Invisible Malware Install 65MB Large

Paperghost writes "Words fail me with this one - don't have the .NET framework on your PC to utilise the adware maker's technology? No problem, they'll download it for you without you knowing. The problem is that it's a sixty-five megabyte install." From the article: "...the size of the .NET framework to download can vary drastically depending on what extras you have - don't forget the service packs, SP1 is an extra 10 or so MB in size. But I'm actually understating the amount of space used when installed, as .NET can total up to 100MB."

Comments

Re:65 MB without the user knowing?

[traskjd]

Keeping in mind that the article is trying to do two things:

1. Point out that spyware is getting worse

2. Show that the .net framework is huge

The latter point is simply trying to get people (especially anti-Microsoft people) fired up over nothing. The .net framework is ~23MB, and the service pack is ~10MB. There aren't any "optional extras" to the .net framework as such however they could be talking about components that AREN'T part of the .net framework. You get the framework in several flavours and the standard install is the largest. I'm willing to bet that the total size is how much harddisk space is actually consumed after install - and not the volume downloaded. I'm sure you could say that the Java Runtime is 100MB - it doesn't mean you download 100MB however.

Call me cynical (been on slashdot for many a year now) but parts of this article seem designed to enduce high emotion with a slashdot type crowd.

- JD

Symbiotic viruses

[goombah99]

The course of virulent biological viruses tends to be the early ones are bad and tend to kill their hosts quickly. Over time they adapt to become less deadly to the host. A good example of the is the Bubonic Plague which is believes to have mellowed itself since the black plague. Stealthy viruses like AIDS are a good example of why longevity of the host helps in some modes of transmission.

Infact some models have shown its even in a species interest to play host to a disease causing entity that is more lethal to a competitor or predator. E.g. mice that carry diseases fatal to predetors.

In rare cases tolerance gives way ot full symbiosis where each helps the other. Perhaps a bacteria that helps deal with some more dread disease or an enteric digestive aid. Something that fixes nitrogen in your roots.

So anyhow maybe the course of virsuses are indeed ones that tune up your system, protect you from other viruses and make sure your computer is working optimally. Perhaps they will get out of your way when you are actually using it and just steal cylces and bandwidth when you wont miss it.

In that case 24 hour tech support is indeed on the way.