News: Microsoft AntiSpyware vs Messenger Plus!

[Andre Da Costa [Extended64]]

Several days ago MSN Messenger fan site Mess.be reported that the latest
definitions for Microsoft AntiSpyware detects the actual Messenger Plus exe
as Spyware.

Messenger Plus! bundles adware (C2 Lop) which is optional during the install
stage. This recent change means users are advised of a threat coming from
"msgplus.exe" even though this exe contains no spyware or adware. If you
remove the "threat" using Microsoft AntiSpyware this fails to remove the C2
Lop adware and removes the Messenger Plus! un-installer. In simple terms
this means if you have the spyware installed, Antispyware doesn't remove it
but removes the un-installer of Messenger Plus so you can't remove it
afterwards!

I have personally alerted Microsoft to this problem and their response has
been disappointing. "The tactics used by spyware/adware vendors continuously
evolve and present major challenges. We are looking into the issue that you
raised about the removal of C2 LOP when a user chooses to remove Messenger
Plus, and want to ensure our removal is complete as possible....We encourage
software bundlers not to include spyware/adware in the first place to avoid
the problems that arise once spyware has gotten on a user's machine."

Patchou, the author of Messenger Plus! has had a hard time getting a
response out of the software giant too. We sat down with him last night and
asked him a couple of questions regarding his feelings on the recent
change.....

Read the rest here:
http://www.neowin.net/comments.php?category=main&id=29996
--
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]

Very interesting Andre.

 

[Andre Da Costa [Extended64]]

I like posting very interesting stuff.
--
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

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
Several days ago MSN Messenger fan site Mess.be reported that the latest
definitions for Microsoft AntiSpyware detects the actual Messenger Plus exe
as Spyware.

Messenger Plus! bundles adware (C2 Lop) which is optional during the install
stage. This recent change means users are advised of a threat coming from
"msgplus.exe" even though this exe contains no spyware or adware. If you
remove the "threat" using Microsoft AntiSpyware this fails to remove the C2
Lop adware and removes the Messenger Plus! un-installer. In simple terms
this means if you have the spyware installed, Antispyware doesn't remove it
but removes the un-installer of Messenger Plus so you can't remove it
afterwards!

I have personally alerted Microsoft to this problem and their response has
been disappointing. "The tactics used by spyware/adware vendors continuously
evolve and present major challenges. We are looking into the issue that you
raised about the removal of C2 LOP when a user chooses to remove Messenger
Plus, and want to ensure our removal is complete as possible....We encourage
software bundlers not to include spyware/adware in the first place to avoid
the problems that arise once spyware has gotten on a user's machine."

Patchou, the author of Messenger Plus! has had a hard time getting a
response out of the software giant too. We sat down with him last night and
asked him a couple of questions regarding his feelings on the recent
change.....

Read the rest here:
http://www.neowin.net/comments.php?category=main&id=29996
--
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

.
Ms antispyware is not even actually cleaning the

advertisements only deleting msg plus and leaving the
advertisements. And if you dont even choose to install the
sponsor which is your choice and clearly stated, ms
antispyware says you are infected which you are not.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

--

advertisements only deleting msg plus and leaving the
advertisements. And if you dont even choose to install the
sponsor which is your choice and clearly stated, ms
antispyware says you are infected which you are not.

Microsoft Antispyware labels Messenger Plus as an Adware bundler.

This is accurate.

 

[dread]

-----Original Message-----
--



Microsoft Antispyware labels Messenger Plus as an Adware bundler.

This is accurate.


.

What about ms antispyware not even removing the
advertisements and leaving it and only deleting msgplus.
The advertisements and msgplus is seperate, you can
remove the advertisements and msgplus will still work.
Think you need to read what is actually going on
http://msgplus.net/petition.php

 

[Robin Walker [MVP]]

Microsoft Antispyware labels Messenger Plus as an Adware bundler.
This is accurate.

Not really. MSAS labels the as-installed Messenger Plus executable as an
Adware bundler, which it is not.

MSAS ought to flag the Messenger Plus INSTALLER as an Adware bundler, which
would be accurate.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE]

Ms antispyware is not even actually cleaning the
advertisements only deleting msg plus and leaving the
advertisements. And if you dont even choose to install the
sponsor which is your choice and clearly stated, ms
antispyware says you are infected which you are not.

The warnings are totally inadequate.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

 

[Bill Sanderson]

What about ms antispyware not even removing the
advertisements and leaving it and only deleting msgplus.
The advertisements and msgplus is seperate, you can
remove the advertisements and msgplus will still work.
Think you need to read what is actually going on
http://msgplus.net/petition.php

I've read the diatribes and incitements posted there in the past, but not
learned a lot of useful factual information.

The developer of Messenger Plus has the same ability as any other developer
to reach the right people in Microsoft to get his product properly listed.
Probably more so--as I recall he's recently visited there.

I believe the listing is accurate and appropriate.

Since the developer is also a director of the adware company, it is a little
difficult to see him as a poor aggrieved victim.

http://www.sunbiz.org/scripts/corde...3=0000&n4=N&r1=&r2=&r3=&r4=SECURESOFTWARE&r5=

 

[Bill Sanderson]

That's a reasonable point--however, if the app is installed, the installer
is too, correct? Isn't it out there, for repair installs, uninstalls, etc.
And if Microsoft Antispyware uninstalls it, presumably in uninstalls the
installer bits as well.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE]

I've read the diatribes and incitements posted there in the past, but
not learned a lot of useful factual information.

The developer of Messenger Plus has the same ability as any other
developer to reach the right people in Microsoft to get his product
properly listed. Probably more so--as I recall he's recently visited
there.
I believe the listing is accurate and appropriate.

Since the developer is also a director of the adware company, it is a
little difficult to see him as a poor aggrieved victim.

http://www.sunbiz.org/scripts/corde...3=0000&n4=N&r1=&r2=&r3=&r4=SECURESOFTWARE&r5=

The developer of MessengerPlus (Patchou) appears to be on the board of the
owner of C2-Media, the spyware that comes with MessengerPlus.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

 

[dread]

The developer of MessengerPlus (Patchou) appears to be on the board of the
owner of C2-Media, the spyware that comes with MessengerPlus.

It is not spyware it is adware. And it is your choice to install it. It
clearly states what it is installing its up you choice to install it or
not. There is plenty of documentation on the msgplus site and the
msgplus forums. No one yet has answered my question, why is ms
antispyware not deleting the adware and leaving it on your computer and
only deleting msgplus. What exactly does ms antispyware consider as a
adware bundler?

 

[Bill Sanderson]

It is not spyware it is adware. And it is your choice to install it. It
clearly states what it is installing its up you choice to install it or
not. There is plenty of documentation on the msgplus site and the msgplus
forums. No one yet has answered my question, why is ms antispyware not
deleting the adware and leaving it on your computer and only deleting
msgplus. What exactly does ms antispyware consider as a adware bundler?

My understanding is that Microsoft Antispyware is removing the adware
component. If it isn't, that's a technical issue that we could use help
with--please submit Tools, Suspected spyware reports from machines where
this removal has failed.

Here's a link to Microsoft's criteria for listing:

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/isv/analysis.mspx

 

[plun]

Hi

Patchou has started a petition about this ..... :')

http://msgplus.net/petition.php

LOP is a real "pest" and it is only to reinstall it
without sponsor and tell MSAS to "always ignore" msg plus.

--
plun




Andre Da Costa [Extended64] used his keyboard to write :