MSFT Antispyware Beta -- further news 1

[bcastner]

As I just got news on an issue raised in this thread, let me report:

As many do not have access to the private beta newsgroup for the Microsoft Antispyware product, I thought the following would help, cryptic as it is:

We have not announced timing of RTW, and we are still planning a beta 2. And while I am here dispelling rumors, we are also aware of the July 31 timebomb and are working on an update to extend that date.
--
-steve
Steve Dodson -- MSFT
MCSE, CISSP
PSS Security

Having some experience translating into English Microsoft-speak, this means:

"Microsoft will not let the beta simply expire on July 31, 2005. There will be an update to extend the expiration date, and likely a second beta in late summer."

Now Steve Dodson knows what is going on with this product. In Microspeak "he 'owns' this space."

To clarify another issue: there is absolutely no plan to make this a paid product. An Enterprise level managed product, and an end-user different product incorporating among other things MSFT Antispyware is planned (OneCare), and will be paid products and services. But single workstations with a valid XP or Win2k license will receive the Antispyware product and updates for free.

So, do not worry about the July 31, 2005 expiry. You will not see Beta 2 prior to that, but an update that will at least avoid the product expiring on you.

Best regards,
Bill Castner

 

[bcastner]

By the way, I checked, and none of the above information is considered an NDA violation on my part.

 

[aquias]

Thanks Bill!

 

[2ffat]

Interesting! I wonder if any of the "bugs" I found will be fixed in the next beta?



James P. Cottingham
-----------------------------------------
^{I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229!}

 

[bcastner]

2ffat,

The beta newsgroup has been quite active on this product. See the following as it might discuss the issue you have seen:

http://www.geocities.com/marfer_mvp/FAQ_MSantispy.htm

Spelling errors, multiple icons, icon color changes, issues with the explorer agents, reference file issues, and scheduling oddities have been well covered.

The FAQ includes information how to report errors to the MSFT antispyware team.

 

[2ffat]

It was the scheduling oddities that really got me. In order to run MSAS on Monday through Friday, I had to set the schedule to run Wednesday through Sunday [LOL].

James P. Cottingham
-----------------------------------------
^{I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229!}

 

[bcastner]

Mine was just as peculiar: anything set between 10:30 am and 12:30 was unpredictable.

This I can assure you has been fixed in Beta 2. But there are some tough issues left: limited user accounts, protecting the defintion filestores and registry for the program from deliberate attack; and general compliance. Right now I think it a very good program, with the potential to be, for free, the best out there.

 

[bcastner]

I should amend the above slightly: given the current malware situation, I would never depend on one tool. The brand new Spybot 1.4 looks like a keeper as a secondary resource, and there is always Hijack This!.

 

[BadBigBen]

@bcastner - I second that, about MS AntiSpy, SpyBot and HiJackThis... I run all three on my machines and have had no Malware problems in quite some time...

thanx for the information...



Ben

If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer...