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Microsoft Launches Anti-Virus Public Beta
Chris Gondek writes "The Register has a story reporting that Microsoft has released a free beta of its upcoming anti-virus application. According to Microsoft, the new anti-virus application known as Windows OneCare Live is 'like taking your PC in for a tune up at the service station'. Microsoft announced in May that it would be releasing an anti-virus application based on software developed by GeCad, a Romanian anti-virus company that Microsoft purchased several years ago." More details from InformationWeek.
Sheesh, look at how many times the word 'beta' appears on that page. They're trying to out-beta Google...
Be a real patriot: Question authority. Think for yourself. Formulate your own conclusions.
IMHO, it's only a "good thing" from a relative standpoint. Sure, it's "good" that MS realizes spyware is enough of a problem that they decide to buy out someone who has already been working hard to solve the problem. (From a few recent comments I read over on ArsTechnica after they posted a spyware-testing article, Giant's product is supposedly quite good. In fact, arguably the best available right now, of the non-freeware spyware removers.)
As the parent poster pointed out though, this stuff isn't even an issue for non-Windows users. I'm using my PowerMac G5 tower right now, and it's rather nice not to have to wait while my anti-virus package loads up (further cluttering up a crowded system tray), and then having to wait while the thing does its automatic updates every day or two. No spyware/malware worries either. Just boot up and go....
I do PC on-site service calls for a living (Mac too, on the odd occasion we get them), and I can honestly say that virus/spyware issues generate the vast majority of my income right now. From that angle, I guess I should be happy there's such a big problem. But somehow I'm not... I often tell my customers about the Macintosh alternative (both the good and the bad), and at least 40% of the time or so, they decide it really sounds like it's "right up their alley" and they consider one for their next system purchase.
Call me crazy or whatever... but after 14 years of working with computers, I just feel like it should be as enjoyable an experience for people as possible. Using as much as 30% of your CPU time running background tasks like firewalls, virus scanners and anti-spyware packages seems so unnecessary....
Check out my website: Playfully Clever
So, now Microsoft are releasing third-party programs themselves for fixing their own bugs? If they're trying to make us trust their OS, I can't see the point.
[sig]
How would changing the oil and brake fluid on my PC make it more secure?
By the way, what happened to the metro format that was supposed to rival Adobe's PDF?
I refuse to use it simply on the grounds that it has the worst name ever conceived.
What happens when one of the major Movie studios implement some bullshit DRM tech that smells, looks and sounds like a virus? Will they take steps to treat it as such, or will their obvious conflict of interests prevent them from acting on it?
They have a lot to prove before I even think about using this application.
Mod me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!
until there is a vulnerability discovered to install a virus through the anti virus application?
You tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson: never try.
And 12 critical flaw patches for it have since been released.
For most users, the only thing in the windows security alert that could not be fixed by simply turning something on was antivirus software. All the others (auto-update, firewall) were included and could just be activated. Now they have one for that last bit (not like I use thier versions of the stuff, and hate autoupdate, but its good for the _normal_ user).
By reading this, you have given me brief control of your mind.
Victims of M$ Wordstar, DRDOS, OS/2 and soon Norton
Microsoft's anti-spyware app comes from Giant which made probably the best anti-spyware app available. So how good was GeCAD's anti-virus app?
"taking your PC in for a tune up at the service station" was just a metafor to describe the feeling of using your PC afterwards.
[sig]
I picture something more like Whack-a-Mole. There's a lot of (security) holes and moles (viruses) pop up in them, but OneCare is like a giant hammer that keeps missing (and maybe making more holes :)
It seems any profitable application that gets developed on the Windows platform gets noticed by Microsoft and they immediately start buying up companies, releasing a free version, or making their own. They are trying to take out Adobe (Photoshop, PDF), Antivirus (McAffee, Norton, etc), they already killed Netscape, Office Suites, E-mail clients, and they are working on killing SQL servers.
Why does anyone think it is a good idea to partner with Microsoft again?
The more you know, the less you understand.
