Microsoft AntiSpyware thinks Firefox is Spyware

Microsoft AntiSpyware thinks Firefox is Spyware 454

Posted by CmdrTaco on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:01PM from the most-worms-are-spread-via-outlook dept.

brightertimes writes "It seems that microsoft's new AntiSpyware (beta) is now advising users to remove Firefox on their computers.. A Zeropaid.com thread shows the offending screenshot in action. Once your scanning has been done, if Firefox is found on your computer it provides the user with a "high" threat level and advising removal due to of lack of security updates." CT Several users have noted that the screenshot is likely fake.

Microsoft AntiSpyware thinks Firefox is Spyware

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Predicted on Slashdot (Score:5, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:02PM (#11794076)

Two months ago [slashdot.org].

bah (Score:4, Funny)

by ChronoSphere ( 814014 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:05PM (#11794104) Homepage

You wanna make that scan result accurate?

Replace the word "Mozilla" with "Internet Explorer" and the warning will be pretty damn accurate.

gullible, photoshopped... (Score:5, Funny)

by FinestLittleSpace ( 719663 ) * writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:05PM (#11794105)

"rupert, did you know gullible isn't in the dictionary?"
"what? it really isn't? Oh Touche old chap!"

Did the same thing with dreamweaver (Score:3, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:07PM (#11794120)

Thankfully, it automatically uninstalled it and downloaded a copy of FrontPage. Thanks for securing my system MS.

may i be the first to say (Score:2, Funny)

by monkey_jam ( 557265 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:09PM (#11794147)

PWNED!!11!11!!! LOL!!

HA HA (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:11PM (#11794155)

I don't know whats funnier, that Slashdot posted this to the front page or the numerous "OUTRAGE!" posts of readers who fell for it.

Re:Um, simply NOT true. (Score:3, Funny)

by hankaholic ( 32239 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:11PM (#11794161)

Suuuuure... Any other FUD, for us, MSFanBoi?

I mean, it's not like people can simply take pictures of screens that don't exist! It's posted on the Internet, it must be true!

Re:One Word. (Score:4, Funny)

by rk87 ( 622509 ) writes: <{moc.liamg} {ta} {notlaw.r.sirhc}> on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:13PM (#11794168) Journal

If you look at the screenshot, you'll also see that the "advice" that is supposed to be taken is not valid english, and MS products are known to always have correct and valid english. More proof that its fake.

Next Slashdot story... (Score:5, Funny)

by lxt ( 724570 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:13PM (#11794169) Journal

...and I predict the next Slashdot story will be: "Gullible not in dictionary" "Posted by Cmdr Taco"

Re:TACO IS AN IDIOT (Score:5, Funny)

by 0x461FAB0BD7D2 ( 812236 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:13PM (#11794174) Journal

Or perhaps Slashdot is adding a comedy section to their news.

I'd welcome it.

Re:Not true.... (Score:5, Funny)

by selectspec ( 74651 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:14PM (#11794179)

The question isn't why this made the front page, but whether the same story will be on tomorrow's /.

Re:TACO IS AN IDIOT (Score:5, Funny)

by kiltedtaco ( 213773 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:14PM (#11794180) Homepage

I can't wait until the dupe of this story gets posted in a week!

Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)

by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:15PM (#11794186)

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Slashdot got FARKed (Score:3, Funny)

by EnronHaliburton2004 ( 815366 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:16PM (#11794190) Homepage Journal

If you go deeper into the thread, you'll see another screenshot where MS Antispyware shows John Kery + Jane Fonda [about.com] as a high-level threat.

Re:One Word. (Score:5, Funny)

by Per Wigren ( 5315 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:25PM (#11794250) Homepage

Yes, extremly lame joke. He should have used The Gimp.

Bravery (Score:5, Funny)

by LinuxGeek ( 6139 ) writes: <djand.ncNO@SPAMgmail.com> on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:28PM (#11794274)

I had to really brace myself before clicking a link to a .jpg file hosted on the .cx TLD

Tacogate: Taco must go (Score:5, Funny)

by aggressivepedestrian ( 149887 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:31PM (#11794294)

First, there needs to be a media firestorm about this. Then, just as in Rathergate, Slashdot should fire a few low-level scapegoats now, claiming shoddy journalistic standards. Then Commander Taco should be be allowed to resign "for personal reasons" in a few months.

In Related News... (Score:2, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:34PM (#11794308)

According to today's Slashdot News, MS Anti-Spyware reports Gimp as a security threat and recommends Photoshop or MS Paint instead for safer hoax fabrication.

Re:TACO IS AN IDIOT (Score:5, Funny)

by game kid ( 805301 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:35PM (#11794311) Homepage

(story above) CT Several users have noted that the screenshot is likely fake.
In other news, Windows likely has a calculator, a text editor, a much-hated activation requirement, and a much-despised Web browser. At the risk of being banned from /., I must agree with the parent here.

Re:Not true.... (Score:2, Funny)

by Seumas ( 6865 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:35PM (#11794313)

Slashdot makes DrudgeReport look like thoughtful, unsensational, quality news.

Re:TACO IS AN IDIOT (Score:5, Funny)

by Mr2cents ( 323101 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:37PM (#11794328)

* Stickers improving your battery life!
* Random number generators predict "important" events!
* IPods prefer certain songs!

Just to name a few recent embarrassing stories. Slashdot has gone New Age, methinks.

April Fools? (Score:4, Funny)

by ticktockticktock ( 772894 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:41PM (#11794351)

My calendar must be off...Is it April 1st already?

