Possible pay-clone of MS AntiSpyware?

  • Thread starter Thread starter andrew
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andrew

Hey Microsoft! Look at this!

I encountered this program while servicing a customer's PC.
It appears to be a blatant rip of Microsoft AntiSpyware,
repackaged, and sold as a commercial product with a
pay-to-update subscription service.

So, is this right? Are these guys stealing from Microsoft?
I know Microsoft bought the company whose product was to
become MSAS, so it's possible that if CounterSpy is a
clone, it was licensed.

I post this because I would hate for my customers to be
duped into paying for something that's being offered for free.

Check out the screenshots I grabbed.

http://gra.midco.net/atsdroid/counterspy/
 
Hold your horses.

Microsoft Antispyware beta1 is based on third party technology.

Rights to that same technology, and to updates to the definitions for it
through July 2007, I believe, were also purchased by another party--Sunbelt,
which markets CounterSpy.

Sunbelt purchased the right to use the technology, develop it further, and
get continued access to definitions.

Microsoft (later) purchased the original development companies assets.

Both Sunbelt and Microsoft are involved in creating new versions of an
antispyware product which will be clearly differentiated from the beta1 code
you are seeing now, and from each other. Microsoft continues to provide
definitions to Sunbelt under the contract. Sunbelt states that it is
providing added value over those definitions.

So--these products do look a lot alike, and are quite similar in
functionality--for the moment.

Sunbelt has a beta of their successor product available. Microsoft's beta2
product will be our first look at what they are creating.

Sunbelt has good information at their web site, an active support community,
and some excellent expert heads on board advising them. I'll be interested
to see reviews which include both these products once they are completed and
released.
 
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