Should they have to pay for it? I think the only fair way to do this make it free for users. There is something very wrong about paying MS "protection" fees monthly or whatever to keep your OS "safe".
Microsoft may claim that the reason they need to charge for it is that if they bundled it they would run into anti-trust issues. But when has that ever stopped them before? Make is free, integrate it into the OS, and take some responsibility for your poorly thought out security framework.
If you wanna get rich, you know that payback is a bitch
"The company that invented software vulnerability has launched a new AntiVirus application. Microsoft executives say the new initiative, when combined with the relaxed security in such products as Office, Internet Explorer, IIS, and Outlook Express, allows the company's revenue streams to come full circle; making them both the cause-of and solution-to most of your computer's security problems."
It's OK for newbies as it also reminds them to backup and defrag too. Also it turns the Windows Firewall into a proper one.
Think I'll stick with NOD32 though.
Conor "You're not married,you haven't got a girlfriend and you've never seen Star Trek? Good Lord!" - Patrick Stewart
When you order OneCare, you will receive box that, when opened, only contains a picture of the last check you sent them for your EA. The Live version of OneCare is more like performance art. They will let you accompany them to the bank to watch as they deposit your check.
Not only does it get into the age-old dilemna of "who will mind the keepers if the keepers are in charge?", and whether or not M$ will attempt to use their internally (and presumably profitable) anti-virus software in an anti-competitive manner against all other virus-detection products out there.
Given M$ history on both issues, my answer is never never never, and in this case I stand by my sig and state my opintion that the Open Source solution will always be much better minded and competitive in this critical area.
...Open Source isn't the only answer -- but it's almost always a better value than the alternatives...
woohoo!
i'll be beta testing 'carry my butt around in a brown paper bag 0.9' earlier in the week - maybe I can work this in before my appointment to beta test 'light my head on fire 0.2'.
Somehow I wouldn't be surprised if the virus definition files are updated on a semi-annual basis.
401 - Attention span not found
Yeah. Now there's a trip to the service station I'd like to see.
"So, what kind of car is it?"
"It's an '03 Nissan Maxima."
"And... you say there's some kind of problem with the steering?"
"Well, yeah. Actually, it ran great for about twelve minutes, then it seemed to just take on a life of its own and started trying to run other cars off the road."
(pause)
"I don't think it'll pass inspection like this."
So not only do people now have to pay a huge amount for Windows, but people will have to essentially pay for 'protection' from vulnerabilities built into their own product? Sounds like a regular racket to me. "Pay us or your OS gets it in the knees"
I can see that Norton Antivirus will have a hard time installing on Windows Vista. Soon you will see all kinds of incompatibilities in Norton Antivirus 2006-2007 or whichever year Vista is launched.
I lost my signature... help!
And seriously, would you trust the company that left ao many security holes in their software to fix something (your PC) for free?
There has to be a catch. Perhaps they will install their own spyware onto your system?
Maybe I could make a deal with Linus to toss some bugs into the kernel so that I can sell antivirus software. He'd get appropriate kickbacks of course.
Ran this on my wife's computer at home last night. It took over an hout to scan her system and then reported she had 4 viruses. At the end, it then informed me it could not remove the viruses and would I like to report this back to MS? I then ran AVG update and scanned my computer and could find no viruses. Great product, it reports bad stuff and then states it is unable to do anything. WTF?
Does it remove the detected virus? If so is it just a "format c:" command?
Have you used their products in the last few years?
Norton Anti-Virus: An incredibly bloated AV scanner that rarely can REMOVE any viruses, on the off-chance it actually detects them.
Norton Internet Security: Includes the bloated AV scanner, and a Personal Firewall that regularly shits itself and screws up the whole TCP/IP stack. The only fix? Un-install Norton Internet Security.
Ghost: A good program until Symantec bought it, now most of the features that made it useful are gone.
Screw Symantec. They're actually WORSE than Microsoft when it comes to selling shitty software. Much worse.
