That has to be the most easily debunked urban legend in history:
You couldn't take 10 seconds to check it?
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.
No problems with MS AntiSpyware here, indeed a spoof.
As a side note, recently MSN has provided a free spyware program to paying internet access users called "Webroot Spy Sweeper" which catches what Ad-Aware and MS AntiSpyware seem to miss. I've already removed the "Search and Destroy" spyware program and will probably remove Ad-Aware if I keep finding it both redundant and less capable. There is a free spyware audit you can run at www.webroot.com to see if your current spyware is missing anything.
Good night.
I was hoping nobody would ask me that. No, probably not. I downloaded MSN Explorer (basically it was IE with a new coat of lipstick) back when I was young and thought I could trust MS, and for some reason it uninstalled my modem driver and blocked my internet access.
The thing about humor is that most jokes are only funny the first time.
This is about the 20th time I've been exposed to this particular one, be it the "MS Antispyware removes Internet Explorer!" or the "MS Antispyware removes Mozilla Firefox!" varieties. Heck, Slashdot today put up a Photoshopped MS Antispyware results screen that turned up Firefox as a high-level spyware risk--and they thought it was serious.
And you didn't put a satire alert in the header, so now some people will actually believe this. You'll have to forgive me if I'm not laughing.
LOL!
Try this. Run scans with Ad-aware and the Spybot Search and Destroy. Delete the files in their quarantine areas. Now run Microsoft's AntiSpyware beta...
I have done this on several client computers. Ad-aware finds and removes malware... then Spybot finds and removes even more... and then MS AntiSpyware finds yet more... and CoolWebSearch (CWS) can STILL avoid deletion! CWShredder finally got the bugger...
Tuesday, I have to go back to a client's office and try and find out what is still surviving the above procedure on his XP Home edition computer... as soon as the computer is turned on, it starts re-installing everything just removed by all of those programs. I will probably have to wipe the HD and reinstall everything to get rid of it.
Do you?
Spit it out, do I what ?
Only when I should ...
That has to be the most easily debunked urban legend in history:
You couldn't take 10 seconds to check it?
We had a little fun with that one didn't we?
I typed in Firefox a few weeks ago and got all kinds of sites with info about Firefox but not the site to download it. I did the same search in Google and it came up #2, the downloading page that is.
Check your network connections in "My Computer"
My son's was disabled after some "upgrade" and all I had to do is "Enable" it. If its Win XP also look for "Repair" connection. Good luck. ;-)
You do realize Firefox and Mozilla are two differnet words ?
Thanks. I'll try that when I get home tonight.
I am keeping an eye on this thread hoping some good ideas will pop out.
I really don't want to reinstall the system.
Just tried "firefox" and I get a bit of self-advertising from MS!!
Check this out:
http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=firefox&FORM=QBHP
I swear, a week or so ago the Firefox download page did not come up. I got mad, closed down MSN and went to Google.
I've been awaiting a forum to vent. This is as good as any. Bill Gates must be given credit as one of the world's greatest marketers. He must be, because technically his products suck. Too complicated, to susceptible, not user friendly, too many unexplainable actions, (ever been typing in Word, hit the return key and have the next line in a different font for no good reason whatsoever?). This past week my Windows crashed, couldnt start up. Remember the old days when you could put in a start up disk that would override everything on the machine and you could start up and fix the problem?...No more. So you have to reload Windows. Why can't Windows be smart enough to find the folder Windows is in and replace itself. Nooooooooo!!!! It has to wipe out your entire hard disk. And no, I'm not an ignorant user who tried to fix it myself, this was after careful guidance by an MS techie.
Actually there is one thing in the world worse than MS software and that is MS service. First, your chances of getting someone who actually speaks English are virtually nonexistant. So you wade through about a dozen technicians until you finally get one you can almost understand about every fifth word. Then they tell you not to bother them, go to online support (Excuse me, but if I my computer worked and I could get to online support, then I wouldn't be needing you would I???) So your next choice is pay them
$35 for support. PAY THEM????. Doesn't Bill have enough money. Everybody else on the planet offers their crappy off-shore support for free. Why can't MS? I guess they realize that their crappy software requires so much support that this is where they can really make their money. Bottom line, computer fixed, hard drive emptied.
And now they are touting their swell new security software that you can buy. No thanks, I'll stick with the free Firefox, Adaware and Spybot. Far better products.
If only Apple had licenced their technology. The world today would be Mac based and would be a far better place.
That having been said, the three most important words in data processing are: backup, backup and backup.
So Microsoft spyware works!
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