China's operating system (OS) developers gained a boost as Beijing announced a ban on the use of Microsoft's Windows 8 on government computers, yet there is a long way to go before an indigenous OS can make any tangible changes.

According to a statement this week by the Central Government Procurement Center, all desktops, laptops and tablet PCs purchased by central state organs must be installed with an OS other than Windows 8.

Although the statement did not clarify why Windows 8 cannot be used, industry experts say the move is mainly because of cyber security concerns.

Ni Guangnan, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said Windows 8 has integrated antivirus software that frequently scan computers, which means that users of the operating system risk being monitored and national security is at danger when it is installed on government computers.

Others say the move also signals that the Chinese Government is intensifying support for domestically developed operating systems in the hope that an alternative

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2014)