I have had this for the past few months, beta testing it. I finally took it off after I received a known virus (the FBI one) saved the attachment, scanned it and it found nothing. I updated the program just to be sure and then scanned it again, still nothing. Oh well, so much for that idea. I went back to AVG Free. It wasnt a terrible product, but missing known viruses that have been around for a few days is really really bad...
When your greatest competition is making effective and useful products for free, you will have to follow that same route. So when does google come out with its own free operating system?
He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
And we all know the next logical step to Microsoft's venture... in addition to creating leaky software, a patchy OS, and software to supposedly patch said vulnerabilities and protect you from incoming threats, they'd go off and form a new company that actually builds their OS and software packages the right way.
Oh wait... someone's already doing that.
;-)
401 - Attention span not found
is how many new viruses will suddenly appear for Macs, Linux, and BSD? I am guessing that all 3 platforms will have magnitudes more virus about 3 months after MS's stuff goes gold.
The good news will be, that MS will still have loads of virus and the *nix will survive the virus attacks without the needs of anti-virus software.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
Its good that they are helping out those who can't help themselves. But the truth of the matter is there are those of us who run windows, who DON'T run antivirus/antispyware, and do just fine. I am vehimently anti-anything on my gaming machine at home. If you are smart about your online habits you don't need antivirus/antispyware. If you aren't then you do. Platform doesn't matter.
-everphilski-
Too bad it doesn't seem to work with firefox, how am I not surprised.
Install Windows Antivirus Beta? *yes*
Are you sure you wish to uninstall Windows?
cheap labor conservatives - they want to keep you hungry enough to be thankful for minimum wage.
They've had the virus out in beta since Windows 98, so it's good to see them beta the antidote now.
MS has killed so many third party extensions (networking, browsers, compilers, data bases...) that it is hard to make a business case for extending MS any more. It isn't that the MS things are better or anything, they just come free/low cost/easily integrated with the bundle. This essentially killed off the better comptetitors.
It's interesting how few add-on providers have been attracted into WinCE space. MS pleaded with compiler vendors etc to add value, no doubt to see what stuff worked then dup it. Nobody seems to have been suckered though.
I wonder whether the virus scanner will become "part of the OS" like IE? Surely integrity tools need to be free standing to have any hope of functioning properly. My prediction: vulnerability will increase and the virus scanner itself will get exploited.
Engineering is the art of compromise.
You don't sleep. You call 9-1-1.
They've got Xbox Live, now OneCare Live, and there was something else too. Is that becoming their new thing? Sticking Live on something to brand it? Is it sort of like the Apple 'i' or the Google 'g'?
Just last night I was called out to a business I free-lance for and pretty much redo their network because the owner's nephew downloaded Morpheus and a butt load of other crap onto one of the systems. Spent three hours out there redoing it all and removing the spyware and what not. Not to mention but the secretary kept closing the "Norton Antivirus has expired....." window and had no updated definitions. Oh well, easy $300 in my pocket. If Microsoft will offer the anti-virus free like their spyware software...I will use it for customers. I prefer ETrust Antivirus from Computer Associates.
Click Click Bloody Click PANCAKES!
'like taking your PC in for a tune up at the service station'
Yeah, folks break into my car all the time because only the glove box is secure. Exploits to defeat my door locks with a bic pen and rabid goat are all over the Internet. Then the bad guys store porno in my trunk to sell later and rent out time on my engine. I regularly take my car to the service station to have it tuned up because of this.
this public beta will be as successful as the public beta of the Sony DRM software?
Support NYCountryLawyer RIAA vs People
On the one hand, I'd like to give MS the benefit of the doubt in thinking 'who better to protect an OS than the manufacturer itself?', but the (strong) other hand feels like it's the blind leading the blind. Perhaps we should start a dinking game and take a shot each time a new exploit is found within the AV program itself. Q: How many developers at MS does it take to write an AV program? A: 0!
Why is spyware taken for granted as something that exists? That there is a whole industry segment devoted solely to the removal of viruses, spyware, and the like is a tribute to Microsoft's incompetence. Now they release their own product into that segment.
It would be a triumph of marketing audacity if it weren't so despicable.
sigs, as if you care.
