Microsoft Anti-Spyware to Be Free of Charge

fubar1971 writes "During his keynote speech at the at the RSA Security Conference Bill Gates announced that the MS antispyware will be offered for free. From his speech: 'We've looked hard at the nature of this problem, and made a decision that this anti-spyware capability will become something that's available at no additional charge for Windows users -- both the blocking capability, and the scanning and removal capabilities.' Additional information at Government Computer News." Update: 02/16 16:57 GMT by Z : Microsoft was previously considering charging extra for this service.

Next week's news

[gowen]

... Doctor's who leave sponges and surgical instruments inside you body during an operation will now remove them at no extra cost to you!

WOOT

[Anonymous Coward]

Whoohoo! However, to help recoup the expenses for offering the anti-spyware for free, Microsoft will be selling information about known vulnerabilities in the software to the spyware vendors.

IE vs M$ Spyware App

[codesurfer]

Does this mean they'll cancel each other out, leaving the user with nothing?

Makes sense to me

[Junior J. Junior III]

Gates went on to say, "Much like our Internet Explorer and Outlook Express products, we feel that it is best if we charge for these tools what they are worth."

Re:Watch for the Error.log file

[Anonymous Coward]

>Start
>Search
>All files and folders
>*.log
Click Search

Conspiracy theory suggestions

[Ingolfke]

Well, so far many posts have done a good job in demonstrating a significant level of paranoia, but we can do better. So here are some thoughts... talk amoungst yourselves.

• Microsoft will allow people to purchase a CD w/ the new anti-spyware product. The CD will be laced with a newly developed and extremely addictive mind control drug.
• Microsoft releasing anti-spyware software to counteract a leaked internal memo revealing that Bill Gates writes trojan horses in his spare time for kicks and giggles. Bill Gates screen name, G1ll_B4t3s will still be reavealed to the world.
• Massive log files will not go away after the beta and will be used to fill up the average user's hard drive, forcing them to purchase a new PC, and thereby purchase a new copy of Windows through the OEM
• All non-Microsoft products, media, and websites will be considered spyware. End users will be "protected" from them by immediately deleting the files, downloading an acceptable Microsoft replacement, and conventiently charging their credit card.
• Secret code within the anti-spyware tool will hunt down and delete all evidence of Steve Balmer's presence on The Grassy Knoll.
• Microsoft does not need to charge for this tool because they're being funded by an alien venture capitalist bent on subjegating all of mankind.
• The code for the tool has been reverse engineered by an elite team of Russian crackers. They have found the cygwin libraries embedded deep within the code... and a single comment. That read. // Core library required to run beowulf clustering software. Can you imagine a beowulf cluster of these?
  

Re:I already full proof spyware blocking

[Anonymous Coward]

People like you make me really wish someone would start writing software that fucks up Linux PCs.

Re:Change Caused by FireFox

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes. Enjoy the porn! The negative aspect is that you'll run low on vaseline more often.

Re:Hopefully MS are reading

[Anonymous Coward]

You can't idiotproof anything. They'll just build a better idiot.

In related news...

[mandreiana]

With it's 7.x version, Red Hat is offering free of charge SSH, an application which encrypts communication between two computers enhancing security

Debian started to include for free a verifier for weak passwords, integrated with "passwd" command.

Novell/Suse, in order to remain competitive, included a firewall in it's Linux kernel, named iptables. No extra charge.

In a special offer, ending never, Mandrake included free of charge Tripware, which checks integrity of the most important system files.

However, none of Linux distributions include a free Spyware or antivirus. Windows is still ahead.

Word DOC

[Skiron]

Ahhh... but wait for the finished GOLD version - that will use a MS Word format as the log file, so you will easy reach 10GB in an hour.

Re:Next week's news

[Moofie]

"When Microsoft gives away free software, it's for evil purpose with a hidden agenda"

Uh, yeah. That's been the historical truth. Do you have a counterexample?

A new drinking game!

[seven of five]

Every time Gates says 'innovate', take a drink.

Re:Will MS get spanked for this?

[Zhe Mappel]

It is if the OSS zealots have anys ay in it.

They knwo that if they let MS do what MS is good at (technology, improvements, getting things right over time) it will crush Linux. The only hope they have is to run to the goverment for help.

My god, Agent Z-X9, we've been discovered! Even our Hidden Island Fortress of Zealotry was no match for their best, if somewhat dyslexic, minds! Grab every distro you can before they're crushed, and somebody start pleading with Washington! There'll be no stopping MS if it's allowed to do what it is good at--deploy overdue fixes years too late!