Windows XP SP2 Beta Includes Built-in Virus Scanner

[Aves]

Shamelessly ripped from /. :

"InternetNews.com reports that Microsoft has begun beta-testing a built-in virus scanner for its Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) that will be included in the final product in mid-2004.

I get the feeling that the AV companies are definitely going to feel a pinch from this. I know that a lot of us will probably want more sophisticated AV software but for the average user it doesn't matter. Knowing that Windows has AV built in will definitely deter them from buying a 3rd Party package.



Edit: Just to be clear, I'm not necessarily against the idea of MS building in some basic AV so long as I can disable it.

 

[Kelvrick]

Damnit. Now I'll have to keep all the other updates instead of having one neat little file.

 

[TommyVercetti]

First Microsoft destryoed the Solitaire industry, then the screen resolution setting utility industry, and now the AV industry? WHERE DOES IT STOP?

 

[jjones]

Guess I won't likely be updating to SP2. Last thing I want is more bloat.

 

[m2kewl]

don't worry, in 25 yrs, billy gates'll own the world...

mark my words

 

[GoodToGo]

Originally posted by: aves2k
Shamelessly ripped from Slashdot:

"InternetNews.com reports that Microsoft has begun beta-testing a built-in virus scanner for its Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) that will be included in the final product in mid-2004.

I get the feeling that the AV companies are definitely going to feel a pinch from this. I know that a lot of us will probably want more sophisticated AV software but for the average user it doesn't matter. Knowing that Windows has AV built in will definitely deter them from buying a 3rd Party package.

........HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Ladies and Gentlemen, here We have Microsoft that has so many holes in their software that it would put swiss cheese to shame. And now they plan to put Anti Virus software in their OS? Oh boy imagine the irony when someone hacks through it or uses some unknown vulnerability in it and it corrupts/infects the whole system. Yay for Microsoft!

 

[saxophonoia]

Originally posted by: jjones
Guess I won't likely be updating to SP2. Last thing I want is more bloat.

Same here. But there will probably be some reason for me too....booooooo.

 

[BatmanNate]

I have a SP2 beta slipstream install disc and I didn't notice this feature. Granted it's not installed on my system, but I did play with it for a little while before it crashed the testbed system.

 

[KingNothing]

Meh. If it's anything like XP's built-in firewall it'll give some protection for people who are too stupid to buy anything, and people who know better will still buy someone else's product.

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: GoodToGo
........HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Ladies and Gentlemen, here We have Microsoft that has so many holes in their software that it would put swiss cheese to shame. And now they plan to put Anti Virus software in their OS? Oh boy imagine the irony when someone hacks through it or uses some unknown vulnerability in it and it corrupts/infects the whole system. Yay for Microsoft!

Exactly what I was just saying in #neochat.

MS is going to be a laughing stock if someone finds a buffer overflow in the AV software that lets them own the box. That's not to say that there aren't any vulnerabilities in Norton or Mcafee but who's looking for them there.

 

[brxndxn]

Originally posted by: TommyVercetti
First Microsoft destryoed the Solitaire industry, then the screen resolution setting utility industry, and now the AV industry? WHERE DOES IT STOP?

ROFL.. That's what I feel too..

Good.. we get more bundled software in Windows. I'm happy as long as I can disable it. MS even tried nondisableable (awesome word, btw) Messenger in Windows XP and no one used it anyway. It proves that just because MS includes it doesn't mean people will use it. Ya, people use IE more now.. but Netscape really sucked.

AV software should be free, IMO. But then again, I think all software should be open source. But then again, I don't use Antivirus software in the first place because I back everything up and I hardly get viruses. It's hard for me to justify a 2-10% performance decrease just so I can avoid formatting my computer once extra every 3 years.

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: KingNothing
Meh. If it's anything like XP's built-in firewall it'll give some protection for people who are too stupid to buy anything, and people who know better will still buy someone else's product.

Thats the thing. This is a good thing. Most computer users are stupid. Some is better than nothing.

 

[Aves]

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
I have a SP2 beta slipstream install disc and I didn't notice this feature. Granted it's not installed on my system, but I did play with it for a little while before it crashed the testbed system.

It may be a newer version of the beta.

 

[fs5]

Originally posted by: GoodToGo
........HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Ladies and Gentlemen, here We have Microsoft that has so many holes in their software that it would put swiss cheese to shame. And now they plan to put Anti Virus software in their OS? Oh boy imagine the irony when someone hacks through it or uses some unknown vulnerability in it and it corrupts/infects the whole system. Yay for Microsoft!

My thoughts exactly, bypass the so called AV portion of windows and you got yourself a deadly virus/worm.

 

[WobbleWobble]

Originally posted by: jjones
Guess I won't likely be updating to SP2. Last thing I want is more bloat.

People complain when Microsoft doesn't provide enough security. People complain when Microsoft provides the means of security (a.k.a. bloat). When are you guys going to be happy?

I think it's great Microsoft is integrating an antivirus program. They should enable it by default as well as the firewall and allow power users to disable and run their own. Hopefully it prevent normal users from screwing themselves over.

They had Mcafee in one of the older Plus! for Windows. Plus! 98 it was I believe. Too bad they stopped putting it in Plus!

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: saxophonoia

Originally posted by: jjones
Guess I won't likely be updating to SP2. Last thing I want is more bloat.

Same here. But there will probably be some reason for me too....booooooo.

Yeah, wishful thinking on my part. Some software that I want to use will come out requiring SP2. blah.

 

[Abhi]

Finally !

 

[saxophonoia]

Originally posted by: jjones

Originally posted by: saxophonoia

Originally posted by: jjones
Guess I won't likely be updating to SP2. Last thing I want is more bloat.

Same here. But there will probably be some reason for me too....booooooo.

Yeah, wishful thinking on my part. Some software that I want to use will come out requiring SP2. blah.

Exactly. They'll get you somehow.

 

[Tab]

I've always felt that Microsoft should have incorporated some sort of Anti-Virus program in their OS. Everyone seems very quick to judge MS.

 

[slycat]

hell yeah...i'm gonna ditch them all once MS gets virus scanning integrated.
its prolly a deal with some 3rd party who will provide the engine and updates etc...
works for me.

even better if they integrate spyware catcher.
just hope its not a update for a fee kinda dealio...

 

[Joker81]

I don't see why they don't just get some other company to do it for them. Alot of users would probably upgrade to a Virus Pro on their system. SO both companies can win.

 

[TheBoyBlunder]

Microsoft making an anti-virus scanner is a good idea like Ralph Nader's run for the presidency is a good idea. It just won't work.

 

[AFB]

Originally posted by: m2kewl
don't worry, in 25 yrs, billy gates'll own the world...

mark my words

Marked

 

[WobbleWobble]

I doubt Microsoft would make their own scanner. As slycat mentioned, it's probably a 3rd party deal. Just like how the Win2K/XP defrag program is a lite version of Diskeeper and the XP burning software is from Roxio.

Yet both companies still release their premium versions of the software, so it's no problem.

 

[Gibson486]

i dont think it is a bad idea. I dont get why people bash MS anymore. Seriously, over 1 million people use their OS. HOw do you expect them to make it bullet proof? If over 1 million people used Linux, it would be the same exact way.