Wonder if Norton and McAffee like the idea of a monopolist using their abusive monopoly powers to destroy their core business.
I think you're thinking of the Windows Live portal, and yes, they're tacking it onto damn near everything of theirs that uses TCP/IP. It's supposed to serve the same function as adding "online", but that was already taken. Frankly, I find it less annoying than people including a TLD as part of their product name (ie, .NET, X.org, Openoffice.org).
Clearly the marketing guys did not run the name past any British folk.
Just like the old days of Wang Computers introducing "Wang Care", and wondering why Brits fell about laughing.
No, I'm not going to explain if you don't understand.
If this is true, then either 95% of the computer users are idiots or 95% of the comptuer users are anal-masochists.
I gave 'em my email address. The next page said I was "good to go" and to press next, which does NOTHING.
I'm using IE.
Every time I give those hose-bags a chance they just reinforce my opinion of them.
-Peter
Wow! Here's a dual core PC for $1000!
Linux:
$ 0 Operating System
$ 0 Open Office 2.0
$ 0 Evolution Messaging System
$ 0 Virus Protection
$ 0 Required Future Software Upgrades
$??? Downtime
----
$ 0 Total
Microsoft:
$150 XP Pro/Vista Small Business Deluxe Platinum Edition SP0
$200 Office 2003/Asta La Vista Small Business Deluxe Platinum Edition SP0
$ 0 Outlook (included in Office Suite)
$ 50 Virus Protection
$??? Future Required Software Upgrades (to maintain support againt "sunset" policies)
$??? Downtime
$??? Sanity when an instant messaging virus compromises 10,000 computers.
----
$400 Total
I dunno. If OS X stays DRMed to Macs, and DRM arrives for Windows Machines (no more free copies of Photoshop/Office), Linux is going to clean up overnight
As pointed out before, these commercial tools seem to come up short on protection against other commercial products, kind of you scratch my back, etc. Microsoft is the last company you can trust to protect you against its "partners" -- and at this point, after SONY, Symantec is running a close second.
I don't think it's annoying really, I just want to see if some smart guy gets rich off selling the name "Office Live" to MS.
John
To charge for the fix to a problem they essentially created and have done a piss poor job fixing.
And in the end, it will be yet another MS program that will have vulnerabilities all on it's own to worry about. Not a chance that I'm going to trust OR support this program. There are great alternatives from vendors with track records spanning years.
* Scanning started... Internet Explorer is required for this operation. Please set IE as default browser.*
* Internet Explorer found, numerous known vulnerabilities. Please download Firefox and set as your default browser. *
* Scanning for viruses... 2 found.*
* Viruses identified as Enterprise level viruses, please upgrade to the Enterprise version to complete the removal. *
* Grandma me to fix it *
Otherwise, it'll be like paying the mafia for "protection."
Do you really want Office Dead?
Windows 3.11 for graveyards?
Whoever modded this has his or her head up her arse.
If you bought a house from a disreputable contractor with a proven bad track record and with all the publicity in the world against him. A degree of insight would tell the new owner he or she is a bloody fool.
I don't know where the original poster got hold of such assumptions about the wide ranging laws of responsibility but in the UK common law states "let the buyer beware."
The contract with the new owner might indemnify the contractor for all faults not specified in the manufacture. Should the new owner have used a surveyor -almost demanded in England and Wales, the surveyor and the new owner might be deemed responsible.
msav.exe
what an outstanding piece of work. still today it keeps my computer worm-free (at least it sais so..)
I am an idiot
* don't actually have one of these. sorry.
Let's get together and feel alright.... I can see the commercials with the Marley soundtrack now....
"Waste not one watt!" - CZ
Anybody got a torrent running with a linux version of this thing? maybe a .rpm or .deb? ;-)
Happy to Help. :) - Zach
Microsoft's making an anti-virus program? Wait, where have I heard this one before....
Oh, wait, that's right! MS-DOS 6.2! Now I remember! Man, those were some hilarious times.
