MS Tackle Spyware!

[FastRobPlus]

PMC wrote:
It's like Larry Flynt saying "I declare war on pornography!" or Tony Blair saying "I do actually give a {bleep} what the British electorate thinks!".

I agree!  How can anyone even *think* this will be produced for AmigaOS?  The only spyware it will remove is for X86 boxes!!!!

[that_punk_guy]

What...?!

[Linchpin]

Well, what it boils down to is whilst its free and seems to work better than the others, im gonna use it.

Its not really M$ written, more M$ Skinned.

[zipper]

They bought/snatched Giant AntiSpyware, which has been a decent commercial tool..

[Linchpin]

I never tried it before .. Seems like a good app tho.

[Vincent]

Enjoy it as it is now, it'll become bloated and unstable soon :-(

[KennyR]

Is anyone surprised? As soon as anti-spyware apps became popular, a market opened and Microsoft exploit markets. Even if they never charge for this tool they can use its addition to sell Windows, or to deflect the criticism that they aren't doing enough to tackle spyware that may be reducing sales. It's good sales acumen. And users will appreciate it.

As experience shows though, third party is almost always better than Microsoft offerings, no matter who they licence/rip them from.

[DonnyEMU]

I will stick with Ad-aware and spybot for my usage..

[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.

[mikeymike]

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.

[Vincent]

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.

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.

[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?

[cecilia]

I don't install programs like eDonkey, Opera, etc. that have spyware and/or adware built in.

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.

[FastRobPlus]

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.

I think you're confusing security holes with spyware.  Spyware does not need a "hole" to operate from within.  

I do understand the hostility towards MS. Nobody want's an American company to succeed.

[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