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Microsoft Anti-Spyware to Be Free of Charge
fubar1971 writes "During his keynote speech at the at the RSA Security Conference Bill Gates announced that the MS antispyware will be offered for free. From his speech: 'We've looked hard at the nature of this problem, and made a decision that this anti-spyware capability will become something that's available at no additional charge for Windows users -- both the blocking capability, and the scanning and removal capabilities.' Additional information at Government Computer News." Update: 02/16 16:57 GMT by Z : Microsoft was previously considering charging extra for this service.
Work for Change & GET PAID!
The Consumer version will be FREE. Enterprise/Corporate version is NOT. They only let out one side of the story, for PR effect, it worked. You missed the flipside, for Enterprises they will charge.
MSFT's solution to not be quite as good as third party offerings.
Perhaps you forget, this used to be a third party offering. And the reason MSFT bought them is they were the best at remeoving the spyware, and had the best detection methods.
I was using Giant Antispyware for a few months before MS bought them. And I've seen very few changes (maybe because the Giant Company developers are still working on it.)
DarkMantle I been bored, so I started a blog.
Also, I believe they were talking about the Personal version when they said "free". For a centralized corporate edition, they would most likely charge a fee. I would be very surprised if they didn't.
If it were free for corporate use this would sink Spysweeper and CounterSpy, who both charge a per-seat license for a separate scanning system.
Symantec is talking about adding spyware detection into their existing virus scanning software this March and we'll have to judge how effective the product is vs Microsoft's solution. Since they already offer a virus management solution in the corporate edition, this would allow companies already using it to just get the benefit in a simple upgrade that pushes from a central server to the clients.
"Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart, he dreams himself your master."
The other day, on my lunch break, I went to look for song lyrics on the 'net. A few hours later, my comp started acting weird. I scanned it and BANG, there were quite a few spyware on it.
Granted, I was running IE (latests patches) on Win2k SP4 with a user that has administrative privileges (which no one should do but heck at my company my only user is admin on all workstations what can I say), and I didn't go surf on porn and/or discutable websites; I went to look for lyrics on regular websites.
Therefore, even though I'm really pissed when I need to clear machines that have spyware (I got 2 this morning only), it's clearly not the user's fault most of the time.
Of course our user aren't admin on their workstation but with all the BHO and ActiveX vulnerabilities, this doesn't prevent crap from being installed......
I now use Firefox at work, even though it's technically prohibited... I don't care. I'm often surfing to look for solutions for many things, and many "anti-spyware" websites contain themselves spywares... I'm not surfing with IE for NOTHING except our internal ticket application and our apps, which were developped using IE-standards.
Instead of badmouthing MS for its flaws, the linux community should be thanking them. If MS plugged the secutiry holes, and made it as secure as linux, and if they declared that Windows was only going to work on a subset of hardware on the market today (as linux does, though that subset is growing) which would fix much of the stability issues with the OS (other issues are those of the developers of 3rd party apps) then linux would never stand a chance. Windows is not 100% consistent in its interface or interoperability, but it sure as hell beats anything the linux community has to offer. Don't whine that Gnome/KDE are so nice. They are clones. They are the lniux opportunity trying to make the machine as easy to use as Windows has already done.
The linux commuity and the windows world have just gone down 2 different paths:
Linux - stability/security
Windows - interoperability/easy of use
Linux is making gains in the interop and ease of use department. Windows is making gains in the stability and security departments. It only remains to be seen who can gain on the other's strong point fastest. The number of diversity of developers in the linux community would make you think that linux would have the ege, but my money is on MS. The number & diveristy is both the linux community's strng suit and weakpoint. MS only has to agree internally to do something. WIth 10,000 linux developers each with their own idea of what is great and every linux user saying that this is what is wonderful about linux, MS can actually move faster when they need to.
IDIOT PROOFING
That's a point I made when we were considering utilizing this software with our users. I only use it when someone has a problem, and here's why: The thing runs just like zonealarm. Now, I LOVE zonealarm and things that alert me when things aren't going the way they should for MY PC, but the average user usually has no clue what they are looking at when they see messages asking them "Allow or block". I would like to see security levels with this software, so that you could simply tell it how secure you want it, or what specifically to always allow, and block everything else. Then I wouldn't get a million calls from my two test users every day, asking "Which one should I click on this, allow or block?"
"No one is more miserable than the person who wills everything and can do nothing." -Emperor Claudius 10 BC - AD 54
I use Mozilla as well and I can assure you that you will get spyware on your machine. I have been using Mozilla since it's creation and initial release. I still from time to time come across a new little spyware file that tries to move things around. Bottomg line is don't trust any O/S that MSFT puts out to protect you. Always install all the tools; AV, AS, FW, and NAT... wait, why not switch pver to linux and use Mozilla there, that way we don't need any of this and I get more speed and flexability from my computer!!!
Lavasoft has put out something on that in their press release yesterday. The removal is not because of bribes, but because apparently WhenU no longer meets their threat threshold to be included in the spyware definitions database.
//Information does not want to be free; it wants to breed.
Not just XP, but it has to be XP Service Pack 2. I know a few people who just won't run it.
My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
You want responsible? How about get to the root of the Spyware problem.
Provide a control panal app or a button on IE that shows and allows removal of IE BHO's. Take it a step further and only allow BHO's to be installed through that button or CPL. How about a single function or button that shows ALL locations and all programs that are set to start on bootup (even the ones that can hook and hide themselves from showing when using regedit). Not make the users trudge through 20 or so different hidden locations that msconfig does not even show. How about when I remove something from that startup list, it can't come back or a gatekeeper to allow much more control of what goes in there. How about a method to stop a process and prevent it from starting again?
All of these functions would be seem relatively simple and provide protection or at least prevent spyware from hiding from the user. Those steps would be user friendly compared to a spyware infection and would be leaps and bounds having to constantly remove spyware app of the week that uses these sneaky unchecked methods to get onto and wreck your system. Third parties have solutions that offer some of what I suggest, MS should start with those before even thinking about a signature based product.
Bad boys rape our young girls but Violet gives willingly.
The argument holds up just fine. While it is possible to run them on Wine without having to buy Windows it is not legal to do so according to the EULA assuming you live in a country where that restriction is legally enforcable. That is why your argument about "Linux isn't free because you need to buy a computer" is bullshit. Linux can be legally run on anything, MSIE can only legally be run on Windows even though it is possible to run it without Windows.
It doesn't list VNC as spyware. It detects it, mentions what it's used for, and asks if it should be removed. VNC can easily be used to spy on people without their knowledge or consent. If someone snuck VNC onto your computer, it's great that AntiSpyware lets you know about it. If not, two clicks tells AntiSpyware to ignore VNC forever.
Jesus Christ, you act like it just goes ahead and deletes VNC without even asking. I think it's great that it lists VNC. You are just too self-centered to see the reasoning behind it.