This is the same reason I don't trust Microsoft AntiSpyware, honestly. Think they'll actually pay attention to their antivirus program this time, now that public opinion's far more swayed against them and many people think they're to blame for the viruses/worms in the first place?
Demanding constant attention will only lead to attention.
...contact the owners of this site http://www.oxymoronlist.com/ and ask them to add "Microsoft Anti-Virus" to the list.
in other news... Malboro announces new cigarette that actually cleans your lungs...
Granted, I'm testing with IE 64-bit edition, but sheesh. Microsoft could at least pretend to support their own OS.
Or Microsoft's .Net... hey, wait...
That's so old I can smell the moth balls through my screen.
I know this is oversimplification, and it has been said many times before, but I can't help it.
Dear M$
Instead of making a spyware remover, why don't you change the behavior of your OS so that spyware won't be a concern in the first place?
I think that would make people hate you less.
Sincerely,
John@doe.com
- Donny was a good bowler, and a good man.
the new anti-virus application known as Windows OneCare Live"
What's in a name indeed... "OneCare"... I know what that one care is. $$$$$
the page reads "Wow, we must have really messed up and are currently down. Please come back later."
I will bend your mind with my spoon
Granted, there's still a lot of nasty stuff that just spreads by looking for open TCP ports, but if you're behind a NAT router, this is not an issue.
If it made sense for spyware companies to target Mac or Linux, they would, but it would generate so little money for them because of the smaller installed base that it wouldn't be worth it for them. Most spyware gets bundled with software that people want, like Kazaa. How hard do you think it is to bundle something with an application for, say, Linux or Mac OS X, and have it place itself as a hidden file in your startup folder? It doesn't have to have root priviledges to make itself autorun in a user's environment.
Actually, the diversity of Linux makes this probably less likely to occur, just because most Linux software doesn't get distributed in binary format because of the incompatibilities between different distributions (dependency and VFS layout issues). If you're distributing source, someone's going to figure out that you're including some nasty stuff in your software. But it is entirely feasible and easy to do in Mac OS X because it is a standard platform. But as I said, with the Mac OS X user community being outnumbered by Windows users something like 20-to-1, it just isn't a big moneymaker and no one's going to bother. You don't make money from spyware unless you're getting hundreds of thousands of installations.
If Mac OS X were to become as ubiquitous as Windows, you bet there'd be a ton of spyware for it. It's because of stupid users, not because the platform is somehow more secure. Spyware typically runs in userspace, no root priviledges needed.
[...]based on software developed by GeCad, a Romanian anti-virus company that Microsoft purchased several years ago.
That is a bit ambiguous. Microsoft did not purchase GeCad. They only purchased the antivirus.
Anti-virus? You mean, they finally added the ability to uninstall Windows from "Add and Remove Programs"?
http://illhostit.com/ - Webhosting
"Your computer's operating system language is not supported by Windows OneCare. Currently, Windows OneCare can only be installed on an English language operating system. This limitation will be addressed in later releases.
Your computer's Regional and Language options are set to a language or locale that Windows OneCare does not support. Currently, Windows OneCare Beta can only be installed on computers with Windows Regional settings that are set to English. This limitation will be addressed in later releases.
To continue installing Windows OneCare on this computer, please verify and if necessary reset your Regional and Language Options to English, and then try the installation again."
And they keep looping me around in a Purchase (asking money for a beta???) or Trial question, then "If you are interested in nominating yourself for the Windows OneCare beta program, please go to Windows OneCare Live Beta for more information.", then I get sent to the homepage again, there I can choose to install the Public Beta, then I have to type my e-mail address, then It checks my "system and settings", and it goes back to saying my OS is not supported...
Kaetemi
Windows: Have to pay for anti-virus, have to pay for firewall, have to pay for spyware removal, have to pay for a copy of windows and then you have to pay someone to set it up. *BSD/Linuxes: Have to pay for someone to set it up. This is just another thing that Windows users will have to pay for in order to use. Why does Microsoft have to be so greedy?
