“Microsoft’s Windows AntiSpyware application is no longer flagging adware products from Claria Corp. as a threat to PC users. Less than a week after published reports of acquisition talks between Microsoft Corp. and the Redwood City, Calif.-based distributor of the controversial Gator ad-serving software, security researchers have discovered that Microsoft has quietly downgraded its Claria detections,” Ryan Naraine reports for eWeek.
“Anti-spyware activist Eric L. Howes, who serves as a consultant to Sunbelt Software, discovered the default changes during a recent test that included four Claria applications: Dashbar, Gator, PrecisionTime and Weatherscope,” Naraine reports. “According to the results published by Howes, four different builds of the Windows AntiSpyware beta detected the Claria products, but the default recommendation was ‘ignore.’ Prior to the recent tests, Microsoft’s AntiSpyware tool detected Claria’s products and presented users with a recommended action of ‘Quarantine.'”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Par for the course. Sleazebags.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Microsoft Windows average ‘survival time’ rises to 40 minutes for unprotected PC to become infected – June 27, 2005
Mafiasoft? Microsoft to roll out anti-virus subscription protection racket – May 13, 2005
Microsoft tries to turn its own security flaw into commercial gain – February 25, 2005
At last my evil plan has come to fruition!!! Ha! Ha! Ha! Haaaaa…..
If ya dont want spyware …. get a Mac !!
DUH !!
Honestly….. can people really be that dumb ?
“Honestly….. can people really be that dumb ?”
Judging by relative market share…..Yes!
When somebody else does it, it’s “spyware”.
When MS (or their soon-to-be-wholly-owned subsidiary) does it, it is “pro-active customer profiling support.”
the day i pull something sleasy like this, feel free to stop using my machines.
Which is worse, morally? The computer industry or the oil industry? I’m having trouble determining this for myself.
This is troubling news, but not untypical of Microsoft’s moral practices. Look after your mates I think it’s called.
This is at least as bad as putting a Koran on a tv set.
you wrote “This is at least as bad as putting a Koran on a tv set.”
why? what does this have to do with msfts crummy business atitude towards adware or spyware?
now i can understand notasucker’s response, ’cause the oil industry as of late get’s away with price gauging a la $2.50/gallon prices. to say this is as bad as putting the koran on a tv set is without merrit, and only illustrates your ignorance and bigotry.
Re: Joe
Flame away!
“Which is worse, morally? The computer industry or the oil industry? I’m having trouble determining this for myself…”
I think it’s the ignorant bend-everything-to my-worldview anonymous poster industry.
What is wrong with the oil industry selling gas based on the world price for oil. Americans have the cheapest gas prices in the world. Try buying gas in Europe.
You can’t buy oil from the owners of that oil at a discount. Why should the owners of that oil give a discount? Would you willingly discount your personal wages or services or products? If the demand was there why would you?
Don’t blame the oil companies for the world price for oil, blame the Arab controlled oil cartel and the commodity traders, most of whom are Americans.
And this is a mac story????
Oh yeah I forgot I am at PC Daily News….
Al sez – “Try buying gas in Europe……….Don’t blame the oil companies for the world price for oil, blame the Arab controlled oil cartel and the commodity traders, most of whom are Americans.”
Al, your intentions are noteworthy, but your facts are a bit muddled.
Gas is basically the same price in the U.S. as in Europe – the only difference is that 80% (and more) of the pump price of gas in western Europe is made up of TAXES. TAXES!
Taxes put on by bumbling, incompentant bureacratic politicians.
And the price of oil is based on demand. Who is the new customer that is sucking up all the oil in order to have a 30 day hoard of gas and oil for each citizen in its country?
CHINA. China is the main reason for the oil price rising – they are buying up gas and oil to stuff in the the ground as a gigantic strategic reserve.
Why?
Because they plan to go to war against Taiwan when….guess when China will have its strategic reserve in place? Around 2007-2009.
As soon as they go to war, the U.S. will put a blockade on the ports of China, cuttin off their oil.
China will then, it is worried, move north the Russia to grab its natural resources.
