Microsoft Refreshes Windows AntiSpyware Beta

Yawn!

Anonymous User July 19, 2005 (Article Rating: )

I hope they fix their auto-update, because it hasn't worked correctly for the last 2 releases.

And all these conspiracy theories about MS "suddenly" downgrading their rating of Gator software are bogus: In January the AntiSpyware product detected the software, but you still had to ask it to remove the junk.

Rather use Ad-Aware: it works properly, unlike the MS product which is free but basically useless. http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

DonnEdwards July 19, 2005 (Article Rating: )

Question regarding this software...

Microsoft's Anti-Spyware beta is formerly Giant Company's Anti-Spyware tool. (if you don't believe me, just look at your running processes. The anti-spyware runs gcasDtServ.exe and gcasServ.exe, gcas standing for (G)iant (C)ompany (A)nti (S)pyware, is my guess. Given that this was a fully developed and commercially available product before M$ whipped out the cheque book, why has it spent so long in beta??

Anonymous User July 19, 2005 (Article Rating: )

It's not a secret that Microsoft bought the product from Giant... There have been many news around that earlier this year.

Anonymous User July 19, 2005 (Article Rating: )

Yer you muppet

Anonymous User July 19, 2005 (Article Rating: )

"And all these conspiracy theories about MS "suddenly" downgrading their rating of Gator software are bogus:" -- WRONG. If you read MS's own accord of the issue they basically snooze some answer about letting the vendors have a re-evaluation of their product so their not considered sypware. Most believe that MS is going to buy Gator / Claira and thats the reason it has been changed to "Ignore" insetad of remove. -Gator is still MalWare so who cares what Gates says on that.

Anonymous User July 19, 2005 (Article Rating: )

Just in time:

informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=166400349

"A bug in Windows that went public last week may be worse than originally thought, Microsoft confirmed Saturday in a weekend advisory. One security analyst fears that the vulnerability -- which for now looks limited to a denial-of-service attack -- may soon be found to cause more severe problems for Windows users.
According to the Security Advisory posted Saturday, the bug in Windows Remote Desktop Service affects not just Windows XP SP2, as originally thought, but all the supported editions of Windows, including Windows 2000, Windows XP SP1, Windows XP Professional x64, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 SP1, and Windows Server x64."

Another critical exploit found in Windows code, just goes to show, security through obscurity just does not work. Where is the outrage?!

"Windows is a security nightmare." - Paul Thurrot

Anonymous User July 19, 2005 (Article Rating: )

"Where is the outrage?!"

You again? Security bugs crop up in operating systems all the time. Including Linux, and Mac OS X. Why WOULD there be outrage. Do you honestly believe that an Operating System can be totally, completely, 100% security bug free?

You clearly just WANT there to be outrage, because you don't like Windows. Meanwhile, those of us with common sense, will just wait for the patch, install it, and carry on quite happily using Windows.

Anonymous User July 19, 2005 (Article Rating: )

Paul, stop copying information off Steve Dodsons blog and claiming you were in contact with company over this.

Anonymous User July 19, 2005 (Article Rating: )

I have tried using Ad-Aware, not bad for being a free product. I have also tried using Microsoft's new product, not as pleasant. My favorite is Computer Associates' PestPatrol Anti-Spyware. It isn't free but far beats the competition with detection and removal. I've been in the business long enough to know that "free" is NOT a good substitute for quality.

jwischmeier July 19, 2005 (Article Rating: )