Microsoft violates trust with AntiSpyware

[j4zzee]

Microsoft's AntiSpyware (in beta) app now allows the GAIN crap-ware to stay on a pc...
This occured during the same time Microsoft shows signs of a buy out of Gator/Gain/Claria

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1834607,00.asp
http://sunbeltblog.blogspot.com/2005/07/microsoft-sets-claria-to-ignore.html

Sure it flags it, but it also tells the user it is Ok to "Ignore" it.
That means the masses of clueless users will Ignore GAIN/GATOR.
"Microsoft says its Ok, so it must be Ok"

I don't typically get worked up over MS shenanigans, but this just hit a nerve with me!

 

[arkamw]

I really really like the MS Spyware program. And while I don't like the ignore setting for certain Spyware apps, I don't think that they are the first ones to do something like this. IIRC, Adaware AND Spybot both have some ignores for certain types of spyware (please don't hold me to that, it's just something that stuck in my head from a thread here a few months ago).

However, it's because of these tactics that relying soley on one spyware program isn't advisable. I run MS Anti-spyware along with Spybot (and it's immunizations) and Adaware, all coupled with some (mostly) smart browsing and email. And that may not even be enough. But, these types of ignores by companies drive the idea that a layered, multiple-step defense is the only way to go.

 

[Mushroom Prince]

So this is like what ? Microsoft writes software to get software out of the software that they have written ?

 

[HHunt]

So this is like what ? Microsoft writes software to get software out of the software that they have written ?

While suddenly letting software they earlier removed stay, because they're now working with those that wrote it. Which is what the fuss is about.