Windows Defender whitelisting spyware ?

[Steve H.]

Someone on another BBS I'm on declared that Microsoft might secretly
whitelist certain spyware companies. This is total BS, right ? I cannot
imagine Microsoft doing this and the resulting scandal.

Steve

[Ron Lopshire]

Steve H. wrote:

> Someone on another BBS I'm on declared that Microsoft might secretly
> whitelist certain spyware companies. This is total BS, right ? I cannot
> imagine Microsoft doing this and the resulting scandal.

Start imagining. They have already done it.

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1834607,00.asp

And then there is that DNSAPI.DLL thing.

http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/431032

Notice that using a Windows box, there is _no_ way to use a HOSTS file
to prevent connections to MSN or any of MSN's ad servers. And I don't
want to hear from any HOSTS file purists. It is _my_ effing HOSTS file,
and _I_ will decide who, when and why it gets bypassed.

Would you want Google or AOL to have that capability? This is one
reason, and _huge_ reason at that, that I would _never_ install or use
Windows Defender or Windows One Care Live. Besides the fact that both
apps suck, do you really think that any Microsoft security app is going
to protect you from MSN's ad content?

All content providers --- Google, Yahoo!, AOL, MSN, etc. --- live on the
edge when it comes to ad content, adware and spyware. That is why I was
so upset about Kaspersky getting into bed with AOL for AVS. KL is a
great security company, and IMNSHO, great security companies do not
partner with content providers. Among other things, it is from _those_
*******s that I want protection. Is that such a frickin' hard concept to
grasp?

As always, just my 0.02. YMMV.

Ron

[Steve H.]

"Ron Lopshire" <notron@ovbl.org> wrote in message
news:jdcJh.11876$tD2.6796@newsread1.news.pas.earth link.net...
> Steve H. wrote:
>
>> Someone on another BBS I'm on declared that Microsoft might secretly
>> whitelist certain spyware companies. This is total BS, right ? I cannot
>> imagine Microsoft doing this and the resulting scandal.
>
> Start imagining. They have already done it.
>
> http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1834607,00.asp
>
> And then there is that DNSAPI.DLL thing.
>
> http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/431032
>
> Notice that using a Windows box, there is _no_ way to use a HOSTS file
> to prevent connections to MSN or any of MSN's ad servers. And I don't
> want to hear from any HOSTS file purists. It is _my_ effing HOSTS file,
> and _I_ will decide who, when and why it gets bypassed.
>
> Would you want Google or AOL to have that capability? This is one
> reason, and _huge_ reason at that, that I would _never_ install or use
> Windows Defender or Windows One Care Live. Besides the fact that both
> apps suck, do you really think that any Microsoft security app is going
> to protect you from MSN's ad content?
>
> All content providers --- Google, Yahoo!, AOL, MSN, etc. --- live on the
> edge when it comes to ad content, adware and spyware. That is why I was
> so upset about Kaspersky getting into bed with AOL for AVS. KL is a
> great security company, and IMNSHO, great security companies do not
> partner with content providers. Among other things, it is from _those_
> *******s that I want protection. Is that such a frickin' hard concept to
> grasp?
>
> As always, just my 0.02. YMMV.
>
> Ron


Thanks for your time !