MS Tackle Spyware!

[adolescent]

You guys complain about everything.  Microsoft knows there is a problem with spyware (which isn't their fault to begin with) so they offer a free product to deal with it.  Just like they proviced a free pop-up blocker, firewall, and soon antivirus software.  In the near future, if their email "caller-id" validation system is accepted, they will be dealing a huge blow to spam.  I applaud their decission to spend money (that they didn't have to!) to provide much needed software.

[adolescent]

Vincent wrote:

adolescent wrote:
Microsoft knows there is a problem with spyware (which isn't their fault to begin with) so they offer a free product to deal with it.  Just like they proviced a free pop-up blocker, firewall, and soon antivirus software.

Hmmm, I never use IE because of the security holes and I never get spyware.  Over 90% of spyware comes in through IE and Microsoft have done nothing about it.

Funny, I've run IE for years and never had spyware either.  Although, I don't install programs like eDonkey, Opera, etc. that have spyware and/or adware built in.  Saying that Microsoft does nothing about holes in IE is wrong.  Microsoft regularly releases patches for discovered vulnerabilities, as do other browser authors like Mozilla, etc.

Their firewall and pop-up blocker have security flaws in them that can be exploited, which means by themselves they are not safe.

Now that a spyware app is owned and will probably be integrated into Windows it will undoubtedly have security flaws in it too.

I've yet to see a Microsoft program that doesn't have a big book of security flaws.  If you want to protect yourself from viruses, spyware, adware etc use reliable 3rd party software and not the Microsoft stuff.

[/quote]

YOu're missing the point.  So, you're saying that MS should not try to protect the millions of users that use their products?  Like I said, you guys complain...

[adolescent]

mikeymike wrote:
Sort the problem, don't treat the symptom.

It's one thing for other companies to design spyware software, but MS should be fixing the holes instead, not trying to come up with a subscription service to profit from the holes.

They are fixing the holes.  Did you not see the dozen or so patches that came last year?

[adolescent]

cecilia wrote:
OPera doesn't have spyware or adware. it has banner ads, that's all. i barely notice tham and because i don't use IE i have better protection. and i've never had a problem.

Wrong.

Opera is adware

http://www.opera.com/support/search/supsearch.dml?index=453

[adolescent]

@blobrana

In general the people complaining about this new free software are the ones that can see no good come out of Redmond.  If Microsoft made Windows free, open source, and paid you $20 to use it they'd still find something to complain about.

As a paying customer, I had no problem letting Microsoft validate my Windows license.  It was a good check to make sure nobody had stolen it at least.