About Time too.

[Spencer]

I thinks it's more than over due that Microsoft are
issuing FREE tools that compliment there exsisting
security enfocement tools. The web is such a mine field
of problems that, people I know are turning away from
their PC in fear. The fear of being hacked, data theft,
privacy invasion, etc. They see it as being too much
bother to try and keep up with updates etc, as all these
individual protection tools on the market are such
unknowns to them. I must update my firewall, I must
update my virus scanner, I must update Windows......etc.
They refuse to use the Internet and won't upgrade thier
PC's. Microsoft, being one of the most well known and
commonly used software providers should feel that they
have a duty to provide ALL it's users with peace of mind.
That means FREE intergrated combatent tools, like this
Anti spyware. After all, hackers and thieves get free
tools so why shouldn't the ordinary user. Microsoft, come
on! you reap enough revenue from the regular user and
businesses, surely it's overdue that you give something
back and take on this responsibility. Besides, it can
only help increase your profits if you can increase
peoples confidence in the security of your products.

I have a dream....I have a dream that one day, we will all
be able to have our systems and all software secure in
realtime without the 'middleman' ie without the need for
additional protection tools. Other options for the users
should still be available but, why would they need to go
elsewhere if everything they needed for their peace-of-
mind could be found in one place.

The Inernet should be a free world where everyone can
submit their views without fear of reprisal, whether it be
virtual or physical. A place where anyone can feel safe
in the knowledge that they cannot be known unless they
choose to be, or safe in the knowledge that they will be
known, if they choose to be. Rules need to be layed out,
laws need to put in place, but only on a world wide vote.
Not just set out by an individual or an individual
government. This is the WORLD WIDE WEB, not the COUNTRY
WIDE WEB, or STATE WIDE WED, or CITY WIDE WEB, or TOWN
WIDE WEB, HOME WIDE WEB. This is the WORLD WIDE WEB, so
any decisions regarding it's regulation need to be agreed
by every last one of the worlds people by vote. Whether
they use the net or not! Those who don't use the Net
should be given the oportunity to learn what it can offer.

Spence.

PS. It's the regular 'average Jo' who suffers for the
mistakes and politics of others.

Sorry to go on. But it Pisses me off. Anyone who
actually bothers to read this, hit me back, let me know.

 

[plun]

The web is such a mine field
of problems that, people I know are turning away from
their PC in fear. The fear of being hacked, data theft,
privacy invasion, etc. They see it as being too much
bother to try and keep up with updates etc, as all these
individual protection tools on the market are such
unknowns to them. I must update my firewall, I must
update my virus scanner, I must update Windows......etc.

YES, until now...........I will say you are wrong.

If all users installed SP2, antivirusprotection and now MSAS
this situation rapidly should be better.

And MS also thinks this is really important beacuse exactly
your argument I believe have driven them to do something about
this "mess", a real paranoia among a lot of users .

This is an interesting article about PC safety:

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~33~2735094,00.html

Here's what happened:
Windows XP Service Pack 1

Attacks: 4,857

Results: Attacked successfully within 18 minutes by the
Blaster and Sasser worms. Within an hour, the computer was
taken over and began attacking other Windows machines.

Windows XP Service Pack 2

Attacks: 16

Results: Survived all attacks

 

[Andre Da Costa]

Microsoft always has your best interest at heart. ;-)

 

[C.J.Patten]

What a glib thing to say.

Consider these points:
- without clients, a company dies
- the best case scenario for the consumer is a *well run monopoly*
- Microsoft meets market demand which is why they have control of the market

They're meeting obligations to the market with new security updates and
products like their Antispyware tool.

Microsoft is, unfortunately, much maligned because of their size. If
software like Firefox or MacOS held the popularity of Microsoft products, it
too would not only see similar criticism but likely be *required* to address
security issues as they were exploited.

When you have 95% market penetration, you take the slings and arrows.
MS is dealing with it well.

C.J.P. - in Canada's National Capital

Microsoft always has your best interest at heart. ;-)

<snip>

 

[Bill Sanderson]

As you see news available about Internet Explorer version 7--keep an eye on
it. Much of what you are saying is in the minds of the developers working
on that product.

 

[Andre Da Costa]

Yes, I know for sure we will see a lot integration in terms of monitoring
between IE 7 and MSAS.

 

[Ron Chamberlin]

Spencer,
Feel better now? Good.
I don't disagree with all you say and feel, but shouldn't there also be a
sense/need of responsibility on the user's part also?
If one ran their machine using best practices, they would be less likely to
get infected. If one weren't so quick to click on anything 'free', there
would be less infection etc. etc. If one read the EULA before they went
click happy..........


May I suggest going to http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/default.mspx
for best practices.


Ron Chamberlin
MS-MVP