“Microsoft, whose Windows operating system has been plagued by viruses, spyware and other security problems in recent years, last week began rolling out some free software to help users cope with those threats. The software giant introduced a ‘beta,’ or preliminary, version of a free product designed to block, detect and remove spyware. A free antivirus program is planned for later release,” Walt Mossberg reports for The Wall Street Journal.
“Unfortunately, the company’s first free security program has some serious flaws and lapses. I’ve been testing Microsoft’s antispyware software, called simply Microsoft AntiSpyware, and I can’t recommend it, in its present form, over the leading third-party antispyware program I have favored, Webroot’s Spy Sweeper,” Mossberg reports.
“Microsoft AntiSpyware does nothing at all to protect users of the rival Firefox Web browser from home- and search-page hijacking. It detects and corrects such hijacking only in its own Internet Explorer Web browser. The company says it is trying to focus on things that affect “the largest number of customers,” and it notes that the vast majority of users rely on IE. But this… smacks of favoritism toward Microsoft products… It’s good that Microsoft is finally offering users tools to protect their Windows computers. But it’s going to have to do much better, and it’s going to have to avoid the perception that it’s using security as a tool to promote or favor its own products,” Mossberg reports.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Was there some secret deal between the United States DOJ and Microsoft to resolve the anti trust case that stipulated that Microsoft would do absolutely nothing or just generally screw up for a specified period of time until competitors could balance things out a bit? Or is Microsoft just slowly collapsing from its own weight right before our eyes? Are you a Windows-only user? Get a Mac, it’s much better. More info on how to add a safe, secure, powerful, and fun Mac OS X machine to your computing arsenal here.
MacDailyNews Note: Walt Mossberg is the author and creator of the weekly Personal Technology column in The Wall Street Journal, which has appeared every Thursday since 1991. Newsweek magazine calls Mr. Mossberg “the most powerful arbiter of consumer tastes in the computer world today.” Time magazine calls him “the most influential computer journalist.” And Rolling Stone calls him “the most powerful columnist in technology.” The Washington Post declared Mr. Mossberg “one of the most powerful men in the high-tech world” and “a one-man media empire whose prose can launch a new product.” And the New York Times calls him a “protean critic of the new economy’s tools and toys.” Mr. Mossberg was awarded the 1999 Loeb award for Commentary, the only technology writer to be so honored. For seven years in a row, 1995-2001, he was named as the most influential journalist writing about computers, in the annual ranking published by Technology Marketing magazine.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Microsoft’s ‘free’ protection scheme debuts in attempt to whack Windows malware – January 07, 2005
this does not surprise me.
MDN, ya crack me up
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re MDN’s: “MacDailyNews Take: Was there some secret deal between the United States DOJ and Microsoft to resolve the anti trust case that stipulated that Microsoft would do absolutely nothing or just generally screw up for a specified period of time until competitors could balance things out a bit?”
What an awesome explanation. I’d assumed that the deal involved DOJ laying off Microsoft in return for campaign contributions to Republicans. But my thinking is just so very cynical and depressing. Even though my explanation is probably more accurate, MDN’s is more fun. Much appreciated.
Whaddya expect? It was made by Microsoft.
If I were Bill, I’d sell my shares and disappear. Close the doors in Redmond and move on to a life of leisure. At some point, don’t you think that guilt will have some effect on him? Maybe that’s why he gives so much to charity?
Uhh guys? http://www.bbspot.com/News/2005/01/microsoft_antispyware.html
“Many Microsoft Windows users who downloaded the recently released AntiSpyware program from Microsoft, or had it installed through an automatic Windows update, woke up to a surprise. Unintentionally, the heuristics of the software detected Internet Explorer as spyware, and removed the program from their systems.”
The BEST answer is:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/
ndelc,
[At some point, don’t you think that guilt will have some effect on him?]
No. But, he does bring to mind that ‘Gowan’ song, ‘Criminal Mind’
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Tommy Boy,
Thanx, I’ll be snickering at that all week!
–
‘Window’ is my magic word. Hee hee!
Holy Moly! And I recommened someone get it to try to fix their about:blank spyware problem. It was so weak, that the second she tried to install the MS product, about:blank went nuts and shut down the install.
Yeah, MS, you guys are on top of it.
Now, what did I do with my shotgun. My PC has sufffered enough…
a band aid for a bigger problem (internet explorer)
Its still a beta, give them a chance to screw up the actual release before we bash them
Was there some secret deal between the United States DOJ and Microsoft to resolve the anti trust case…?
Yes there was, Microsoft has provided the US intelligence community with the best intelligence coup of the last 20+ years.
