This feature to be implemented in version 702.

I've been using this since the beta opened up...there's no chance of me using a different antivirus product.

 

Now that it's a public release...what's everyone else think?


Comments (Page 1)
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on Oct 05, 2009

It installs Spynet onto your computer which sends information to Microsoft about file behavior, including any software Security Essentials it suspects is pirated (which for me is no big thing). It also warns users that personal data might be "accidentally" sent to Microsoft (which is a big thing).

I don't know what sort of data Spynet gives Microsoft but without an opt out choice I can't see myself installing it. There are better less intrusive options out there.

on Oct 05, 2009

tazgecko
It installs Spynet onto your computer which sends information to Microsoft about file behavior, including any software Security Essentials it suspects is pirated (which for me is no big thing). It also warns users that personal data might be "accidentally" sent to Microsoft (which is a big thing).

I don't know what sort of data Spynet gives Microsoft but without an opt out choice I can't see myself installing it. There are better less intrusive options out there.

Is this true?

This post seems a bit tinfoil-hatish.

on Oct 05, 2009

tazgecko
It installs Spynet onto your computer which sends information to Microsoft about file behavior, including any software Security Essentials it suspects is pirated (which for me is no big thing). It also warns users that personal data might be "accidentally" sent to Microsoft (which is a big thing).

I don't know what sort of data Spynet gives Microsoft but without an opt out choice I can't see myself installing it. There are better less intrusive options out there.

Linky?  Otherwise this,

Is this true?

This post seems a bit tinfoil-hatish.

on Oct 05, 2009

Spynet is also in Defender, and the likelihood of it sending anything all that interesting is extremely low.

So it's both true and 'tinfoil-hatish'.  Any data sent is encrypted and unlikely to be seen by anyone but Microsoft.

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/privacy.aspx?mkt=en-us

on Oct 05, 2009

U have to be doing something interesting for it to send something interesting.

on Oct 05, 2009

U have to be doing something interesting for it to send something interesting

Such a way with words!!   

on Oct 05, 2009

tazgecko
There are better less intrusive options out there.

Not that I've seen.  Every free option I've seen either has a horrid interface, intrudes into your system enough to break things, or just nags you to buy things.  All three are major negatives to me.

I actually paid for AVG because I respected their free version, and I wish I hadn't.  I only grew more and more disappointed with it.

on Oct 05, 2009

Savyg
  It asks you before sending anything, also.

 

"As a “basic” member of SpyNet, Microsoft Security Essentials will automatically send information to Microsoft to help Microsoft determine which software to investigate for potential threats and to help improve Microsoft Security Essentials' effectiveness."

The ability to send file information from your computer helps Microsoft fight adware,spyware etc... and is no big issue if you don't mind Microsoft taking information about your files. I just wish there was a choice not to have spynet on your computer.

vStyler
U have to be doing something interesting for it to send something interesting.

 

 

 

on Oct 05, 2009

tazgecko
It installs Spynet onto your computer which sends information to Microsoft about file behavior, including any software Security Essentials it suspects is pirated (which for me is no big thing). It also warns users that personal data might be "accidentally" sent to Microsoft (which is a big thing).

I don't know what sort of data Spynet gives Microsoft but without an opt out choice I can't see myself installing it. There are better less intrusive options out there.


When I installed this last week, during the installation process, it asked me if I wanted to install the part that communicates back to Microsoft about what Security Essentials finds -- since I enjoy wearing my tinfoil hat, and since it's just one of my goals this year to be less cooperative about providing information to others (a/k/a learning to shut up and display a poker face), I passed on the communcation back to Microsoft thing.

So far this antivirus has been pretty good to me.  It scans swiftly, I like the little tent/castle icon in the tray (AVG is uuuuugly), it blocked a few bits of malware/adware that wanted to install on my computer when I was surfing -- all this at a price I can afford.  Of course, I KNOW that a person gets what they pay for, and Microsoft isn't really in the habit of giving stuff away, but so far, I have no complaints.

Never mind...I don't know what I'm talking about -- I guess I just chose "basic membership" which says Microsoft won't contact me and all that jazz.  It's free ...I can afford free, and the icon in the tray is pretty.

on Oct 05, 2009

and the icon in the tray is pretty.

Ticks all the most important bits, then....

on Oct 05, 2009

U have to be doing something interesting for it to send something interesting.

And even if you had a driveful of (regular) porn, I don't think MS would give a sh!t.

For MS to act on (pass on) information it received, it would have to be very, very illegal... as in kiddy porn and/or terrorist related stuff. 

The piracy of MS/partners software (if/when detected) would also raise a red flag, I guess, but other than that, MS isn't likely to be interested.

Besides, how many Microsoft employees/human eyes are actually going to see all this data??  Probably few, if any!  Most likely it will all be scanned/detected by software components and seen only when troublesome and persistent red flags pop up. 

So unless one is doing something profoundly wrong/illegal, there should be few or no worries.

Hopefully, Spynet will be able to collect data on the proliferators of internrt nasties... and action is then taken against them.


Now for kona's cue......

I'd have trouble trusting this Spynet if it were a Google thing, however.

..... come in kona. 

 

on Oct 06, 2009

And even if you had a driveful of (regular) porn, I don't think MS would give a sh!t.

 

Who mentioned porn?

 

 

 

on Oct 06, 2009

starkers

I'd have trouble trusting this Spynet if it were a Google thing, however. 

I thought Google was a spynet starkers!!   

on Oct 06, 2009

vStyler

And even if you had a driveful of (regular) porn, I don't think MS would give a sh!t.
 

Who mentioned porn?

I did.... how naughty of me.

The thing is, I can't see MS paying hundreds of people to sift through umpteen trillions of bits of data to see who's looking at what.... and a few smutty pics/videos aren't likely to get Spynet popping up red flags unless they're infected/tainted by malware.

The funny thing is, I'm usually up for a conspiracy theory and recommending getting out the tinfoil hats... but not this time. 

I must be slipping/mellowing out in my old age.

on Oct 06, 2009

Slipped in this little gem while I was posting...

I thought Google was a spynet starkers!!

How right you are.... took the words right out of my mouth.

I'm glad you did, though... takes some of the attention away from me.  Now mine won't be the only place those menacingly looking men in black stand menacingly outside of when they come around to do Google Maps.

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