Isn't this just a recognition that security issues are here to stay. At least MS is doing something about it. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/12/01/secfoc_mac os/Other OSes aren't immunue [TheRegister.co.uk] Malicious code can originate and run on anything. Just because you're not root doesn't make you safe, surely?
Anyway, doesn't this also address malicious applications that can arrive via third-party software. (MS isn't responsible for everything? Yes, I must be new here, etc.)
There are so many companies offering crap antivirus right now that, for users' own protection, it's probably best for Microsoft to put out a good, integrated product. There are a few good ones like F-Secure, Trend, NOD32, and Avast!, but they all cost money except Avast!. Most folks don't want to spend $40+ for antivirus software, especially when they have to buy one for each computer they own. Most of the other free AV packages lack important features like on-access scanning, and so a lot of people buy the garbage $9 no-name-probably-contains-shitloads-of-spyware antivirus they see in the bargain bin at Staples. But if Microsoft were offering one that they stood behind, I'd definitely consider it, and if it were free, especially something that would be an automatic update or included in the next service pack, that would be even better!
Microsoft is not the monopolist in this case. They are providing competition in a market that's becoming dominated by half-assed products that cause more problems than they eliminate. And besides, this is long overdue. Microsoft used to ship MSAV (an MS-branded version of Central Point Antivirus) with DOS 6. They should have kept that up when they shipped Windows 95! It was the only feature of DOS that did not make it into Win95. Disk compression, all the DOS command line utilities, everything else made it into Win95, but no antivirus.
If Microsoft can make anti-virus and anti-spyware software to cover shortcomings in its own OS, shouldn't this be included as PART of the OS? They can make a great argument why file compression, web browsing, disk defragging and other utilities should be part of the OS. Why not this as well?
(Before I get flamed because Microsoft is currently giving its BETA away for free, check the facts. They will most-likely charge a subscription fee for them later.)
sig: sauer
I can see how Linux on the desktop could be helpful in an environment where you might just have data entry clerks who need access to a few web-based applications and occasionally a word processor, but for people who do more than that, there really is no viable alternative to Windows, particularly from a time/cost POV.
If you're talking about getting the same level of support and compatibility assurances, you better start making comparisons with RHEL and the like, which are even more expensive than Windows!
Also, how much support do you think you're going to get from your hardware vendor when your Linux box stops working and they can't troubleshoot it because the hardware wasn't designed for it? Sure, Dell will sell you a Linux workstation, but you'll pay more money for it. Business is about making more money than you spend.
Most businesses, for that reason, will continue to buy cheap Dell PCs preloaded with Windows and MS Office, hire the most cost-effective people to run the datacenter (the recent tech school grads with MCSEs, not the Unix geeks from the university), and rely on the fact that they can call Dell or Microsoft at any time to get instant phone support, and actually have some assurance that the other software they buy will be compatible with their operating system because it says so on the box and there is a company a 1-800 phone call away to help if they have trouble. That, like MasterCard says, is priceless!
I wouldn't trust IBm to report on all of IBM's software vulnerabilites, Sun to report on all of Sun's software vulnerabilities either. Or for Red Hat to report on Red Hat's vulnerabilities for that matter. The difference is that since RH is open source, their code can be scrutinized by outside-the-curtain individuals as well.
And as to the other part of the commentary, do you really think that the giant from Redmond won't try to leverage their closed-source API, etc. with their own internal anti-virus software against other vendors in the marketplace, based on their past business practices?
I've been beta testing Microsoft software since I PURCHASED DOS 2.0...
Got this error message. Truth from microsoft: Wow, we must have really messed up and are currently down. Please come back later.
Kinda off topic, but since you brought of Symantec...
I had to deal with them today. We need a cloning solution to deal with overwhelming number of new PC's. Those bastards wanted 40 bucks a machine and 800 dollars for the server to do what we need (which is basically nothing more than a live cd, dd, and inflating the partition). They were insistant we couldn't just buy one copy for the machine we were basing the clone from. Their greedyness resulted in us buying nothing from them and me creating a debian live cd with parted and automation scripts. The idea is a destructive cd that you only have to plug in the power cable to use (using system beeps for errors and warnings). It will save not only time, but space because it's definately a pain connecting monitors, keyboards, mice, network cables to 15 PC's as opposed to 15 PC's lined up with just a power cable.
