Posted on 02/27/2005 10:47:51 PM PST by Banjoguy
Many Microsoft Windows users who downloaded the recently released AntiSpyware program from Microsoft, or had it installed through an automatic Windows update, woke up to a surprise. Unintentionally, the heuristics of the software detected Internet Explorer as spyware, and removed the program from their systems.
AntiSpywareMicrosoft has pulled the program from its website until the problem can be corrected. Elias Weatherbee, a Microsoft representative, said the program was "only in beta" and that "a fix was forthcoming."
"It shows how powerful our AntiSpyware program is," said Weatherbee. "Not only is it able to remove spyware from the system, but also the source of most spyware. Our competitors can't match that."
A representative from Lavasoft, which sells Ad-Aware another spyware removal program, complained that Microsoft was using its monopoly and knowledge of the operating system to "offer features that others can't match."
"Tough $h!t," said Weatherbee.
Many computer users did not view this new "feature" positively. "I tried to check the weather this morning and all my little blue 'e' icons were missing. I couldn't get to the Internet at all. I guess I'll have to get a new computer," said Windows XP user Graham Newton.
Users of alternative browsers were happy to see Internet Explorer gone. Thad Freeman of the Mozilla Users Group said, "I've been trying for years to get rid of Internet Explorer. I never imagined that Microsoft would do it for me. I'm ecstatic."
Microsoft technical support was advising customers to reinstall Windows to regain Internet access and to disable automatic updates.
Symantec Antivirus Research reported that virus sightings were down by 95% this morning.
They got you.
Actually, no.
If you type in Firefox in a MS search it pulls up everything but the site to download firefox at ...
"Elias Weatherbee, a Microsoft representative...."Tough $h!t," said Weatherbee."
Got me too... :)
I have AdwareSE, search and destroy and also the MS AntiSpyware and MSspyware finds the LEAST amount of spyware and takes twice as long to run as the other programs. The program much like other MS products is crap
Good for you, Keith.It's a 'gotcha'.
IE and Firefox do not show up in AntiSpyware's scanners.
Why do people believe this crap?
Actually, it's Giant's crap. Microsoft only did some touch-up work and GUI design. The core scanner itself is unchanged from the Giant Antispyware program that Microsoft bought.
I have been running MS AntiSpyware since it first became available, it did not remove MS Internet Explorer from our computer.
Sadly, even if it is a spoof, it's right on the money as far as I am concerned. I installed this anti-spyware thing on my computer at home last week and have been unable to get online since.
Yahoo BB in Japan is stumped. They tried swapping the modem to see if that would solve the problem, but the computer now refuses to even load the BB CD-ROM. Keeps on telling me that it is not supported on English systems, but I am not RUNNING an English system.
I think the only way I am going to solve this is to completely reinstall the system.
It's a joke. Parody. Humor. We know it didn't really remove Internet Explorer.
To me, that sounds like your computer had bigger problems than a spyware infection. The program shouldn't have killed anything.
Have you tried restoring your Winsock file?
"It shows how powerful our AntiSpyware program is," said Weatherbee. "Not only is it able to remove spyware from the system, but also the source of most spyware
This person would be fired for saying IE was the source of the spyware. lol
true, but would you really be suprised if it wasnt a joke?
Hey, lighten up. It's technical satire.
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