Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (
More info?)
"jd" <sickboy2all@aol.com> wrote:
>since we are on the topic of internet security(and football,
>apparently. long suffering dophins fan here) for those of you who use
>windows , do you think thier new "malicious software removal tool"
>(that's what my update list calls it) is worth a download, or will it
>simply add to windows bloat? i'm already up to my ears in security
>software and what i use seems to do a good job. because this tool comes
>from ms do you think it may offer something more, or perhaps just more
>of the same? any replys are welcome and appreciated : )
They just licensed/bought out one of the existing
anti-adware/spyware programs out there [forgot what it was now,
it was named on the page you could download the beta version
from].
It's apparently out of beta, and on the autoupdate/security
update cycle, since my computer notified me and I let it
download/install. Wait a minute while I check a couple of things
.... ... ... ...
Hmm. Seems two different things. The Malicious Software Removal
Tool is, sort of, a Windoze 2K+ specific AV supplement to
whatever your current AV is:
Malicious Software Removal Tool - January 2005 (KB890830)
This tool checks your computer for infection by specific,
prevalent malicious software (including Blaster, Sasser, and
Mydoom) and helps remove any variants found. You should also use
an antivirus product to remove other malicious software that may
be present. This tool helps maintain your computer, and its
appearance does not indicate that your machine is infected with
malicious software. After you run this item, you may have to
restart your computer.
Help and support
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=39987
Turns out, if you read the info on that link, it isn't exactly
installed, just registered.
And it *is* a *removal* tool. Apparently run from MS to /remove/
an infection by one of the virus/trojans/worms involved.
The Windows AntiSpyware Beta is still a beta, and is covered at:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=321CD7A2-6A57-4C57-A8BD-DBF62EDA9671&displaylang=en
[And it is the Giant AntiSpyware program, viz:
"For Users of Giant AntiSpyware:
Current Giant AntiSpyware users with active subscriptions are
advised to continue to use their existing software."]
For the nonce, I'll ignore the Beta, and think about what to do
when it comes out of Beta and Windoze puts it on the update list,
either the auto "security" ones, or on the "nice to have"
"voluntary" side.
[I don't have the full auto update set, which auto downloads
installs the security ones, just the notification part, that
allows me to decide if/when to download a security upgrade.]
--
OJ III
[Email to Yahoo address may be burned before reading.
Lower and crunch the sig and you'll net me at comcast.]