Comments on: Microsoft flagged Symantec software as spyware

Microsoft's Windows AntiSpyware tool called out some Symantec security products as malicious software that steals passwords.

[mortis9]

FUD

This isn't news. This is FUD and nothing more. Just looking at the headline screams that Cnet has run out of interesting stories (or talented writers). This is a problem with a BETA product that most likely would only have encounted Symantec's corporate software on a corporate test setup, if at all. Obviously this affected only a tiny number of users. It was then fixed immediately followed by a joint statement by both companies explaining the mixup. Not news. FUD!!!!

[techguy83]

well

it could have been worse. I experience problems with symantec and mcafee products daily as those programs cause lots of problems with Outlook, Outlook express, thunderbird, and other email client programs.

[NickEP]

it IS news

Reporting on flaws of beta or early-version software or electronic products *is* news. It's only FUD if the news is false, and in this case, it is not.

Your claim of it affecting a "tiny number of users" is unsubstantiated and likely untrue given that 25 million people have downloaded the beta. Symantec and Microsoft said a "small" number of users was affected, and to a corporation seeking to spin a bad PR situation, "small" could be tens of thousands. Especially since they didn't give an actual figure.

Ben Schwartz = ......

M$ fanboy!!!! What, Billybob got you by the member?

F - fear of Microsoft is healthy
U - uncertainty is what you get by using their products
D - doubt the notion that they have your interests in mind

Nothing is FUD when it comes to questioning this company!!!!!!

[Steven N]

Speaking of FUD

The fact is (even if you don't like it) that a MS product (even in beta) is falsely reporting a legitimate product as spyware. I don't think it can become more FUD-dier.

One could think it can be a mere mistake, but given the track record of MS, I wouldn't be so sure of it.

[heystoopid]

not unsurprising, horses for courses!

not unsurprising or unexpected, since symantec, took far too long to react to Sony's deliberate cyber terrorism attack on all pc's with xcp's hidden rootkit , RANDOM BSoD of '05 affair , and were among the last to react, due to their own hidden rootkit's!

well at least M$, is at least trying root out the rootkit people! , so as to speak, for now!

Symantec's A-V, is not the cutting edge it could be, and seems to be of one where the customer is always last!

horses for courses!

[n3td3v]

This happens a lot

I guess its because its Symantec and Microsoft that this has made news. While its news because its Symantec and Microsoft, its not unfirmilar for legitmate software files to become detected by security software. The reason is because hackers like to use file names that are the same as legitimate software to hide their evil skills from unsavvy, unsuspecting web users.

[ChazzMatt]

link to fix?

on Microsoft and Symantec sites I cannot find the fix for this. Where is the tool?

[mess487]

Corrected

I like to hear that microsoft has to correct a mistake in its anti-spyware product that flagged some Symantec security tools as malicious software.
http://www.referate-romana.com/referate/Marin-Preda/page1.php
http://www.referate-romana.com/referate/George-Bacovia/page2.php