Re: ****** What SP2 does not solve ******

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Dick Kistler (dickkist_at_Remove-hotmail.com)
Date: 08/11/04 

Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 20:56:48 -0400

"Microsoft Sceptic" <Microsoft.Sceptic@Linux.com> wrote in message
news:73E1A59E.FBA5F178@Linux.com...
>
>
> After two and a half years of broken and un-kept promises we have SP2
> finally on our systems. It has fixed all the problems for which we
> already had solutions for such as viruses and Trojans. For example, for
> months we had anew security patch from Microsoft and other Windows
> updates. Also, third party solution providers gave us daily updates for
> viruses and Trojans; Microsoft had to keep us waiting for their new
> offering which we may not all need it! What SP2 does not solve is our
> current and most lethal security threats we face namely Spyware :(.

So, SP2 includes all of these patches, thats one reason the whole thing
is 266 MB. Making Windows more resistant to Viruses is also quite
important. Just because spyware is a threat, doesn't mean that we should
ignore all other threats. Clearly we need it. But clearly it is not the
final
solution to anything.

>
> Spyware is more malicious, more dangerous and ultimately more
> threatening than any other hazard facing us online. Spyware is written
> by paid professionals to meet their needs while viruses and Trojan
> writers are misfit loners, engaged in online contests with their peers.
> Professionals are very difficult to track (like their programs which
> remains hidden to naked eye) while loners will do everything possible in
> their power to be known!

Spyware is indeed a threat. The programmers that write it are at least as
smart as the programmers at Microsoft and other software vendors. It will
take concentrated effort from Microsoft and the other software vendors to
write software to reduce it to a minor problem. That is not likely to happen
any time soon.

>
> So what has Microsoft done to catch and stop the professional spyware
> writers?
> Nothing at all. We need to wait another three years perhaps for SP3 to
> come out and fix this problem by which time we would all have moved on and
> talking of
> some other problems. Typical of Microsoft to solve the problem when it
> no longer exist!!!

What problem has Microsoft solved that no longer exists? No-one is writing
Viruses
any more? Trust me-in 3 years, viruses, spyware, and other malware will all
still exist
and will all still be a problem.

By the way, it's skeptic.

Also, what should Microsoft be doing? What should we be doing? What have you
done
to catch and stop the professional spyware writers?

Dick Kistler

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Malware Triangle
    ... > primary Internet threats, such as viruses, spam, and spyware, and then I ... > realized that the other threats were just blended characteristics of those ... then there's this supposed relationship between spyware and adware, ... RAT's are not closely related to either viruses or spyware - the ...
    (alt.computer.security)
  • Re: CastleCops ramps up fight against CoolWebSearch/HomeSearch
    ... Microsoft has a research team that seeks out new spyware threats for the ... Microsoft has enormous resources to find new threats and they additionally ... rely on their Spynet community and their new technology codenamed Strider ...
    (Bugtraq)
  • Re: Spying the messenger :-)
    ... latest version and then clean up any viruses from the system. ... you may run the following tools to clean up spyware. ... Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: I cant find it in the fine print????
    ... Did you scan for spyware, viruses, and do other system maintenance ... beforehand, or just install? ... all my products (Microsoft and non-Microsoft) worked fine ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Spyware Infestation on Mac!
    ... If only there were an Operating system that didn't have spyware, malware and viruses... ... If Microsoft didn't make it it doesn't exist. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)