M$ wishes to continue this trend by controling all spyware that’s not it’s own.
I know of two instances where the US Military black ops have hacked local buisnesses computers running M$ Windows to check on spy equipment inventories before the invasion of Grenada.
I speak no lies.
So let me get this straight.
Microsoft creates a crappy product so riddled with flaws and bloat that an entire industry of hackers is created.
And they reward themselves by making money selling programs to protect people because of their flawed product?
Do they have absolutely no morals or sense of right or wrong?
Mossberg had his head in Jobs’ ass since decades.
Retro cat – one assumes your question about MS having no morals or not knowing right from wrong is clearly rhetorical.
All proven – they steal ideas and code, cheat in business dealings, monopolise (thus driving others out of business)… this shows they have pretty low morals already. Why not try to make money from their own poorly written software?
Nice work if you can get it.
If buying MS anti-spyware/virii software to fix problems created by Windows’ crappy security architecture isn’t the most blatant case of Stockholm syndrome, I don’t know what is.
It’s one thing to be in denial about M$’ weak OS, but it’s just amazing to pay M$ to fix the holes they left open in their own software. And they call us fanboys!?!
Actually, what’s really funny is that MS Antispyware labels ITSELF as spyware. See it at http://chris.pirillo.com/blog/_archives/2005/1/6/233293.html, and make sure you check out the screen shots.
I havent had any issues with it…Infact, I think the Beta is better than most antispyware programs that have been out for awhile..Mossberg is a bitch.
So let’s see. The antispyware only protects microsoft software. So everything else is fair game and your system is really unprotected!
What a bunch of crap! I want a protection scheme that protects the whole computer not just one little piece of it.
Keep it up Microsoft and you will find yourself all alone.
“……..I havent had any issues with it…Infact, I think the Beta is better than most antispyware programs that have been out for awhile..”
NoMacForYou…
You seem to post here often enough, but it seems you stilldont get it …do you ?
The point is…WHY should you HAVE to put up with having to use anti-spyware, anti-popup, anti-virus … or any other anti- malware programs …. free..or otherwise ??
If you’d just take the time to remove your head from Bill Gates’ nether regions … maybe you could understand that by using a Mac and OSX … you could free your mind ..(not to mention your computer) .. of such things…
*looks skyward* …. (you give them eyes, and yet they still cannot see !)
You know they are only offering it free for now. Once they get enough people dependent on it they will start charging. What a racket! Create the problem then sell the solution. Reminds me of those pop up windows about software for blocking pop up windows I have heard about.
Mac Dood: I do use a Mac man. But I have users. These users would die before switching to a mac (Dont ask why) and IE does get all fsckd up after awhile of surfing to places you shouldnt be. It doesnt hurt to have an application like this. At work I use a mac. At home I use a PC and after doing so for over 10 yrs now, I still havent had viruses and so on infecting my personal systems. Why? Because I dont load gator, gain, kazaa, morpheus, and all of the BS that comes along with (). I’m willing to bet that if PC users were a little more informed about security and surfing, we wouldnt be having this conversation. Last time I checked not even OS X (Security through Obscurity) is completely secure..So until GOD comes down and makes an OS completely secure, quite trying to get people to switch who are perfectly comfortable with what they own..You guys are starting to sound like MLM salesmen.
PS: having my head up Bills Ass doesnt change the fact that you have yours up steves (BUT HIS SHIT DON’T STINK RIGHT?) You use what you want, I use what I want at home (I have to use a mac at work). Its a matter of preferences, Some people are too stupid to use a PC and need a Mac to feel better about their computing experience. Me, I need a computer I can change the hardware in and have it “Just Work” and So far in these yrs of using the architecture and OS, Im happy with what I have. The difference.
You get a Pre-Fabbed system that is stable and “secure” out of the box.
I get a system that does the same thing, But I must assemble it myself.
I dont think you get it.
Here you have Apple that closely monitors and creates their own hardware (Which is mostly made of PC hardware) and builds the OS around that.
With MS Windows, You get 1 million different hardware makers building around on common model. I like the choice of hardware that I get because I benefit from capability of building up a system over time.
I think it all boils down to one thing. and thats what you need to figure out.
JAck A: Wishful thinking man, but theyy wont charge for it.
The only program that removes all Windows malware:
C:\>fdisk
Brought to you by the Magic Word “trouble”. As in “MicroSoft is in trouble.”
NoMacForYou,
You say “they won’t charge for it” with some air of authority and knowledge. Are you absolutely SURE that M$ will NEVER charge for this “program”? They themselves have never said that, have they? Correct me if I’m wrong, please.