Date: 10/09/05 (Computer Geeks)    Keywords: software, security, virus, antivirus, spyware, spam, microsoft

Firstly, I just want this to be known that this isn't an anti-windows rant or anything. There is a question being posed here, I promise :P

With that said, companies like McAfee and Symantec have basically been making a living solely from Microsoft's security oversights. They've been charging people to use their software which protects those people from the vulnerabilities that Microsoft left open. The quality of these programs varies from function to function. Even then, they ignore adware since it's not considered 'malicous'. And even still, they have issues with using the same name for similar viruses. Users are faced with these same problems with any anti-virus/anti-adware/anti-whatever software they use. There is a lot of similar companies, but they don't have a common agreeance on what is and isn't a virus, or if they should detect adware. There's also the issues that come with the firewall program they install. Traffic from the internet isn't always malicious, but those firewalls can't usually tell the difference. Very few of these programs are free. None of these problems actually FIX the problem. They're only removing programs that exploit the initial vulnerabilities, leaving room for reuse value.

As many of you surely know already, Microsoft has recently released a beta version of their anti-crap (to summarize anti-spam, anti-virus, anti-adware, anti-spyware, etc) scanner and removal tool. Before that, they've included a firewall program in XP SP2. Microsoft is not charging anything for either of these programs. At least not as of yet if they ever decide to.

So, my question is this; Do you folks think Microsoft is taking a step in the right direction by adding the firewall and scanner tools? Will they do a better job than the other Antivirus vendors? Do you think maybe they are taking a step in the WRONG direction, like, why aren't they fixing the actual problems instead of covering them up? What do you all think?

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/computergeeks/793809.html