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Microsoft Beta Includes Built-in Virus Scanner

Posted by michael on from the goodbye-norton-and-mcafee dept.

Ethereal writes "InternetNews.com reports that Microsoft has begun beta-testing a built-in virus scanner for its Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) that will be included in the final product in mid-2004. The tool is among the operating system enhancements the Redmond, Wash., company is developing as part of its Security Center initiative to rebuff viruses, worms, trojans and crackers. Microsoft will also provide free online training to help developers make the most of SP2's security features, Chairman Bill Gates said at today's RSA Security conference. It's the first time the company has offered training with a Windows service pack release."

4 of 867 comments (clear)

  1. What good is it unless... by The+Master+Control+P · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    There is *no point* to having a virus scanner if the idiot users do not keep it up to date! So either we have to configure it to call home (which we all agree would be bad) or rely on idiot users to upgrade it themselves.

    In this day and age, if you do not keep your tools for protecting yourself up to date, then it's arguable that you should have your box 0wned again and again until you learn your damn lesson. This is already happening; Unfortunately, stupidity is defined as an inability to learn.

  2. Number one new error? by anocelot · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    I can just see the error message that's gonna pop up all the time.

    Installing....

    ERROR. 2gb Virus found! Halting Installation....

    --
    This tagline brought to you by 1500 monkeys in just under 17 years.
  3. One problem I can see... by Ice_Balrog · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Aside from the various anti-competitive problems... I can bet that MS will shove their anti-virus into the kernel (alteast somewhat), even though stuff like that is far better as a user-space program. And we probably won't be able to disable it. Yes, some of us who aren't dumbasses don't need anti-virus programs working all the time.

    --
    #include "sig.h"
  4. Re:I love the smell of Antitrust Lawsuits in the m by nonane · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    How the fuck would you do that when your user base is stupid enough to double click an executable attached on an email from bob@growyourpenis.com?