Microsoft To charge for antispyware utility

[stcanard]

Well, since Windows ME was officially dropped from mainstream support on December 31, 2003 (over a year ago), no one should realistically expect Microsoft to release any new software for that platform. That's why the Microsoft AntiSpyware software doesn't work on ME.

Two points:

1) I just checked, and Microsoft is providing extended support for ME until 2006

2) Whether it is supported or not is a side-issue. Fact is there are a large number of 9x installations out there, and they provide a larger proportion of the zombies. If MS is really interested in weeding out the spyware/zombie issues they need to address this.

I like the analogy to automobile recalls. My car was fixed on a recall last year, even though the warranty expired 10 years ago, because the component was flawed by design. 9x security is flawed by design, and if MS is really serious about fixing the spyware/zombie problem they need to address it.

 

[clayj]

Here's the full note regarding Windows ME support from that page:

Paid incident support is now available through 30-Jun-2006. Extended hotfix support for Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition ended on 30-Jun-2003. Extended hotfix support for Windows Millennium ended on 31-Dec-2003. Online self-help support will continue to be available until at least 30-Jun-2007. For additional information on the type and length of support provided, review the Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Support Extended Announcement Web site. Critical security updates will be provided on the Windows Update site through June 30, 2006. Microsoft will not publicly release non-critical security hotfixes for Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, or Windows Millennium Edition. However, customers may request a non-critical security hotfix through On-Demand Security Hotfix support, which is offered for these products through June 30, 2006. When a request is received, Microsoft will investigate the issue and try to provide an appropriate response to the customer.​

The italicized notes are the important ones... Microsoft has essentially ended support for Windows ME. You can pay for support, but they're not going to develop any new Windows ME code (not IE updates, which are different) unless a Premier level customer requires it in order to correct a problem.

I agree in principle that Microsoft should release an ME-compatible version of the ASW software (and they may yet), but they may be willing to let the third-party ASW market handle it.

 

[clayj]

Turns out it's going to be free after all.

 

[maya]

An article posted in the Informatiojn Technology adviser states that microsoft will soon charge for their spyware removal tool (Currently in Beta for free Via microsoft.com/downloads)

Isn't that great.... Release a crapy OS, then charge you to keep it working

This comes as a surprise, NOT.

 

[maya]

Turns out it's going to be free after all.

Free for how long, that is the question really. Why not just integrate this into the OS, say LongHorn. I bet they will charge a subscription fee down the road.

 

[clayj]

Free for how long, that is the question really. Why not just integrate this into the OS, say LongHorn. I bet they will charge a subscription fee down the road.

Once you go down the "free" road, it's VERY hard to switch to the "pay for it" road. My guess... it will always be free. The cost to maintain the spyware data is nominal, especially when you consider how many people will be using it (i.e., the cost per user will be microscopic). And Longhorn may work more along the lines of OS X, where software can't even get installed without user authentication, so the question may be moot by that time.