Microsoft Denies Claria got Spyware Exception 275
daria42 writes "Microsoft has denied its AntiSpyware application has given adware-maker Claria special treatment. The denial has been issued amid reports MS is looking to buy Claria, and is in response to security researchers' reports stating AntiSpyware had downgraded the threat level posed by Claria's adware products. The downgrade in threat level merely represented an effort to be "fair and consistent with how Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) handles similar software from other vendors," according to a statement published by Microsoft." As reader jfengel writes, though, "they neglected to mention what software that might be, nor did they publish the analysis."
Funny qote from TFA (Score:5, Funny)
Well, 10 million compromised windowsboxes seems to contradict that belief.
Re:Funny qote from TFA (Score:5, Funny)
Not at all...they firmly believe that everyone should have complete control over what runs on your computer... ^_^
bah (Score:4, Funny)
I guess tha Microsoft denies (Score:1, Funny)
The timing is just too good (Score:1, Funny)
"Microsoft has denied" (Score:3, Funny)
this is
[evil demonic laugh]MWHAHAHAHA ![/evil demonic laugh]
Master Plan (Score:2, Funny)
OSS Spyware removal is a bad idea (Score:1, Funny)
Suuuuuuure, Bill (Score:4, Funny)
Hmm, I'm sure they wouldn't lie and I shall read the statement as soon my flying pig is back.
It's on a mission, surveying the earth in order to prove that it's flat.
Re:Bah (Score:3, Funny)
Re:What really annoys me (Score:2, Funny)
Why doesnt remote desktop show as a possible threat?
It's easier to connect to a remote host with that software!
OH yeah right,,,it's a ms product!
A very simple explanation. (Score:5, Funny)
First, a quote:
Has Microsoft given in to vendors' threats? Or forgotten how badly "adware" damages the Windows experience (ultimately encouraging users to switch to other platforms)? [benedelman.org]
Now, the key, critical piece of information.
Microsoft's anti-spy ware devision is headed by a MAC user! You see, MAC zealots have infiltrated the Microsoft hierarchy, and are plotting it's downfall from within.
As a matter of fact, this is a pervasive presence, weaving into all levels of the company.
Think about it. Doesn't Clippy make much more sense as MAC sabotage than as an actual feature? No doubt someone floated a mock up with the note, "Looks just like something I saw at the last MAC expo."
Architecture changes that mean the XBOX II won't be able to run XBOX games, the endless delays in Longhorn, the XP default theme, the differences between XP Home and XP Pro, these are all contributed by MAC users who are gradually whittling away Microsoft from within.
And because Microsoft has been shamelessly copying the MAC for so long, all they have to do is float the rumor that MAC is going to do something, and Microsoft programmers and management throw themselves into trying to replicate it, or at least toss together a half asses rip-off of the feature / technology.
Re:More info and analysis (Score:5, Funny)
Admitting you have a problem is the first step. Welcome.
Re:More info and analysis (Score:5, Funny)
They're solving that. Once MS buys Gator, they'll fix the bugs that make it removable.
"Integrated into the operating system," like IE, Media, etc. The script should be familiar by now.
In related news, Microsoft makes bicycle advances: (Score:4, Funny)
Microsoft has made a stunning leap forward in the field of bicycle locomotion technology, developing a system of operation that allows for the appearance of forward progress whilst routinely backpedaling.
Claria = Windows Installer Service version 4? (Score:2, Funny)
Think about it...delivering A/V and system updates via clickable Ads - brilliant!
Oooohhhh...and so so profitable.
JB
Re:Spy Sweeper too (Score:5, Funny)
Re:bah (Score:3, Funny)
Linux Gets the BSOD (Score:3, Funny)
Bonzai Clippy, The Purple Paper Clip (Score:1, Funny)
(big innocent-eyed smile from the purple paper clip)
Re:Wonderful (Score:3, Funny)
You make a good point, and what GCCs does is actually a good thing: something slightly different is like The Crying Game -- hey, she looked like a chick until I'd invested in weeks of dating, and when after all that effort I got into her pants, out popped a pee-pee!
Same with Microsoft extension -- you gets lots of people who don't notice the slight difference -- the Adam's Apple, if you will -- and think that C++ is what Microsoft calls C++. Then they get a real girl, and don't know what to do with her, because they've been dating Microsoft "almost girls" all their lives.
GCC's extensions, on the other hand, are like a big, hairy, honest gay guy buying you a drink in gay bar: you see the bulge in the pants, it's totally different, and hey, if you want to try that lifestyle, it's gay, but, as Seinfeld says, "not that there's anything wrong with that". But it's different enough that you know it's different, and you know if you go back to girls, you'll need an entirely different technique to get anywhere.
No offense to anyone intended by the analogy: the point is that obvious differences are honest -- they don't fool you into thinking you're not using an extension. Slight differences are pernicious, not because they're necessarily bad, but because it makes it hard to recognize when an extension is being used.
A similar concern is why C++'s casting is so ugly compared to C's: a C style cast (MemPtr *a = (MemPtr) 0xb800