Scary situations coming up in the next years….and MDN is worried about spyware on a PC.
Microsoft: You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
easy there, not Al – which special edition game of Risk have you kids been playing?
when did China become the bogeyman? I agreed about gas taxes, but then your post spiraled downward…
Micro$oft – It’s okay if we say it’s okay, ’cause we know what’s best for you… just like your momma.
mac dood:
“Honestly….. can people really be that dumb ?”
As a university educator: The answer is a resounding yes. I’m surrounded by mediocre students constantly.
The question should be more accurately worded as: “Why on G-d’s green earth were these people allowed to survive past birth?”
Isn’t it nice not having to worry about spyware?
“Honestly….. can people really be that dumb ?” (mac dude) “As a university educator: The answer is a resounding yes. I’m surrounded by mediocre students constantly.” (Jim)
‘Jim’ have you heard the one that goes something like “those who can do, those who cannot teach”.
Just checking.
On another topic: Yes, Bill Gates and crew are scum. But I’m more interested in how the hell he is allowed to keep shafting consumers. Interested to hear from the American “Lefties” and “Righties” on their system that allows him to flourish.
Rock on Steve!
“Yes, Bill Gates and crew are scum. But I’m more interested in how the hell he is allowed to keep shafting consumers. Interested to hear from the American “Lefties” and “Righties” on their system that allows him to flourish.”
————–
Caveat emptor. If people are stupid enough to fall for Microsoft’s shenanigans, they get what they deserve. The mediocrity of their products creates an opportunity for Apple and other customer-oriented companies. I’d rather let the market self-correct than go crying to the government to fix it. At least that’s my view, as one of the 10 or so libertarians left in America.
not not Al – do your homework on China.
Find the facts.
Here´s a start:
http://washingtontimes.com/specialreport/20050626-122138-1088r.htm
China is the bogeyman.
(Why do you think they are not putting pressure on North Korea to de-nuke?)
China has the ball… raising oil prices, now thundering up the right side…OOOH! they attack Taiwan!… the US moves to block, the crowd goes wild… the Chinese go for Russia’s oil reserves now, Sierra Leone protests, wants a penalty… ouch! a reunified Germany attempts to rule the world again! and here’s – OH MY GOODNESS! a re-animated Nikita Khrushchev appears to be banging his shoe on Kim Jong il’s forhead…
We’ll be back to ‘Unlikely Scenarios’ after these messages
I love the way we all get suspicious about Microsofts plans. Has anyone thought that they may aquire Claria to tone down the agressiveness of their spyware or to shut them down all together. It would be 500 million well spent. Proably a lot less than it would cost to keep protecting Windows from their threats.
“Which is worse, morally? The computer industry or the oil industry? I’m having trouble determining this for myself.”
Let’s throw the auto industry into the fray also. Why after a century of progress can the BEST autos average only 40-50 mpg, and the more-mainstream autos (in the US anyway) pull only 20-35 mpg? I won’t even mention SUVs. Why is the auto industry only too happy to keep building guzzlers, and the oil industry only too happy to keep on pumping? Fsck it, the Amish are right. Hay is cheap and renewable.
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As for Microsoft, fsck them too. What a pathetic, underhanded move. What next, Explorer automatically TAKES you around to whatever MS is trying to promote? Anyway you know the Windows malware fight is lost when even MS is in on it.
“…they may aquire Claria to tone down the agressiveness of their spyware…”
hey, Spymon – all a lot have to do in life is bash M$, alright? We’ve created a whole philosophy in which Steve is God and Bill is the devil, and I think it’s pretty insensitive of you to suggest anything other than a dastardly motive here…
It’s my understanding that major software titles, including operating systems, have a “buyer beware” clause on the box or in the documentation that goes something like “Not for use for mission-critical work.” Essentially, that means, “Don’t bet the farm on these 1s and 0s.”
I hate to run to the defense of M$, but businesses, companies, corporations, educational institutions, governments, militaries, NASA, etc. etc. assume full responsibility for the use of computers, OSs, and software.