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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.

15 of 290 comments (clear)

  1. Ripping off Google again by BushCheney08 · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.
  2. Like taking your PC in for a tune up by Basehart · · Score: 5, Funny

    How would changing the oil and brake fluid on my PC make it more secure?

    1. Re:Like taking your PC in for a tune up by nightsweat · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well, it would get the oil and brake fluid out of your PC for one thing!

      --

      the major advances in civilization are processes which all but wreck the societies in which they occur - A.N. White
  3. Press Release: by jav1231 · · Score: 4, Funny

    "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."

  4. Re:So what happens when... by JimmehAH · · Score: 4, Funny

    Both Microsoft AntiSpyware and the Malicious Software Removal Tool remove the Sony rootkit.

    Doesn't mean they'll continue too, though.

  5. Yeah. Great analogy there. by sammy+baby · · Score: 4, Funny
    From the writeup:
    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'.

    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."

  6. Microsoftian Business opportunity by NaCh0 · · Score: 2, Funny

    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.

  7. Re:How long ... by ch-chuck · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't know, but such conspicuous miscarriages inevitably lead the company to post record quarterly profits.

    --
    try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
  8. Re:How are you supposed to develop for Windows by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Indeed, how dare they release MS Paint to compete with photoshop!

  9. 9-1-1 by this+great+guy · · Score: 3, Funny
    --
    How do we sleep when our beds are burning?

    You don't sleep. You call 9-1-1.

  10. Cars are far more mature, dumbass! by TurboStar · · Score: 2, Funny

    '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.

  11. Re:So what happens when... by Fishstick · · Score: 3, Funny

    I hadn't heard this before (apparently been living under a rock).

    Googled and found Microsoft will wipe Sony's 'rootkit'

    but it says (my emphasis)

    Microsoft will update its security tools to detect and remove part of the copy protection tools installed on PCs when some music CDs are played.

    as of the story on 11/13 -- have they made this update yet? What "part" of the rootkit does it remove?

    --

    There is much cruelty in the universe, John.
    Yeah, we seem to have the tour map.

  12. sign me up by wardk · · Score: 1, Funny
    yes, I want to expose my windows box* to beta virus blockers. I live dangerously. I don't care about my personal data.

    I am an idiot



    * don't actually have one of these. sorry.

  13. a tune up --- from HELL by Ancient_Hacker · · Score: 4, Funny
    yeah, right. it's nothing like when I take my car in for servicing:
    • I take my car in when I want, not every time I start it up, nor when a nagging yellow balloon suggest I do so.
    • My service guy fixes what I suggest they fix, not 2322 other things that were not really broken.
    • When I get the car back, there's always MORE things working better, not fewer thing working, and the rest working more slowly.
    • When I add the Barbie mudflaps, it doesnt break the neon underlighting.
    • On a car you unscrew a plug to drain the oil. On Windows, it screws you and their product plugs are definitely draining.
    • When I take my car in for repair, the guy never says "oh, you need to upgrade to the latest version first".
    • Servicing a car doesnt require you to install an installer to install the service.
    • When the guy is repairing my car, he doesnt constantly mumble "90 seconds more" when it's actually going to take another hour.
    • The car guy has never said he can't install a new muffler as my glove box is too small to hold the muffler.
  14. Re:True but by Frumious+Wombat · · Score: 2, Funny

    So this would make their usual OS as "Microsoft Anti-Public Virus Beta"?

    --
    the more accurate the calculations became, the more the concepts tended to vanish into thin air. R. S. Mulliken