David H. Lipman said:
| In this case, it really doesn't matter -- it is a beta in name only. This
| particular program used to be the GIANT antispyware program until Microsoft
| acquired GIANT, made a few cosmetic changes to it, and started calling it a
| beta program.
|
| Here is what I know about it. First, it works. Second, it runs seamlessly
| with Windows XP, i.e. it doesn't slow down performance or make your machine
| less stable.
Oh, I know all about it. I have also read posts stating the problems that have
occurred after its use.
I have read them, too. In fact, there isn't a single piece of commonly used
software I know of that someone somewhere hasn't had some problem with.
However, I have been using the MS antispyware program since it first came out
and I have never had a single problem with it. Not one. It is first and
only antispyware program I know if in which I can make this claim.
Why do you think it is in Beta ?
I don't know, but I would guess that the answer is that Microsoft wanted to
make it publicly available even though it had not yet tested all aspects of
the program by its own company standards, which are certainly different from
those of the GIANT company from which they acquired the program. Again, we
are not talking about some new and experimental program, like many beta
versions of new software. We are talking about an already mature product,
written by a company that was since acquired by Microsoft. It would be like
Microsoft acquiring Forte Agent's newsreader (arguably the best, and
certainly the most mature newsreader on the market), making cosmetic changes,
and then calling it Microsoft Newsreader beta.
One other possible reason, as the above link illustrates, is that Microsoft
itself is still developing its approach to defining what spyware even is and
they have not yet settled on a specific definition. For example, Microsoft
does not regard tracking cookies as a form of spyware, although many other
antispyware programs do. [Note: I happen to agree with Microsoft on this
one.]
Is it possible that Microsoft introduced new code that can have deliterious effects?
No, except in the very broad sense that any piece of software, no matter how
mature or well-tested, can have potentially deleterious effects. There is no
such thing as perfect software. Moreover, the Microsoft people have been
very rigorous and thorough in their approach. Here is a link that discusses
the issues in more detail:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/analysis.mspx
Is it possible that it could be used in a new way on platforms it was not mean to
be used on it its originally distributed form ?
I can comment only on XP, and for XP I would answer no.
The rule about Beta software being used on production machines has not
changed and it should not be bent here.
I bet you never drive faster than the speed limit, either.
The next thing you know is WinXP SP3 will come out and everyone will say use
XP3 Beta. Do you know of all the problems people has with the Beta version of
SP2 ?
I was one of the beta users of SP2 and didn't have problems, so maybe I'm
the wrong person to ask this question. But here I would agree with you: I
wouldn't use any SP3 beta on a production machine. It wouldn't be a beta in
name only, the way the Microsoft Windows antispyware program is.
....
Ken
