Microsoft Releases Malicious Software Removal Tool

DaHat writes "Hot on the heels of their release last week of Microsoft AntiSpyware, Microsoft today released their very own Malicious Software Removal Tool with the claim that it will detect and remove infections from specific pieces of malware, including those in the families of Berbew, Doomjuice, Gaobot, Msblast, Mydoom, Nachi, Sassier, and Zindos from your Windows 2000, XP or 2003 machine. Microsoft also promises to release an updated version of the tool on the second Tuesday of each month."

Comments

I know the vendors will moan

[Timesprout]

and some already are but lets face it, to currently reach the masses this sort of stuff needs to be pushed out through windows update.

Re:I know the vendors will moan

[Handbrewer]

We got to admit that for oil to reach the masses we have to push it through Standard Oil.

Your analogy is flawed. A convicted monopoly cannot be excused for such behavior. The best thing they could do was to fix their flawed software and thus choke that market by actually *gasp* improving their software security.

Re:I know the vendors will moan

[Wordsmith]

I have nothing against MS giving this stuff away, or even selling it if someone will pay. If another tool does a better job, use the other tool.

Monopolies are usually a problem because they hold all the cards, all the resources. It's impossible to compete. But there's nothing about MS's monopoly that prevents Adaware from existing. MS Antispiware, and now this tool, are both out. So if Adaware wants to continue existing, it had better to a better job or offer a better deal. If it doesn't, than what's the harm (to users) in it dieing out?

And to some extent, I'd say MS is OBLIGATED to help us fight malware, although I'd rather they fixed the fundamental design problems that make it so easy to wind up on your system. But that takes quite a bit of work, and even if they're working on it, it'll be a slow process. If my roof on my new house was leaking, and the contractor told me he didn't know any way to fix it that would take less than a year, I'd make damn sure he gave me free buckets to last me for a year's worth of rainstorms.

Buckets

[Skiron]

Why don't they just fix the damn crappy software, instead of putting buckets under the leaks??

Re:MS isn't going to do so well at this...

[DaHat]

The reason that they are only going to be doing it once a month has little to do with home users and more to do with corporate ones. Most IT people I know do not have time to search out threats to their network each day and make sure everything is up to date and properly patched... instead, they do so on a schedule. In order to facilitate that, Microsoft has done the same thing. Notice that new security bulletins came out today? Mark your calendar for a month from now and you'll see a similar thing.

Yes, such a system is potentially flawed where if a major exploit is found in the wild and is running loose, taking out systems right and left, the day after Microsoft issues their advisories/patches, things could be bad. However in such a case I have little doubt they would make a special exception for those big ones.

Fix the underlying problems now

[Xabraxas]

Thanks for the bandaid MS. Can you work on the root of the problem now or would that interfere too much with your business plan?

Re:umm.. try reading..

[ack154]

Well that is great and all... but that is what's known as an "alternative" to the other process. I was testing the other process. If I wanted to go download it, I would have. It's not like everyone will be like "hey, I wonder if it's a pain in IE... maybe I should just download it."

Re:Anyone else read that as...

[Chris Burke]

Yeah, it took me an extra second to parse as well. The funny part is that the editors could have gotten rid of one funny and twenty redundant posts simply by adding one word to the title and saying: "Microsoft Releases Tool to Remove Malicious Software"

No, wait, the funny part is I thought "editing", much less "clarifying confusing sentence structure", was something the editors here did.

Re:Nobody's saying it

[twiddlingbits]

Do you trust MS tools to scan your PC and actually do a GOOD job of it? I think Ad-Aware and others will still be around for those of us who think that is like letting the fox guard the chicken coop. If they start to get stomped, they can always sue. I haven't seen if the tool actually lets the other tools run and if they discover things it does not,and vice versa. I did hear it doesn't tell ya what it removed, and THAT is NOT good.

Re:Nobody's saying it

[oconnorcjo]

Microsoft is using their OS dominance to crush another market for their bottom line. When this tool gains 95% market share because it's packaged with the OS, who will be able to sell a virus scanner?

Actually I don't think there SHOULD be a market for AntiVirus software. Normally I would agree with you. I think IE and WMP are examples that could be talked about in regard to embrace/extend and stifling competition.

However, no other OS in history has had to have an Antivirus industry EXCEPT Microsoft!

The idea of an entire industry built on the fact that Microsoft can't clean up after thier shit and so third party companies make a fortune doing just that is pretty sad. I actually like the idea that MS is starting to think "maybe we should wipe our own asses" is a good thing.

Re:...and other grammatical anomalies

[lawpoop]

Actually, this might be seriously unfunny in the near future. If MS takes a hardline against open source or GPL licensed stuff, or make they claim that any particular app in using infringing code, a lot of slashdotters might be saying "I told you so".

Re:mal.icio.us ?

[rsteele19]

Yeah, great. And every time I try to go visit it, I end up putting the dots in the wrong places, like deli.cio.us, or de.lic.io.us. And forget about trying to tell someone verbally how to find it...

"Yeah, go check out this site, it's called delicious."
"Delicious.com?"
"No, d-e-l-dot-i-c-i-o... argh, just frickin' Google it. Oh wait, it's not in Google...