i shuai dot org

This was the last straw to my dad, my Internet was canceled. Damn! I won’t be regularly posting on the blog, but I will serve invites still, but a bit late (go to library every 2 days). I’ll find a way to get past this.

Second thing. I heard this on G4, I think. Microsoft to buy the Adware giant Claria? I mean, what’s the meaning of this? Oh, the price is $500.
Claria (formerly Gator, makers of Gator e-wallet!) has an anti-spyware pledge. No anti-adware pledge?
One thing is that Microsoft AntiSpyware starts by making the default option when dealing with Claria spyware/adware/malware is “ignore”. Odd, eh?
http://www.benedelman.org/spyware/images/msas-claria-070105.png

What “good” would Claria do for Microsoft?
-Data about surfing habits collected by Claria. (12.1 terabyes in November 2003), and Claria recently claimed to c|net networks that it was 120 terabytes!
-Experience with targeted ads for Microsoft’s software. Like it’s not around the world and more already.
-Rivaling Google.
-As the New York Times (where the story seemingly surfaced) quotes: “…fears the move could bring an outcry as critics portray Microsoft as a corporate Big Brother, trying to track every mouse click on the Web and profit from it.”

Frightening. Microsoft buying a much-sued company. Well, M$ has been sued quite a number of times, so…

Everyone, scan your computer for spyware using CounterSpy (not M$ AntiSpyware Beta) available from www.sunbelt-software.com to remove Claria and hope a. the deal is canceled and b. Claria dies.

Lastly, more Microsoft news. Microsoft is offering Windows OneCare, a “comprehensive PC health service that goes beyond security to take an integrated approach to help protect and care for your computer.” Antivirus, basically. Putting them straight into the Symantec and McAfee battle for Antivirus solutions.

Microsoft on Windows OneCare Live:

Benefits
-Provides a comprehensive PC health service
Windows OneCare helps protect and maintain your computer with an integrated service that includes antivirus, firewall, PC maintenance, and data backup and restore functionality.

-Works automatically to help provide hassle-free protection and maintenance
Windows OneCare automatically takes care of key tasks such as running antivirus scans, updating the antivirus engine and virus definitions, updating the firewall, and running a monthly PC tune-up to improve and maintain your computer’s performance.

-Continuously evolves to help protect you from the latest threats
Because Windows OneCare is a service, you will not need to wait for a new version in order to help protect your system from new threats or to take advantage of new features. Windows OneCare updates itself automatically over the Internet so you always have the latest technology.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/onecare/default.mspx is the link to the Microsoft description page, the real site is
http://beta.windowsonecare.com/. Coming soon to Beta. Not now. Soon. (go Kaspersky)
Now the beta is actually Invitation-only. I will try to get invitations to anybody if I can actually send them out. You need to take a survey to be nominated for the beta testing and then you need to then wait ’till Summer 2005 (….now) for it to activate. Wow.