If an officer ever threatens to taze you, say you have a pacemaker.
No, really, trust us, we will keep your computer safe.
...do you need medical help? You seem to be turning blue.
Stop laughing, we are serious. We even have a firewall and everything.
Why are you rolling on the floor?
No, the GUI interface wasn't designed by Disney, it is just easy to use.
Um...
We already saw this in 93 or so.
Oh, wait, now I see . . .
(1) Write buggy OS
(2) Sell to public
(3) $PROFIT
(4) Fix some of the bugs
(5) Sell bugfixes to public
(6) $PROFIT even more!
(7) $sys$Ethics!
At home, between the ages of 13 and 15. And do you think they can afford $800 for Photoshop, or $200-400 for Office? When their Dell is DRMed, and the download doesn't work but one time out of a hundred, they're going to pick up OpenOffice or GIMP.
So, the tide might take time to change, but the tipping point will happen immediately.
We spotted this on MarketWatch yesterday and submitted it but got rejected. Now you post it today from someone else. Niiiiice.
Secondly, I'm offended that the Borg Collective thinks we should pay them to fix THEIR problems.
2 cents,
Queen B
HDGary secures my bank
"Uninstall Windows? [cancel] [ok]"
Your computer does not have enough available hard disk space. Windows OneCare requires at least 550 MB of free space on the system partition to proceed with Setup
550MB? For an antivirus solution? You've got to be kidding.
What on Earth could be taking up that much space?
Intelligent, don't think so.
Do you really trust Microsoft to protect your box or look out for your interests, not theirs
doh
Homer
There are none so big as those that are huge.
What? How are you going to install Linux on hardware that isn't supported? If it's some software controlled modem or wifi card, sure, but that's only while Windows has so much marketshare. And if you have someone who's installed an OS once before, they'll probably notice the lack of network connectivity.
Your entire argument hinges on the fact that people are stupid, which is usually a good argument. However, in the long run, the better solution will always win, especially where software and IT is concerned.
PS: Good business people do not care about promises, they care about results. Having an 800 number that costs you $120 an hour will only feel good until you talk to the guy across the street who had someone set up a linux-based workgroup that hasn't been rebooted in 9 months. If you're thinking "That's impossible!" then you either haven't used Linux, or you don't know how.
According to Microsoft, the new anti-virus application known as Windows OneCare Live is 'like taking your PC in for a tune up at the service station'. ...every 5,000 miles
like taking your PC in for a tune up at the service station
At least with my truck I don't have to take it in for a "tune up" once a month.
I prefer things that, rather than being easy to fix, just simply don't break themselves constantly.
I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
Yes, there are flaws in Windows XP! You can download updates/patches from windows.microsoft.com. Of course not all flaws are fixed and never will be and that is because Microsoft is runned by humans.
Since when did Antivirus software constitute as a flaw fixing program? What Antiviruses patch OS flaws? I believe one of the key points most people are missing is the fact that the majority of viruses do not exploit flaws but simply take advantage of the flexibility of Windows (Not saying Windows is more flexible than any other OS, but it itself is flexible.) Because some trojan sets itself on startup doesn't mean it has exploited any simple or complex flaw.
This also brings up the argument of Linux/Mac vs. Windows for virus count. Why is there no or barely any viruses for Linux and Macs? Because the majority of basic users are on Windows and more chances of finding potentially vital information is greater.
It's so easy to say, "Hey Microsoft, you better not be charging for that." But what do you think would happen? They'd be in court the next day spending thousands to millions in in antitrust cases.
And you must be around what, 12?
