Spyware reporting tool

[Allan Corfield]

I found the spyware reporting tool
(Menubar>Tools>Suspected Spyware report)to be a leetle
frustrating.

1 The Create Report Button is set to be the default so
that whenever the ENTER key is hit it rushes offf to
create the report prematurely. I know SHFT+ENTER puts a
new line in the repoprt but I am a lousy typist. Pulease
turn the default off.

2 There is no way to append attachments. This may be a
good idea to stop MS being flooded with attachments - but
if so it might be an idea to advise users that is so.
Relying on automated collection makes me feel
uncomfortable because what I consider spyware might not be
MSs idea - how is MS to identify what users consider to be
spyware? I'd like to be sure MS includes commercial
spyware/ surveillance products in its scan (eg key
loggers) - admin can always turn off scanning for
surveillance products.

Allan

 

[Bill Sanderson]

spyware? I'd like to be sure MS includes commercial

spyware/ surveillance products in its scan (eg key
loggers) - admin can always turn off scanning for
surveillance products.

See this KB for the defined scope of the product:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892340 Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)
identifies a program as a spyware threat (Listing criteria and Dispute
process)

In my experience it does include the items you mention. Detections of VNC
and Dameware are regularly reported here, often by unhappy administrators.
At the moment, there are no switches to turn off such detections:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892375 End users may be prompted to allow or
block administrative actions that originate from a central management tool
after they install Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) on a computer that is managed
by Systems Management Server 2003