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  MSFT acquiring spyware firm, changes antispyware app to ignore its products
Time: 12:32 EST/17:32 GMT | News Source: *Linked Within Post* | Posted By: Todd Richardson

Microsoft is rumored to be acquiring a spyware company called Claria (known for its spyware product, Gator). They have since updated Windows' antispyware app so that it advises users to ignore Gator spyware.

Spyware researchers have noticed that the Windows antispyware application has downgraded Claria's Gator detections and changed the recommended action from 'quarantine' to 'ignore.'

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#1 By 2332 (204.9.221.59) at 7/7/2005 1:07:49 PM
Um... me.

This is an absolutely indefensible decision on Microsoft's part.

It's like one of the anti-MS myths that people always point to as proof of Microsoft's evil... but in this case, it's actually true.

#2 By 531 (131.107.0.101) at 7/7/2005 1:16:06 PM
Can anyone actually confirm that MS Anti-Spyware has actually been modified? I find this rather hard to believe.

#3 By 37 (67.37.29.142) at 7/7/2005 1:24:40 PM
So far this is ALL rumor. Microsoft has not confirmed ANY of this.

Carry on. Nothing to see here.

#4 By 15406 (216.191.227.90) at 7/7/2005 2:00:34 PM
MS would NEVER do anything so self-serving. Oh, wait...

MS almost had the world fooled into thinking they gave a shit about security & privacy issues, albeit a decade late. This just helps to show that MS pays lip-service to security while the almighty buck does the real talking.

----------------
Edit: "Does this mean that Claria will, in fact, be purchased by Microsoft? Not necessarily," said Alex Eckelberry, president of Sunbelt Software, which shares the spyware definition files with Microsoft.

According to Eckelberry's records, the changes happened back on March 31. He also said it could just be the result of successful lobbying by the company to be taken off the list, or even a mistake.
-------------------


This post was edited by Latch on Thursday, July 07, 2005 at 14:05.

#5 By 531 (131.107.0.101) at 7/7/2005 2:17:15 PM
I really don't think the article has all it's facts together. Let's wait until we get some real evidence before making decisions on this, people...

#6 By 3653 (63.162.177.143) at 7/7/2005 2:53:42 PM
msft has bought claria? when did that happen?

fwiw, the prog has strict definitions for spyware... check it out. They don't just pick progs to pick on, and others to ignore.

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/isv/analysis.mspx

Oh, but you arseholes couldnt spend the 30 seconds to find that link for yourselves.

This post was edited by mooresa56 on Thursday, July 07, 2005 at 14:55.

#7 By 15406 (216.191.227.90) at 7/7/2005 2:54:03 PM
#7: What are you waiting for? Download & install Claria's crap, run MS SpywareBuddy and see what it says for yourself.

#8 By 2960 (68.101.39.180) at 7/7/2005 3:11:08 PM
I just had some one verify it. It depends on the version of your defs:

1.0.509 blocks GATOR
1.0.614 does not block gator

It's apparantly for real, folks.

Screw Microsoft.

TL

#9 By 665 (67.185.98.5) at 7/7/2005 3:32:09 PM
Yup, it's true... I installed some weather app from Claria...

http://www.activewin.com/members/todd/gain.jpg

sigh...

P.S. - When I was installing the spyware app, I got probably at least 5 warnings telling me I was installing spyware and encouraging me to remove it.

This post was edited by ToddAW on Thursday, July 07, 2005 at 15:33.

#10 By 13030 (198.22.121.120) at 7/7/2005 3:39:11 PM
Let's see how the MS apologists try to justify this...

#11 By 415 (69.67.200.50) at 7/7/2005 4:25:37 PM
Who cares...

#12 By 15406 (216.191.227.90) at 7/7/2005 4:51:29 PM
#13: hopefully anyone evaluating MS as a possible security vendor. Something like this would make me think twice before even considering their anti-virus & anti-malware solutions.

#13 By 415 (69.67.200.50) at 7/7/2005 5:24:06 PM
I'm not making excuses for Microsoft, but it is questionable whether Claria's products are truly spyware, a security risk, or malicious in nature. I'm sure that some Adware products out there actually are a benefit to users and can be considered trustworthy. But you could also argue that no software should be considered trustworthy unless it's approved.