First of all, IT professionals don't often use Photoshop. Heck, I barely even used MS Office as an IT professional other than helpdesk support. Sure, I wrote documentation in Word and used Excel for spreadsheets, but it's not like I was doing the kind of stuff that required 10 years of Office experience. I was an administrator, not a secretary. When I was between the ages of 13 and 15, I had a Commodore 64. I'm sure that Bank Street Writer and Koala Paint are what made me a good network administrator. It had nothing to do with the internships I had during college. It was all my C64!
If you're talking about, say, a graphic designer, who might need something as powerful as Photoshop, I dare say that someone that ambitious may very well actually save his money to buy it. After all, most of them are using Macs anyway and have no problem paying the Apple tax (i.e., your hardware costs twice what it should if it were a PC).
Now go back to your l33t w4r3z and leave the discussion to us adults.
Microsoft's OneCare:
Profit.
OneCare refuses to allow Kazaa Lite through the firewall. I'm guessing it's the unusual extension (.kpp) that the executable uses. (It's loaded by an external loader).
Alternatively, it could be the + characters in the pathname... heck if I know.
I see Microsoft have finally produced an uninstaller for Windows - how nice! :)
Uninstalled this crap almost immediately after installing. This beta should be called cement, it brought everything to a standstill. I'll stick with AVG.
Is there any 'anti-virus' s/w that will remove the DRM infested wma files - that refuse to play in windows media player/mplayer2/ even winamp, and instead opens the DRM page in Msoft website?
Wait,I dont want to remove the file, but I want to remove the DRM & play the music.
Why does yahoo do this
...I'll just call you immature.
You're argument against my point is, apparently, that I'm 12 years old and you've used a Commodore 64. Gee, where have I heard that before? But first, let me address the tepid meat that muscled itself out of your asshole, and into your best try at an argument.
So, IT people just use VI? They all go from turning a computer on into hacking bash scripts and using BitchX? Most programmers I know started out doing their homework on PCs, and said, hey, what do I use to type this shit up? And lo, someone handed them an Office 97 CD, and they typed. Hey, what do I use to paint this shit up? And lo, they were handed Photoshop, and they edited. Hey, how can I make my own web page? Sprang forth Dreamweaver. Now we are possibly younger than you, and still enjoying our youth. If that makes you cranky, well, I'm sort of glad.
The bottom line is, when the barrier of entry to everything is basically $0, why do you settle for anything less than the best? People rarely do. So, while pirating remains trivial, people are going to use the best piece of pirated software they can get their hands on. If pirating becomes exponentially more difficult, people will start considering other options, and if Linux and other OSS are still at $0, they're going to fare very well.
If troll bait, I've bitten hard, and at least earnestly. And if you actually believe people do not pirate software, please keep jumping up and down. Your balls will drop eventually.
NAV for home users is terrible. How Symantec can release two completely dissimilar antivirus products boggles my mind. SAV (i.e. corporate) is pretty good as far as maintenance goes - it seems to catch the viruses w/reasonable resource usage. NAV (i.e. home) is terrible. It constantly looses its license key -- I've seen this sevearal times on at least two different model "years" of NAV on completely different computers. Somehow they've done some sort of DRM that just doesn't work. Plus the GUI is much heavier in NAV.
Are you anti-gaming on your gaming machine?
But alas, any responsible individual will do as much as is possible to protect their systems. Not just to maintain the integrity and protection of their data, but also to prevent their machines from being used against others. Anyone who doesn't take the basic precautions is being irresponsible.
Cyric Zndovzny at your service.
Ive been using one care for a couple of months now, somehow i get a lot of invites to betas, it came right before my Norton came up for renewal. So i tried it. It had a few bugs at first, one was when i had both Norton and onecare going at once. Now its just one care. I think this will be great for my in-laws(mine have macs) they just download it and forget about PC care. Just click a bunch of yeses for the firewalls when you download, and pop in that same CD after the scheduled tune up for backup and your done. Both my parents know little about backup,defragging,cleaning files etc., this does that. They can improve it tho by having internet backup instead of hard CD.(think Katrina or housefire)
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The article says that OneCare Live is "like taking your PC in for a tune-up at the service station." Actually, that's Live Safety Center beta.
I think MS already has it.