SPYnet - vaporware ?

[Dave and Rosanna]

I signed up for Spynet about a year ago, but I've unsubscribed because
I don't think it does anything. On all the alerts I've received, if you
look at the
Spynet community rating, there's never any feedback.

Also, common items like UPHClean, after all this time,
is still "not yet classified" for risks - and that's one of MS's own
products!

I believe Spynet sucks up data, but does absolutely nothing
withit to assist users of WD. Whether MS does anything else with the data,.
that's another queston.

Why has MS not properly use Spynet ?

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Have you ever read the Microsoft Security Intelligence Reports?

Spynet data is a significant component of the data that goes into these
reports--and it goes into removal choices in the Malicious Software Removal
tool, and definitions for Microsofts anti-malware tools, including Windows
Defender.

http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Threat/SIR.aspx

I understand the frustration of users who want to know how to add an app to
the "allowed" list, and the feeling that Spynet is a black hole.

It isn't--but it is a funnel from literally millions of users into perhaps
dozens of staff members--so direct feedback just isn't possible.

 

[Dave and Rosanna]

Then how does it work?
There never seems to be an opportunity to "rate" anything,
and no ratings are ever given when an alert is presented.

The interface and even the instructions on the spynet options page
seem to promise some functionalty that doesn't exist.

Having said , that the product rescued me from some nasty malware
about 6 months ago. The PC was so screwed up, that after booting, the
screen
kept flashing every 2 or 3 seconds. It was impossible to see anything.

WD came to the rescue automatically, notifying me it had detected the
malware, and
was making some system changes. After a few seconds, it asked me to reboot.
After rebooting, the screen was steady, and I was able to remove the last
dregs
of the infection using Spybot S&D.

I've no doubt the product is an asset to my PC. However, I do get
frustrated
at features that are described as if they exist and are present, when they
clearly are not.

Also: How does it work in a limited account ?