When will EGroup.IEAccess.C be fixed, Microsoft?

[Guest]

First, I'm very pleased with the work you've done with AntiSpyware. After a
year of dinking and wasting time with 3rd party apps like Spybot and Search
And Destroy, Hijack this, and others, I found Microsoft's solution to be the
best.

But why isn't EGroup.IEAccess.C fixed yet? It would be nice if I saw in
this newsgroup: "Hi, I'm the Microsoft rep for this program, and yes you are
right, this is a problem that hasn't been fixed yet and we're working on
it..."

The fact that the Microsoft spyware cleaner knows about it, and appears to
succeed on cleaning up this guy, adds to confusion and frustration. I'd
rather know up front that this is an issue that Microsoft spyware *cannot*
fix--honesty is the best policy!

Thanks,
Brian

 

[Bill Sanderson]

You are unlikely to see such a post here. The Microsoft staff are doing
useful work improving the product, and aren't posting here at the moment.

Out of curiosity--have you tried cleaning this dialler while Windows is
running in safe mode? This crutch seems to be needed for some threats that
Microsoft Antispyware accurately identifies, but apparently can't clean.

Additionally, attempting to file a Tools, Suspected spyware report from
within Microsoft Antispyware is one way to make the development team aware
of the shortcoming in a direct way.

If this reporting tool fails with an error mentioning proxy settings,
however, move on--this is a bug for which I have no workaround except to
know that it is fixed in beta2.

The fact that the problem is identified is a clear indication that Microsoft
intends to e capable of cleaning it--but your experience seems to indicate
that they are not there yet.

 

[Dave M]

Hi Brian;

Have you run MSAS scan in Safe mode to attempt this removal?

It would be nice to have a Ms presence in here, but it isn't going to happen.
I've yet to see much, if any, official response from Ms in this forum to an
issue like this. Part of that has got to be due to the competitive nature of
Anti-Spyware applications, and keeping development efforts under wraps. I'd
appreciate a list of malware that MSAS can clean or at least detect similar to
the list that CounterSpy (MSAS brother) offers. But, since CounterSpy does list
it, I'm wondering if the removal failure is due to the malware being active
during your removal attempts. I think I can say everyone would like to see a
delayed boot-up time remover incorporated into the long awaited Beta2, so as to
avoid manual Safe mode removals:

http://research.sunbelt-software.com/threat_library_search.cfm

Software Search Results
Searched for egroup

Found: 11 (click below to view detail)


CommonSearch VCatch
CommonSearch VCatch
eGroup
EGroup Dialer
EGroup Sex Dialer
EGroup.IEAccess.B
EGroup.IEAccess.surfya
EGroup.InstantAccess.B
IEAccess
MagicControl
MagicControl

 

[Guest]

Thanks both for replying. When I find some time today or tomorrow, I'll try
your tips.

I am not sure I would accept a lack of MS presence in this newsgroup on the
basis of them being busy and there's competition.

1. Anti-spyware software is about trust with Microsoft and the customer. In
this case, this is a security flaw, and Microsoft has always made it a first
priority to communicate it to the customer and provide a fix, or at least a
timeline for doing so.

2. The customer doesn't give a rip about competition, only privacy on their
own computer. In this case, a Microsoft product has been hijacked and I
should expect Microsoft to provide the solution. Eventually, there will be
*no* market for anti-spyware products because Microsoft should have plugged
all the security holes in its products.

Brian Kramer

 

[Bill Sanderson]

We're both of us guessing, and somewhat facetiously, when we ascribe
motivations to Microsoft for being, or not being, in these groups. I
believe they are working very hard to get beta2 out the door. The actual
Microsoft presence in these groups has never been very substantial--these
are meant to be peer-to-peer support groups, and thats what they are.

I agree heartily with your final sentence in 2)--they have every intention
of doing in spyware, and most virus/worm issues, as well--and have made
substantial, and quantifiable progress.