There lies the problem though. What does "approved" mean? Who's approval? Yours? Mine? Antispyware apps? What is spyware anyway?

MS Antispyware is Microsoft's product, and they can do with it what they want. We really don't know what their true intensions are, so why assume they're bad?

#14 By 20505 (216.102.144.11) at 7/7/2005 6:18:05 PM
off topic -

has anyone else noticed that this site is now advertising for passion.com. just who do these guys think they're dealing with here?

the men and women that post at activewin are definitely not passionate about anything except ms or so it would seem.

finding love in the microsoft era – what a concept.

#15 By 61 (65.32.175.192) at 7/7/2005 6:18:51 PM
Latch: Why would it change your views? The app still detects the software, it just, by default, does not do anything to it (you have to manually tell it to delete it).

#16 By 2459 (69.22.124.157) at 7/7/2005 7:28:48 PM
There's likely more to this than the article lets on. The acquisition is only a rumor and the change in Claria's status likely has more to do with a change in their behavior.

Apparently in February of this year, Claria sought to change it's data collection policies. Data is collected only after the user consents to do so and the data is collected in a manner such that the user remains anonymous.

There's an anti-spyware link on its page w/ privacy policies.
They joined NAI and OPA

CLARIA ASSEMBLES TEAM OF PRIVACY EXPERTS TO HELP DEVELOP
NEW BEHAVIORLINK ADVERTISING NETWORK MODEL

http://www.claria.com/companyinfo/press/releases/pr050214.html

Macafee has also said that Claria's apps are non-malicious.

MCAFEE FINDS CLARIA'S GAIN AD-SUPPORTED SOFTWARE DOES NOT PRESENT A MALICIOUS THREAT TO CONSUMERS

http://www.claria.com/companyinfo/press/releases/pr050425.html

Some of the press releases act as a timeline of Claria's endeavors to maintain user privacy while distributing ad-supported applications:

February 15, 2005 -- Claria Assembles Team of Privacy Experts to Help Develop New BehaviorLink Advertising Network Model

February 24, 2005 -- Department of Homeland Security Appoints Claria's D. Reed Freeman to Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee

April 25, 2005 -- McAfee Finds Claria's GAIN Ad-Supported Software Does Not Present a Malicious Threat to Consumers

May 12, 2005 -- Claria to Speak at NAI Forum on Anti-Spyware Initiatives

#17 By 531 (131.107.0.101) at 7/7/2005 8:24:29 PM
#19's got it.

If the change happened back in March, that pretty much ends the conspiracy theories that this happened because of Microsoft's alledged interest in purchasing Claria, doesn't it?

This post was edited by mikekol on Thursday, July 07, 2005 at 20:26.

#18 By 3653 (68.52.165.46) at 7/7/2005 8:50:14 PM
I realize its super easy to just hit the post comment button, but please take a breath and read the link I posted earlier...

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/isv/analysis.mspx

This post was edited by mooresa56 on Thursday, July 07, 2005 at 22:49.

#19 By 2960 (68.101.39.180) at 7/8/2005 9:03:48 AM
#21,

I posted the versions that will and will not tag Claria as Spyware for removal. If you can find the dates Microsoft issued those updates, it will help fill in the blanks.

I don't care enough to look it up myself. I will NEVER trust Gator/Claria and my trust in Microsoft Security has been dinged.

TL

#20 By 1845 (67.172.237.116) at 7/8/2005 11:13:52 AM
TL, based on your comments here over the last several years, it seems that your opinion of Microsoft security couldn't get any worse.

By the way, you listed the versions of the software not the definitions. The definitions are what matter in this discussion.

#21 By 15406 (216.191.227.90) at 7/8/2005 11:59:05 AM
#17: because it makes me wonder how many other apps default status wil change based on backroom wheeling & dealing, tha's why.

#20: heh, don't like our posts? TS for you, eh? Everyone's for free speech, until someone else says something they don't like. Too bad. Don't like my comments? Don't read them. Pfft.


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