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NEW (FREE!??) Microsoft Anti-Spyware

It found some stuff that adaware, spybot and norton AV missed. So it seems to be a decent program.

Is it worthwhile to leave it running all the time for realtime protection? I already have Norton running realtime.
 
yeah it found stuff on mine that spybot, spysweeper, adaware, bazooka, mcafee, pc-cillin internet security, mcafee stinger, kazaabegone, and hijack this did not find... good stuff.


mwahaha I have all these updated and running from a disk (except pc-cillin) using vbasic. They even update automatically then you just reburn the disk. BOO-YAA!

-green
 
I installed it on my mom's system. It didn't find anything at all. But then, I run that poor computer very, very tight 😉

I did notice that they need to attend to how it behaves under a Limited account. That's rather surprising for Microsoft themselves to overlook. I made each of the Limited accounts into Computer Administrator accounts for one log-on and that got the repeated "non-default homepage" alert addressed.

Interestingly, the settings are per-computer too... for instance, I told it not to show "allowed alerts" and it applied that setting to all the users. Not quite what I was expecting there, either.

For those who have the need, this looks like it'll be a worthwhile product.
 
Beware though ... I just read a rumor on the net that MS might switch this to a subscription service!
I guess it's time again to send MS a friendly email reminder what I want as a customer!
 
i'm trying it out. Found some stuff in my registry. Just been using it to scan...no resident protection.
 
Originally posted by: daveshel
Looks like the M$ legal department is getting bored and are looking for another anti-trust suit.
Click to expand...

They're not allowed to develop software anymore? :roll:

Until they decide to bundle this with Windows, I don't see anything legally wrong with it. There are plenty of other free antispyware programs out there.
 
Originally posted by: MrChad
Originally posted by: daveshel
Looks like the M$ legal department is getting bored and are looking for another anti-trust suit.
Click to expand...

They're not allowed to develop software anymore? :roll:
Click to expand...

Well part of AT&T's monopoly status was just that. For a long time they couldn't sell Unix or computers it would run on. But I guess the government only beleives in convicting companies of doing bad things and then pretend nothing happenned nowadays.

Until they decide to bundle this with Windows, I don't see anything legally wrong with it. There are plenty of other free antispyware programs out there.
Click to expand...

I agree with that, but I doubt that anti-virus commercial software people feel the same. Some people's stock didn't react well to MS coming into anti-bad-software market. But then again that's normal when people are successfull at making Windows software. If they make enough money, then they can expect MS to come along and destroy them to take their market. It's like a time bomb. If your lucky MS buys you out, and you get a decent retirement, or if your unlucky they buy a competitor out and your company dies a slow painfull death.

Such is life for a US software company.
 
Should remove the "free" from the title. It's free as it's "beta". Many are sure your gonna pay for this soon.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/i....spyware.ap/index.html

Microsoft's tool, expected to be available within 30 days, initially will be free but the company isn't ruling out charging for future versions. "We're going to be working through the issue of pricing and licensing," Nash said. "We'll come up with a plan and roll that out."
Click to expand...

They'll get u used to having it free (beta), then charge for it.

In my opinion, it's there O/S and bundled software that made you vunerable to this in the first place. This should be free by them to fix what they phuked up.

How will you feel about this software when they want you to pay for it ? monthly, yearly, one time fee, whatever.

This came up on slashdot.org about 2-3 weeks ago, I'd have to post some of the comments. Some funny, but funny as they are true.



Some experts blame Microsoft for Windows vulnerabilities that help spread spyware. Microsoft and some others, meanwhile, said blame should be directed instead at spyware manufacturers.

"Spyware usually gets on your computer through human error," said Marc Maiffret of eEye Digital Security Inc., which regularly discovers serious Windows flaws.

Yeah, sure, if starting the computer is human error. It takes what, five minutes or less, for an XP box to get riddled with viruses, Trojans, etc.? The error is Microsoft didn't ship an operating system that could remotely be considered secure. You can't connect to the network to download SP2 without risking the computer. Where's the sense in this? Where's the user error?
Click to expand...

Microsoft's disclosure that it may eventually charge extra for Windows protection reflects a recognition inside the company that it could collect significant profits by helping to protect its customers.

And they don't see a conflict of interest here? Exactly what incentive would they have to fix security holes which are allowing malware into the machine in the first place if they are selling other products to "block" these kinds of attacks, or are they planning on charging for patches?
Click to expand...

Ah hell, read all of it Here


Wait and see, this won't be free.
 
Well part of AT&T's monopoly status was just that. For a long time they couldn't sell Unix or computers it would run on. But I guess the government only beleives in convicting companies of doing bad things and then pretend nothing happenned nowadays.
Click to expand...
AT&T's breakup was a lot differant than Microsoft's, I hardly think it's a fair comparison.
If your lucky MS buys you out, and you get a decent retirement, or if your unlucky they buy a competitor out and your company dies a slow painfull death.
Click to expand...
Or you could always make something newer/better. This type of competition is hardly isolated to the software market, just ask the drug manufacturers.
 
While I can understand arguments against a Microsoft anti-virus (since viruses usually DO exploit bugs in Windows or other MS applications), I don't see how you can blame Microsoft for spyware problems. Not all spyware is installed by ActiveX controls through IE. Many (most?) come bundled with applications from other vendors (Kazaa comes to mind). Even the ActiveX-installed spyware usually prompts you prior to installing (and Microsoft has tried to address this with IE 6 SP2).

Legitimate companies follow Microsoft's guidelines for program installation; shady ones do not. That's not Microsoft's fault.
 
hmmm. i ran spybot and adaware, then ran ms. ms didnt detect anything, and then if froze up not allowing me to close it at the results window. i had to end it through the task manager.
 
Try running a batch file on your system with the program running. Does it challenge you as well?

This feature can thankfully be disabled, though.

Update: I can disable this feature but cannot sunsequently re-enable it. Buggy...
 
Originally posted by: TechnoPro
Try running a batch file on your system with the program running. Does it challenge you as well?

This feature can thankfully be disabled, though.

Update: I can disable this feature but cannot sunsequently re-enable it. Buggy...
Click to expand...
Might want to submit a bug report so they can get it fixed 😉
 
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