No matter... (Score:3, Funny)

by Cytlid ( 95255 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:42PM (#11794358)

...how hard I try, I just can't get Microsoft AntiSpyware installed. It's frustrating! I'd like to know if I have any spyware installed (definitely have Firefox, using it right now).

I guess I'll go "unprotected" for a while, using my dangerous browser. Someone please let me know when this AntiSpyware thing works in Linux?

Re:Not true.... (Score:3, Funny)

by msaulters ( 130992 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:47PM (#11794390) Homepage

The question isn't why this made the front page, but whether the same story will be on tomorrow's /.

But you already know the answer to the question... the choice is already made. Now it's up to you to understand it.

Outrage and indignation (Score:3, Funny)

by fleener ( 140714 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @12:58PM (#11794482)

I would like to register my outrage and indignation at this travesty of misinformation. It Slashdot keeps linking to fictitious news, I may just lose my trust in the Internet. Just think of the implications. I may no longer believe in the existence of UFOs, ghosts, leprechauns, fairies, and weapons of mass destruction.

Re:Next Slashdot story... (Score:5, Funny)

by madmancarman ( 100642 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @01:05PM (#11794550)

...and I predict the next Slashdot story will be: "Gullible not in dictionary" "Posted by Cmdr Taco"
More like, "Gullible Not Found at Wikipedia". And in fact, it really isn't! [wikipedia.org]
Now you have to decide between a) wanting to know if it's really at Wikipedia and possibly being gullible for thinking it wasn't, or b) wanting to avoid being fooled but never really knowing the truth. What a conundrum!

The Bad Thing is - It's believable (Score:2, Funny)

by Llamakiller-4 ( 267848 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @01:06PM (#11794559)

Microsoft has made so many bad choices in the past, that something like this can have the ring of truth on the outside only because of Microsoft's "we own everything" monopolistic track record.

Still... it was good enough to fool the Taco.
It brought a chuckle to this old Llamakiller.

LK4

Re:TACO IS AN IDIOT (Score:2, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @01:12PM (#11794612)

Taco is NOT an idiot! He is a nice guy! So apologize or I will tell my mommy on you!

How can this be fake, check this out (Score:5, Funny)

by Daath ( 225404 ) writes: <lp AT coder DOT dk> on Sunday February 27, 2005 @02:02PM (#11794993) Homepage Journal

I just tried it and guess what, I got a different result [weirdsilence.net]! Astounding! :P

Re:TACO IS AN IDIOT (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @02:06PM (#11795022)

I, for one, welcome our new comedian overlords!!

Oh no, now you did it. (Score:3, Funny)

by kingsqueak ( 18917 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @02:11PM (#11795059)

You posted this on /. without a clear release stating this was a joke.

Next up, The Onion will pick up your story and it will make headlines in China.

Re:TACO IS AN IDIOT (Score:2, Funny)

by PKPerson ( 784484 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @02:19PM (#11795097)

all 7 of them

Re:Not true.... (Score:3, Funny)

by Anonymous Brave Guy ( 457657 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @02:40PM (#11795219)

But you already know the answer to the question...

No, but if you can just wait a second while I check the random number generator...

Yep, it's a number between 0 and INT_MAX, so Slashdot's definition gonna dupe this one. See, random numbers can predict the future!

Re:Joke (Score:3, Funny)

by DeepHurtn! ( 773713 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @03:40PM (#11795597)

Hey, if the readers of /. don't RTFA, why should the editors? /sarcasm

Re:One Word. (Score:3, Funny)

by CausticPuppy ( 82139 ) writes: on Sunday February 27, 2005 @08:19PM (#11797969)

This evidence should suffice...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/CypherXero3 /mozillaadwarefake.jpg [photobucket.com]

(credit to CypherXero on that forum)

Oh yeah, and the guy that posted the image said it was a fake too, in his second posting on the first page of that thread. :-p

There may be more comments in this discussion. Without JavaScript enabled, you might want to turn on Classic Discussion System in your preferences instead.

Predicted on Slashdot (Score:5, Funny)

bah (Score:4, Funny)

gullible, photoshopped... (Score:5, Funny)

Did the same thing with dreamweaver (Score:3, Funny)

may i be the first to say (Score:2, Funny)

HA HA (Score:1, Funny)

Re:Um, simply NOT true. (Score:3, Funny)

Re:One Word. (Score:4, Funny)

Next Slashdot story... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:TACO IS AN IDIOT (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Not true.... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:TACO IS AN IDIOT (Score:5, Funny)

Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Slashdot got FARKed (Score:3, Funny)

Re:One Word. (Score:5, Funny)

Bravery (Score:5, Funny)

Tacogate: Taco must go (Score:5, Funny)

In Related News... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:TACO IS AN IDIOT (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Not true.... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:TACO IS AN IDIOT (Score:5, Funny)

April Fools? (Score:4, Funny)

No matter... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Not true.... (Score:3, Funny)

Outrage and indignation (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Next Slashdot story... (Score:5, Funny)

The Bad Thing is - It's believable (Score:2, Funny)

Re:TACO IS AN IDIOT (Score:2, Funny)

How can this be fake, check this out (Score:5, Funny)

Re:TACO IS AN IDIOT (Score:1, Funny)

Oh no, now you did it. (Score:3, Funny)

Re:TACO IS AN IDIOT (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Not true.... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Joke (Score:3, Funny)

Re:One Word. (Score:3, Funny)

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