New Microsoft Anti-Spyware tools-----------------

Microsoft Windoze of any sort IS by itself spyware, since a good part of its day to day existence comprises trying to find out if you're running a genuine copy of Windows, a genuine copy of all its other products, phoning home to friends in the RIAA/MPAA about your media content list, verifying that you have licences for "protected" media, etc. etc...

Which is why I cleanly removed Windoze Media Player from my computer and am using Media Player Classic (free open source software) instead, works like a charm, faster too.

And MS are legendary for poor and insecure code, which is why I almost never run Internet Explorer, and am using Opera instead.

Because of their poor code and wilful spying practices, I wouldn't want to trust such a sensitive application from them. Spyware, adware and malware of various flavors can be reliably and efficiently detected by various commercial programs (like Spybot - Search and Destroy) and blocked by a good firewall. I would suggest using those instead of M$ crap.

 

Thanks for the tip. I installed it and it found a few things that SpySweeper missed!

Regards,
Chris

 

So far a good experience with the Giant/Microsoft spyware program - it claims to have found some major stuff that the other guys missed. and sounds like the price will be free. I'll be loading it on a few more of our machines and see how it goes.

It's fast, but does seem to want to report home quite often, which appears to be configurable.

 

Nice one Tony

So far my experience with this program, at work and at home, as been good. GIANT's software was already highly rated, the interface MS (sorry Turboflat, M$...) have added only improves things. Also worth mentioning perhaps that MS haven't written the program, they bought it a while ago and have tweaked it.

I noticed mine was also updated with new definitions this morning, let's hope they keep the updates coming.

 

OK, I trust the opinions of you guys, but I'm still not very comfortable with installing this sort of thing from MS, even if it's only the UI that's coded by them (honestly, critically insecure code can be present anywhere). But I'm happy that your experience has been good so far.

 

I just installed and ran it - it did find about 6 threats that others did not.

However, ironically, it changed my IE homepage to www.msn.com - lol.

 

Turbo

Could you explain how you removed Windows Media Player from your computer? I just did a cursory browse through my "add/remove" programs and Media Player isn't there. I get a bit nervous deleting stuff manually if I am not certain I can get everything.

thanks in advance

 

In Win2k pro, there is an entry in Add/Remove Programs (Control Panel) for removal of WMP. I think you're out of luck in lower versions of Windows though.

 

If you delve into the configuration options, (Tools -> Advanced Tools -> Browser Hi-Jack Settings Restore) you can play around with what it restores IE too when it's been affected by spyware/malware etc.

 

MS is thinking to make pay user
Here is the proof:
http://it.slashdot.org/it/05/01/06/1521206.shtml?tid=172&tid=109

I would suggest to keep using Spybot S & D until further notice

 

I noticed it was nice enough to change my screensaver for me.

Regards,
Chris