Microsoft want to compete with Lavasoft and Webroot

[Refalm]

Every Windows user has either heard or is using one of the following programs:

• Ad-aware
• Spybot
• Webroot Spy Sweeper

They remove so called spyware. Espacially Ad-aware has become a compulsory program on most Windows desktops.

Microsoft likes compulsory Windows programs, as long as they're from Microsoft, so now they've created (read: taken over some other company) their own spyware remover:

 

quote:Microsoft: Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) is a security technology that helps protect Windows users from spyware and other potentially unwanted software.

Read more (Microsoft.com)

Pathetic is all I can say.

[ January 17, 2005: Message edited by: Refalm / BOB ]

[pc_freak]

It would be a much better idea to protect the OS from spyware rather than charging money again to keep your OS spyware free.

[Refalm]

quote:Originally posted by PC_Freak:
It would be a much better idea to protect the OS from spyware rather than charging money again to keep your OS spyware free.

Yes, but you got to admit that it's a brilliant market strategy.
People pay you for something that creates a problem, and then pay you again to solve the problem you created in the first place.

[WMD]

I've heard it doesn't block Alexa.  Typical, no?

[Refalm]

quote:Originally posted by WMD:
I've heard it doesn't block Alexa.  Typical, no?

They've placed Alexa in Internet Explorer themselves, so it would be a little rediculous to remove that  

[Orethrius]

I predict an increased Ad-Aware market base as disgruntled users fall away from an ineffective pseudo-technology that fails to dispose of the most rudimentary of browser hijackers (read: Alexa).  The corporations will continue to use PestPatrol, and swallow smaller operations that decide that using ANY anti-spyware created by Microsoft is a good idea.  No, I don't see a threat here.  In the words of the immortal Professor Butterhands: "NEXT PICKSHA!"
  :cool:

[mobrien_12]

Is MS giving this software away free of charge or are they selling it?

[Refalm]

quote:Originally posted by M. O'Brien:
Is MS giving this software away free of charge or are they selling it?

Free (for now).

[MrX]

what type of crap will MS come out with next?
anyways, they can say what ever the want, make whatever util they will, and still all the normal user base is going to install it. they will just do what ever MS sais anyways

Mr X

[Aloone_Jonez]

Bill Gates has never suffered from a computer virus, but he has injured many aware ad-ware and spy-ware assaults. I hope he is trying to solve this problem by making anti-ad-ware software, I would like it to be like sp2 and available for free. If its not it would really take the piss, imagine you buy Windows then you buy MS anti-spy-ware and MS anti-virus, they could make a fortune.

But there again if they make their anti-mal-ware products free and started shipping bundling them with Windows then the other companies would complain and take them to court claiming that MS are extending their monopoly.

They can't win, they're wrong either way!

Edit: Grammar

[ January 17, 2005: Message edited by: Aloone ]

[cahult]

How about shielding spyware from Windows?      

[Orethrius]

quote:Originally posted by Aloone:
But there again if they make their anti-mal-ware products free and started shipping bundling them with Windows then the other companies would complain and take them to court claiming that their extending their monopoly.

They can't win, they're wrong either way!

[ January 16, 2005: Message edited by: Aloone ]

Actually, I think the PestPatrol and Ad-Aware supporters would have fits of joy, as long as the software had a simple Wise Uninstaller.  Microsoft and typical, pro-competitive behaviour?  In this lifetime?  Not bloody likely.

[Canadian Lover]

Why does this only work with 2000/XP? I guess its impossible to get spyware on a 98 machine!

[Orethrius]

Why does this only work with 2000/XP? I guess its impossible to get spyware on a 98 machine!

No, but it's considerably easier to remove MSIE and the problems inherent under 98.  

[PacKiN 1i1 SoMeThiN 4 BG]

Here is an article that I recieved in my email by a guy named Brian Livingston... Take what you want from it but all I see is one of Bill Gates Employee's   promoting his new product, not a writer!            
INTRODUCTION