attack on Google which happened in December 2009 but was not discovered until weeks later was one of the most high profile in years. The company traced the attack to China and threatened to shut down all operations in the country as a result.
In March, Google disbanded google.cn and rerouted all traffic through its Hong Kong-based site google.com.hk which did not face the same censorship rules as mainland China.
China has maintained its innocence throughout.
-
Bigger salaries, more burnout: Is the CISO role in crisis?In-depth CISOs are more stressed than ever before – but why is this and what can be done?
-
Cheap cyber crime kits can be bought on the dark web for less than $25News Research from NordVPN shows phishing kits are now widely available on the dark web and via messaging apps like Telegram, and are often selling for less than $25.
-
Windows Troubleshooting Platform 'is serving malware'News Troubleshooting service used as a pathway to con victims into downloading malware
-
Windows 8 woes & Kent Police data protection fines: IT Pro's web comments round-upNews Windows 8 and the ICO's decision to fine Kent Police £100K for a data breach were hot conversation topics this week.
-
McAfee issues critical fix for defective software updateNews Security vendor acts after latest updates stops users accessing the internet.
-
Boost the performance of your PCTutorials Top tips to help you fine tune your PC for free.
-
Microsoft urges users to apply latest security patchNews Update address flaws in Remote Desktop Protocol
-
Microsoft squeezes out Duqu workaroundNews Duqu is still causing trouble, as Microsoft recognises a Windows flaw and offers a workaround.
-
Q&A: Eugene Kaspersky on taking on the big boysIn-depth Kaspersky's chief executive tells IT PRO about how his company plans to climb the security ladder, toppling the likes of Symantec and McAfee along the way.
-
Microsoft downplays Windows vulnerabilityNews Microsoft says a vulnerability could allow remote code execution, but it's not likely anyone will be able to do it.
