Defender Beta 2 ---- NEEDS SOME ATTENTION

[Guest]

At this point, great program and I love it EXCEPT FOR ------ Why does it not
catch and stop adware, and the other types of junk cookies that likes to
invade and
watch what you do on the Internet???????

Once a week I crank up my Spy Sweeper and run it and I always come up with
12-15 cookies that are the same each week and in my opinion that type of junk
should be stopped by Defender. Before I shut off Spy Sweeper and stopped it
from runnning in the background that program always caught and stopped that
junk for invading my computer !!!!!!

Yes I know Defender is Beta, but come on MS this is now part of OneCare
Live to
which I have a paid one year subscription to and Defender is still not
catching and stoping these cookies from these very basic annoying types of
companies who send adware and what ever the other stuff is called.

If Defender is not going to stop this stuff/junk then will MS change the
program so I can run Spy Sweeper all of the time to catch and stop this
stuff from entering my computer and not cause a conflict with Defender and
OneCare.

Maybe MVP's will be kind enough to way in on this, if so thank
you very much for any comments/background that you may be able to
provide.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE]

At this point, great program and I love it EXCEPT FOR ------ Why does it
not
catch and stop adware, and the other types of junk cookies that likes to
invade and
watch what you do on the Internet???????

Once a week I crank up my Spy Sweeper and run it and I always come up with
12-15 cookies that are the same each week and in my opinion that type of
junk
should be stopped by Defender. Before I shut off Spy Sweeper and stopped
it
from runnning in the background that program always caught and stopped
that
junk for invading my computer !!!!!!

Yes I know Defender is Beta, but come on MS this is now part of OneCare
Live to
which I have a paid one year subscription to and Defender is still not
catching and stoping these cookies from these very basic annoying types of
companies who send adware and what ever the other stuff is called.

If Defender is not going to stop this stuff/junk then will MS change the
program so I can run Spy Sweeper all of the time to catch and stop this
stuff from entering my computer and not cause a conflict with Defender and
OneCare.

Maybe MVP's will be kind enough to way in on this, if so thank
you very much for any comments/background that you may be able to
provide.

Cookies can't hurt your computer or effect how it works.

 

[Guest]

Thank you very much, I will remember that. I appreicate your time.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Larry;
Cookies are only text files alreadt easily controlled from within Internet
Explorer and probably other browsers.
I doubt Defender will be changed to look for Cookies.

 

[Guest]

Thank you, I have alread adjusted my IE7B2 to block 3rd party cookies, etc,
etc.
All if the replies that I have received have been edcuational and
enlighting!!!!!

Thanks Again !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ian E]

I think this just reflects a philosophical difference between the Windows
Defender product team and other anti-spyware / anti- "invasion of privacy"
product vendors.

The Windows Defender folks at Microsoft obviously believe that "invasion of
privacy" concerns are not valid issues. I wonder if there are unstated
reasons why they choose to ignore this particular type of threat.

Of course Microsoft never believed that a personal firewall would be
necessary for regular joe-schmo computer users either at one time.

So maybe what you're looking for will turn up at some point - maybe in 2-3
years (eons in the computer world) as the Windows Defender team slowly
(molasses) works their way towards building a product that actually does
something useful. In the meantime keep supplementing with other vendors'
products or just buy a Mac.

 

[Guest]

Thanks --- good thoughts. Even tho I'm an old geezer and have been hooked on
MS products in general, I have given some thousht to purchasing a Mac next
year after all of the new software is out/updated. Have even had a couple of
conversations with a long time Mac dealer here in Oklahoma City and he has
almost convinced me to give it a shot, but I'm still on the fence.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

"The Windows Defender folks at Microsoft obviously believe..."
Or perhaps they understand the entire package and do not limit their vision
to just Windows Defender.

"Microsoft never believed that a personal firewall..."
Please post your source, or is this just an opinion?

"...or just buy a Mac"
On the mistaken belief there are no vulnerabilities there?
Anyone who buys a Mac, better not stop there.
There is no such thing as a totally secure OS and probably never will be.
They all need updates.
It is also necessary for the users to take prudent actions to keep their
computer secure regardless the operating system.
So no "or just buy a Mac" is not enough.

Windows Defender does not need to detect cookies.
Cookies are easily controlled from Internet explorer as well as other
browsers.

But there is one advantage to the other spyware detectors finding
cookies...It gives them something to fins thus inflating their numbers.

I control the cookies with my browser.
I do not need another program looking for them and accomplishing nothing
more than boosting its numbers to improve its image but adding ZIP to the
security of my computer.

However I would like WD to detect cookies, but the reasons are not good.
Only so those that feel a nonexistent threat is removed.
And helping those unable to understand the cookie settings in their browser,
which are really not difficult.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org

 

[Guest]

Thanks again for the comments, and thank you for the web site links. Like
you I also spent 20 years in the Air Force, retiring in 1976 and then spent
25 years in the business world.

I make every effort to ALWAYS keep all of my programs current and up to
date. Additionally I do not run a lot of crap (maybe not the best choice of
words) programs on my system. My Mac comments were not intended to imply
that if I switched to Mac that I would not have to practice safe and secure
browsing. I have used computers in my life since my early years in the USAF
starting in the 1960's, but am not a technician nor anything more than a
dedicated home user (since I retired). I have always had a great deal of
regard for the MS programs, but like you believe that some of the developers
that write the programs need to be a bit more prudent and should keep in mind
that many users get themselves into trouble because they simply do not know
any better. This is were I think that MS could write the code (so to speak)
to help the average user keep their system clean of junk cookies and other
such things that have no purpose but to potentially to harm.