Here are some stats:

Microsoft Antispyware - Most popular product download in Microsoft history

18,000,000 active users (measured by uptake of signature updates)

Spynet - 20,000 community votes/hour

In the average 90 minutes, 54,000 people install Microsoft Antispyware.
22,500 pieces of spyware or
malicious software are removed.

--

 

[Dave M]

18,000,000 WoW... wonder if that includes all 12 signature update attempts I
made this past weekend, before it loaded right Yes, I was real active.
Again shear speculation, but I think perhaps the spynet servers are overloaded
with all of those 18 gazillion, and it's most noticeable on my slow dial-up
connection.... grrrrrr

 

[Guest]

Dial-up?

You mean people still use that SLOW type of connection when DSL is available
for about the same price as most dial-up services?

I don't use DSL since I don't want another contract, since I already have a
cell phone. Instead, I use RoadRunner since it's faster than most DSL
packages out there.

Using bandwidthplace.com's speed test
(http://www.bandwidthplace.com/speedtest) I got the following results:

Speed

4.4 megabits per second
Communications 4.4 megabits per second
Storage 532.5 kilobytes per second
1MB file download 1.9 seconds
Subjective rating Awesome

-----

The average connection speed in Ohio is about 2.04 Mbps, and mine averages
about 3 - 5 Mbps using this speed test.

-----

Using dslreports.com's speed test (http://www.dslreports.com/stest), I got
the following results:

Speakeasy.net (Seatle)

Your download speed : 3875 kbps or 484.4 KB/sec.
Your upload speed : 354 kbps or 44.2 KB/sec.

Megapath.net (San Francisco)

Your download speed : 4207 kbps or 525.9 KB/sec.
Your upload speed : 349 kbps or 43.6 KB/sec.

-----

As you can see, even with these tests, my average connection speed is higher
than others in Ohio.

This is why I use broadband, and why I chose RoadRunner over other available
ISPs. Not to mention that RoadRunner is continually increasing their
bandwidth (i.e., increasing the connection speed) and keeping the price the
same. Many other ISPs charge more for the same connection speed that
RoadRunner is currently at.

Alan

 

[Donald Anadell]

"You mean people still use that SLOW type of connection when DSL is available
for about the same price as most dial-up services?"

Hi Alan,

I'm afraid there are some of us out here that are left with little choice in this matter. Here in rural Eastern Kentucky we have no
Cable broadband or DSL available as an option. The only option available in this rural area for broadband internet service is
DirectWay Satellite. The cost for installation of the equipment (Satellite and modem) is $579.00 with a $60.00 a month service
charge and 15 month contract...a bit cost prohibitive for some.

While I'm sure that your question was rhetorical in nature it seems to imply that those of us still using a Dial-up connection
prefer it that way(or are ignorant or other options), I can assure you that this is not the case for all. Hopefully Adelphia Cable
will reach me here some day, until then I'm afraid it's 56k or bust.

Go Buckeyes)

Don

 

[Guest]

Hi there:

Brian Kramer wrote with great expertise:

First, I'm very pleased with the work you've done with AntiSpyware. >

I'm sure Bill Gates will sleep better tonight knowing you are pleased.

...dinking and wasting time with 3rd party apps.....> Oh yeah, let's name all of the MS products prior to this MSAS beta 1 for antispyware programs...Oops a real short list

But why isn't EGroup.IEAccess.C fixed yet? >

Well it would have been, but some guy named Brian quit MS to go get his PhD
and they had to shift the work around.

You used to be the MS employee, why didn't you e-mail somebody that knows
while you were at work if it's such a big deal to you?

What, am I the only one who found this post to be a tad confusing?

RobbieA

 

[plun]

Donald Anadell wrote :

While I'm sure that your question was rhetorical in nature it seems to imply
that those of us still using a Dial-up connection prefer it that way(or are
ignorant or other options), I can assure you that this is not the case for
all. Hopefully Adelphia Cable will reach me here some day, until then I'm
afraid it's 56k or bust.

Hi

What are your Telco doing ?

