Does this EVER sound right to you??

[webyourbusiness]

From:

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/p...-16GIANTPR.asp

Microsoft plans to make available to Windows customers a beta version of a spyware protection, detection and removal tool, based on the GIANT AntiSpyware product, within one month. The upcoming beta will scan a customer's PC to locate spyware and other deceptive software threats and enable customers to remove them. The tool will be configurable to block known spyware and other unwanted software from being installed on the computer. It will be available for Microsoft Windows 2000 and later versions.

Now... it doesn't say if this is going to be a free solution - but I would assume not... just based on previous M$ acquisition... I hope I'm wrong though.

If they DO make it a free software addition to the Winoze OS - good on them - but surely fixing the basic OS for all the potential abuses would be a better start... nah... this is M$ here...

If they DON'T make it free - how whacked it that...?

Make yourself a buggy piece of junk operating system and fill it with lots of exploitable code - generate a whole industry of dedicated professionals who make a living fixing your mess, then buy one of the best solutions and enjoy a long and steady stream of income... and so the circle continues - M$ OS division releases a "problem" - sorry - patch - M$ security division releases a paid subscription update to their "Spyware" fixer upper....

Can you say... "Anti-Trust"...??

[rodmc]

easy solution, install Linux
I cant see MS charging for this, its a utility more than an application. But if they do, people will just stick with the alternatives. Its more likely that MS will make it free.

[webyourbusiness]

There is at least rumour that this may NOT be free...

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_...E15306,00.html