Microsoft buys anti-spyware company

[klah]

http://www.microsoft.com/press...dec04/12-16GIANTPR.asp

REDMOND, Wash. -- Dec. 16, 2004 -- Microsoft Corp. today announced that it has acquired GIANT Company Software Inc., a provider of top-rated anti-spyware and Internet security products.
...
Microsoft plans to make available to Windows customers a beta version of a spyware protection, detection and removal tool, based on the GIANT AntiSpyware product, within one month. The upcoming beta will scan a customer's PC to locate spyware and other deceptive software threats and enable customers to remove them. The tool will be configurable to block known spyware and other unwanted software from being installed on the computer. It will be available for Microsoft Windows 2000 and later versions.
...
The anti-spyware technology will complement the enhanced security features available in Windows XP Service Pack 2 to provide a higher level of protection for Web browsing and other Internet computing activities.

 

[wallsfd949]

Microsoft plans to make available to Windows customers a beta version of a spyware protection, detection and removal tool, based on the GIANT AntiSpyware product, within one month. The upcoming beta will scan a customer's PC to locate spyware and other deceptive software threats and enable customers to remove them. The tool will be configurable to block known spyware and other unwanted software from being installed on the computer. It will be available for Microsoft Windows 2000 and later versions.

Don't we have something like that already.... oh, yeah... Spybot S&D and Hijack This. Last time I checked, both were free (donations recomended) and they were not controled by headquarters.

I have a hard time trusting anything M$ puts out in the 'security' dept.

 

[styrafoam]

Kind of seems like a conflict of interest to me. Most spyware would be a non issue if it didn't have browser weakness/settings to exploit. Is MS going to charge for a spyware program that cleans up what the free browser lets happen?

 

[drag]

This is part of their trusted computer stuff. They will simply incorporate the software as part of a anti-malware features of the next windows.

Remember they also bought a anti-virus firm.

What they will probably do is use it as part of a monolythic tool to indicate unsigned software and help people uninstall stuff (spyware, viruses, free software etc) that they don't want anymore.

 

[Schadenfroh]

i would have bought webroot or just talked pepimk into letting me bundle spybot with windows.

 

[dguy6789]

Well, think of how much spyware a program can stop if it is funded and supported by someone as big as ms. Yea ms has made som mistakes in the past, but at least they release TONs of updates to try to fix any problems, and they are free.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: wallsfd949

Microsoft plans to make available to Windows customers a beta version of a spyware protection, detection and removal tool, based on the GIANT AntiSpyware product, within one month. The upcoming beta will scan a customer's PC to locate spyware and other deceptive software threats and enable customers to remove them. The tool will be configurable to block known spyware and other unwanted software from being installed on the computer. It will be available for Microsoft Windows 2000 and later versions.

Don't we have something like that already.... oh, yeah... Spybot S&D and Hijack This. Last time I checked, both were free (donations recomended) and they were not controled by headquarters.

I have a hard time trusting anything M$ puts out in the 'security' dept.

Then don't use it. Not everybody who uses the internet is aware of Spybot or know how to use HijackThis. As somebody who works at an ISP, i can tell you i deal with thousands of people everyweek with problems, and almost half of it is due to some form of spyware whether it's adware, browser hijacks, dialers, or any other form.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
i would have bought webroot or just talked pepimk into letting me bundle spybot with windows.

Because spyware is much more malicious than just pop-ups. You have hijackers that take over a browser, some that ruin your TCP/IP protocols, and even dialers that call LD and to 1900 numbers. As prevalent as this crap is now, it's only going to get worst if prevention is not built right into the OS.

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: styrafoam
Kind of seems like a conflict of interest to me. Most spyware would be a non issue if it didn't have browser weakness/settings to exploit. Is MS going to charge for a spyware program that cleans up what the free browser lets happen?

:laugh:

You hit the nail on the head

 

[JackMDS]

The program has nice clean easy interface.

Past the Useless "Big Politics" that is Not under our control, it is actually a nice piece of software.

Very helpful to None Geeks who want to clean their system without risking the installation.

I first scanned with:

1. Ad-aware, it reported Nothing but few useless MRU keys.

2. SpyBot came Up with 10 legitimate complains.

3. Giant Aniti-Spyware (the software that Microsoft Acquired) scanned faster than the two above and came up with 9 warnings most are real.

When you point to a "Bad File" entry there is a nice window with good explanation about the nature of the troubled fie. It is a good feature that is missing from the other programs especially for people who can Not make decision about the "Junk" entries.

Link to: Giant AntiSpyware (Sep. 04 the before MS era.) Screen Shot.

Is it better for Pro? May Be. At least in my humble test it is in par with what we are used to.

:sun:

P.S. This post is based on a Trial version of the software that was available on Shareware Download Sites.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: Hardcore

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
i would have bought webroot or just talked pepimk into letting me bundle spybot with windows.

Because spyware is much more malicious than just pop-ups. You have hijackers that take over a browser, some that ruin your TCP/IP protocols, and even dialers that call LD and to 1900 numbers. As prevalent as this crap is now, it's only going to get worst if prevention is not built right into the OS.

i know. spysweeper does the job as well if not better than giant

 

[mechBgon]

As prevalent as this crap is now, it's only going to get worst if prevention is not built right into the OS.

Maybe someday there will be, like, Limited accounts or something.

 

[JackMDS]

I do not have Spysweeper.

However, the trial of the program in the link bellow was licensed from Giant it has the same engine and very similar interface.

It has a more updated Data Base, and my test it seems to be much more sensitive than Spybot.

Link to: http://www.download.com/Counte...0-8022_4-10337359.html

:sun:

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

As prevalent as this crap is now, it's only going to get worst if prevention is not built right into the OS.

Maybe someday there will be, like, Limited accounts or something.

:Q

 

[DeeSlanger]

Giant Antispy ware is really good go check out the free trial... BBReports rated it the best of alloem....very comprehensive software.....

It will find threats that free programs do not...