Don´t take this for SPAM beacuse this solution(s) works.

http://www.ericsson.com/campaign/broadband/index.shtml

 

[Donald Anadell]

"What are your Telco doing ?"

Telco = TDS Telcom
TDS Telcom Internet Service in my area = Dialup only

I'm assured by TDS Telcom that by 2007 they will have the infrastructure in place to offer DSL in my area, Adelphia Cable also
makes assurances that the infrastructure will be in place by 2007 to offer Cable broadband in my area. Until then, two way
Satellite offered by DirectWay is the only broadband option here. I guess I could always sell my house and move to town)

Don

 

[Guest]

Hi Plun:

As usual, you're ahead of the rest of us. Thanks for this link. I'm also
stuck in the middle of a technological dead zone high speed-wise speaking.
Every time I contact a high speed supplier of any kind they simply get real
quiet as soon as I supply my address. I can get a dish hookup for $300 and
$100.00 a month...Like that's gonna' happen. My local, down home, family
owned ISP can supply a one way DSL dual dial-up jury rig at this time for
considerably more than I'm paying for their 56K dial-up....Consider this: I
live 90 miles from NYC, there are at least 4 major universities/colleges in
my immediate area and several well known major corporations not to mention
Lehigh and a well funded business/technological start-up think tank. Go
figure.....

Regards,

RobbieA

:


Hi

What are your Telco doing ?

.....this solution(s) works.

http://www.ericsson.com/campaign/broadband/index.shtml


plun

 

[plun]

Hi

I am from Sweden and we have the same problem with connections
outside towns.

Ericsson have solutions also for small numbers of DSL connections, it
is used in several small places in Sweden within local small tele
stations.

So show it for your Telco

 

[Bill Sanderson]

18,000,000 WoW... wonder if that includes all 12 signature update attempts
I made this past weekend, before it loaded right Yes, I was real
active.

I know that stat indicates that they are trying hard to come up with a
metric that more accurately indicates active installs, rather than
downloads--but I don't know whether they get feedback about the success of a
given definition download--given the record, I suspect not!

I'm quite sure that beta2 mechanisms will be more robust--and maybe give
better accuracy to the stats, too.

 

[plun]

Hi Robbie

The major problem with US and DSL development is probably named
Motorola....

You can find Ericsson equipment all over our world.

I can see Ericssons biggest base station factory from my house but
all base stations now go to China, Incredible market.

 

[Guest]

I'm glad you recognized the name. Unfortunately, RobbieA doesn't ring a
bell.

Microsoft is a big company, and if I had the appropriate contact for this
issue, I would probably send an email. As it stands now, I'm only a customer
who expects a little bit more communication with users on ongoing security
issues.

The Visual Studio folks are likewise very busy for their Nov 7 release, but
there's a lot of Microsoft presence in the newgroups there.

 

[Guest]

Hi, Bill:

I haven't run MSAS in Safe mode (if you are referring to booting XP in Safe
Mode). That hadn't occured to me. But I did, however, run CounterSpy, and
it cleaned up my EGroup.IEAccess.C, and a handful of other ones! Thank you
very much!

 

[Guest]

Sorry, that was meant for Dave.

 

[Guest]

I know many people don't have a choice, but if enough people complain to the
cable/telecomm companies around where they live, then chances are they (the
cable/telecomm companies) will find a way to bring high speed service to
these areas. Many of them don't want to because they feel that there won't
be enough people using the services to justify the huge expense to bring
these types of services to these areas.

You might want to see if ISDN is available in our area. I know it's not the
fastest, but it's going to be a little faster than dial-up.

Or, just wait until sometime next year or so when WiFiMAX
(http://www.intel.com/netcomms/technologies/wimax/index.htm?ppc_cid=ggl|wng_wimax|kC6F|s,
http://www.wimaxworld.com/, etc.) becomes available. WiFiMAX uses the
802.16 standards. This is supposed to allow high speed Internet service even
in rural areas.

Alan