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Microsoft Releases AntiSpyware Program
Nathan Weinberg writes "Microsoft released this morning Microsoft AntiSpyware, the product of last month's acquisition of GIANT. As I write in my report on my site, the program is very powerful, and certainly measures up to and may even beat Spybot and Ad-Aware. However, it's also pretty buggy, and Microsoft might have already sneaked in a pay subscription service."
This is just scary:
1. Release buggy browser
2. Sell antispyware software
3. Profit?
Direct and indirect download links
Well, let's hope this program will be free for all people who are plagued with IE hijaking programs. With patches so slowly coming, this might be a good PR for Microsoft who is taking some hard hits from critics.
Some call me Howie Feltersnatch
Does nobody see this as a potential problem, as Microsoft will now have a vested interest in NOT fixing their O/S so that spyware can't get in?
Microsoft refuses to patch their browser wich is the cause of most "crapware" at least for all the AOL people and now they relese a sftware product to clean up or try to clean up what is initially their fault. As long as they don't bundle this with the OS it is not anticompetetive. But microsoft itself is. I mean they now bundle a firewall so no one needs to get kerio or zone alarm. If this thing get's bundeled along with the Antivirus the bought someone is gonna sue them again and then the government is going to look the other way because they are gonna say windows can't work with out. I just hope I'm wrong.
Expire? Why should it expire if it is free?
Because it's a Beta. Most Microsoft Betas expire.
- AMW
It is just Giant rebranded with a few things missing(which I assume is just because it is in beta). Giant was a very good anti-spyware program so I expect the MS rebrand will be just the same.
The real question will just be how much effort MS puts into keeping the definitions and program updated as new types of spyware come down the pipeline. As effective as the program is right now, it is how effective it will remain in the ever changing world of spyware that is what really matters.
No beta will answer that question, only the test of time will. But, this is just Giant rebranded and it is a very solid platform, which is why MS bought it in the first place.
You are who you are, let no one tell you different. But, never close your mind to a new point of view.
I pretty much have to agree with you here. I still beleive that Windows 98 is probably the most used Windows out there. Every time I happen by someone's house that isn't very computer savvy, they're running Windows 98.
Why?
Because that is what came with the computer. Remember that to most people, a computer is just an appliance like a TV or a VCR. At the same time, I see the number of Windows 98 machines dwindling simply because for the cost of repairs on one of these machines, you can buy a brand-spankin' new Dell box with Windows XP on it and a printer.
With the threat of people jumping ship to another OS, MS may make back their money by just keeping their customers?