Message: Spyware Update Available - Hoax???

[TSmith]

A popup message has occured in the lower right corner of
my screen that says an Update for MSAS is available. It
gives me two choices:

1. Update Now
2. Remind me again in ___ days.

It also has a link called "What's new" but when I click
it nothing happens. I opened MSAS and did a manual update
which says my software is up to date. The popup window
did not go away.

There is no way to close the popup window except by
selecting option 1 or 2. I selected 2 and specified 1
day, and it closed, but I expect it will come back
tomorrow.

Is this a hoax which is emulating a message from MSAS?
If so, how do I get it off my computer?

Thanks, TSmith

 

[Andre Da Costa]

Yes, its safe, its the Refresh update for Microsoft AntiSpyware that solves
a few issues in the beta 1 release and extends the expiration.
--
Andre
Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com
Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre
http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
FAQ for MS AntiSpy http://www.geocities.com/marfer_mvp/FAQ_MSantispy.htm

 

[Bill Sanderson]

This message (misspellings and all in some of the ensuing dialogs) is
legitimate. You can choose to download via this method, or go directly to
the download site and update manually:

http://www.microsoft.com/spyware/software
(it is a couple of links below this--you'll find it easily.)

 

[Sharon]

This message (misspellings and all in some of the ensuing dialogs) is
legitimate. You can choose to download via this method, or go directly to
the download site and update manually:

I get the box to update, I tell it yes and nothing happens. I've been by
the download site and don't see an option to download the update. Should I
just download the whole thing & install it again? If so, should I uninstall
the old version before installing the new one, or will the new version just
install over the old?

Thanks,
-Sharon
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[Bill Sanderson]

I've seen what you report as well. My sense of what is happening is that by
the time you respond to the download prompt, the server is too busy to offer
you the bits.

There's only one download and it is the full product.

If you are on a build other than 613, just download the full install from
the Microsoft download site and run it--it will upgrade. If you are on 613,
I'd advise uninstalling that version, then installing the new one.

--

 

[Sharon]

I've seen what you report as well. My sense of what is happening is that by
the time you respond to the download prompt, the server is too busy to offer
you the bits.

There's only one download and it is the full product.

If you are on a build other than 613, just download the full install from
the Microsoft download site and run it--it will upgrade. If you are on 613,
I'd advise uninstalling that version, then installing the new one.

Thanks very much for the reply. I had tried the "change|update" through
add/remove programs, it said it updated... but it was still 1.0.501 when I
checked. I've downloaded the full install and, if I'm understanding you
correctly, I can just install it right over my existing version.

Thanks again,
-Sharon
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[Bill Sanderson]

The update install is something of a misnomer, I think--in the current beta,
anyway, this fixes issues with the installed build, rather than bringing in
new code.

Yes--just run the download from the Microsoft download site, and it will
upgrade the version you have in place. I've done this myself ( .501 -->
..614) and not had any trouble.

--

 

[Sharon]

The update install is something of a misnomer, I think--in the current beta,
anyway, this fixes issues with the installed build, rather than bringing in
new code.

Yes--just run the download from the Microsoft download site, and it will
upgrade the version you have in place. I've done this myself ( .501 -->
.614) and not had any trouble.

Done, worked like a charm! Thanks!

-Sharon
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[Bill Sanderson]

Terrific. It is a good idea with any 614 upgrade to do a test of the
definition update process.

Just do File, Check for Updates twice in a row.

You should NOT see something which looks like an attempted definition update
both times.

If you do, stay tuned. I believe that Robin Harper has posted a definitive
fix for this, but haven't had a test case and the time to check out his fix
available to me.

--