Citing several Google employees, the FT said the internal directive to move to other operating systems began in January and could end the use of Windows at Google, which employs more than 10,000 workers internationally.

“We’re not doing any more Windows. It is a security effort,” a Google employee was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

Google has so far declined to confirm the report.

“We’re always working to improve the efficiency of our business, but we do not comment on specific operational matters,” Google said in a statement.

Microsoft responded to this report Wednesday, defending its Windows security.

“When it comes to security, even hackers admit we’re doing a better job making our products more secure than anyone else, ” Microsoft said in its blog post.

Last November, Google unveiled its own operation system, Chrome OS, to challenge Microsoft Windows. Google promised to release it by late this year. 

On Xinhua Web site: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sci/2010-06/02/c_13329146.htm