Microsoft, Washington state to sue 'scareware' pushers
http://www.itworld.com/security/5542...reware-pushers

"Microsoft and Washington state are cracking down on scammers..."

[quote]
The most prevalent scareware program in circulation today is software
called Antivirus XP 2008, according to Alex Eckelberry, president of
Sunbelt Software."
[unquote]

You have to admire Alex Eckelberry's arrogance and the nerve for commenting
on this issue!

In his website:
http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/home-...onal-firewall/
He claims:
[quote]
The Windows Firewall (both XP and Vista) is worse than useless, it gives
you a false sense of security."
[unquote]

(Although it is a fact that his software engineers have a different view).

His assertion in relation to both WinXP and Vista F/W is ridiculous and is
not based on facts; It is misleading the uninformed users!

The false advertising (hype) is nothing but a deceptive technique to fool
the inexperienced!



Therefore, it *is* Scareware as well (besides it's a blatant lie :-))!

MSFT, please take note and initiate appropriate action!

Kayman wrote:[quote]
> Microsoft, Washington state to sue 'scareware' pushers
> http://www.itworld.com/security/5542...reware-pushers
>
> "Microsoft and Washington state are cracking down on scammers..."
>
> [quote]
> The most prevalent scareware program in circulation today is software
> called Antivirus XP 2008, according to Alex Eckelberry, president of
> Sunbelt Software."
> [unquote]
>
> You have to admire Alex Eckelberry's arrogance and the nerve for
> commenting on this issue!
>
> In his website:
> http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/home-...onal-firewall/
> He claims:
>

> The Windows Firewall (both XP and Vista) is worse than useless, it
> gives you a false sense of security."
> [unquote]
>
> (Although it is a fact that his software engineers have a different
> view).
>
> His assertion in relation to both WinXP and Vista F/W is ridiculous
> and is not based on facts; It is misleading the uninformed users!
>
> The false advertising (hype) is nothing but a deceptive technique to
> fool the inexperienced!
>
> Therefore, it *is* Scareware as well (besides it's a blatant lie :-))!
>
> MSFT, please take note and initiate appropriate action!

Sunbelt by the way provides a free version of their firewall which by
the way is better than the one on XP since it monitors both incoming and
outgoing traffic, IMHO since their is a "free" version their is nothing
wrong with Sunbelts statment.

--
Mike Pawlak

On Thu, 2 Oct 2008 00:24:08 -0400, MAP wrote:
[quote]
> Kayman wrote:[quote]
>> Microsoft, Washington state to sue 'scareware' pushers
>> http://www.itworld.com/security/5542...reware-pushers
>>
>> "Microsoft and Washington state are cracking down on scammers..."
>>
>>

>> The most prevalent scareware program in circulation today is software
>> called Antivirus XP 2008, according to Alex Eckelberry, president of
>> Sunbelt Software."
>> [unquote]
>>
>> You have to admire Alex Eckelberry's arrogance and the nerve for
>> commenting on this issue!
>>
>> In his website:
>> http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/home-...onal-firewall/
>> He claims:
>>

>> The Windows Firewall (both XP and Vista) is worse than useless, it
>> gives you a false sense of security."
>> [unquote]
>>
>> (Although it is a fact that his software engineers have a different
>> view).
>>
>> His assertion in relation to both WinXP and Vista F/W is ridiculous
>> and is not based on facts; It is misleading the uninformed users!
>>
>> The false advertising (hype) is nothing but a deceptive technique to
>> fool the inexperienced!
>>
>> Therefore, it *is* Scareware as well (besides it's a blatant lie :-))!
>>
>> MSFT, please take note and initiate appropriate action!

>
> Sunbelt by the way provides a free version of their firewall which by
> the way is better than the one on XP since it monitors both incoming and
> outgoing traffic,

Software firewalls that advertise they can stop malicious outbound traffic
are, as outbound control on a XP platform as a security measure against
malware is utter nonsense!

> IMHO since their is a "free" version their is nothing wrong with
> Sunbelts statment.

Your will change your opinion if you're willing to educate yourself.
Instead reading and believing all that hype created by these software
manufacturers, study and try to comprehend publications authored by well
respected (and unbiased) Internet security experts.

"MAP" <mikepawlak2REM@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:OhDEecEJJHA.1936@xxxxxx[quote]
> Kayman wrote:[quote]
>> Microsoft, Washington state to sue 'scareware' pushers
>> http://www.itworld.com/security/5542...reware-pushers
>>
>> "Microsoft and Washington state are cracking down on scammers..."
>>
>>

>> The most prevalent scareware program in circulation today is software
>> called Antivirus XP 2008, according to Alex Eckelberry, president of
>> Sunbelt Software."
>> [unquote]
>>
>> You have to admire Alex Eckelberry's arrogance and the nerve for
>> commenting on this issue!
>>
>> In his website:
>> http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/home-...onal-firewall/
>> He claims:
>>

>> The Windows Firewall (both XP and Vista) is worse than useless, it
>> gives you a false sense of security."
>> [unquote]
>>
>> (Although it is a fact that his software engineers have a different
>> view).
>>
>> His assertion in relation to both WinXP and Vista F/W is ridiculous
>> and is not based on facts; It is misleading the uninformed users!
>>
>> The false advertising (hype) is nothing but a deceptive technique to
>> fool the inexperienced!
>>
>> Therefore, it *is* Scareware as well (besides it's a blatant lie :-))!
>>
>> MSFT, please take note and initiate appropriate action!

>
> Sunbelt by the way provides a free version of their firewall which by
> the way is better than the one on XP since it monitors both incoming and
> outgoing traffic, IMHO since their is a "free" version their is nothing
> wrong with Sunbelts statment.

First, one would have to 'buy in' to the notion that you *need*
this feature in the name of *security*. It is a defeatist attitude
that you allow malware to execute and then try to mitigate what
happens next.

I wouldn't hire a bodyguard based solely on his EMT skills, but
that's just me.

On Thu, 2 Oct 2008 16:45:13 -0400, FromTheRafters wrote:
[quote]
> "MAP" <mikepawlak2REM@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:OhDEecEJJHA.1936@xxxxxx[quote]
>> Kayman wrote:

>>> Microsoft, Washington state to sue 'scareware' pushers
>>> http://www.itworld.com/security/5542...reware-pushers
>>>
>>> "Microsoft and Washington state are cracking down on scammers..."
>>>
>>>

>>> The most prevalent scareware program in circulation today is software
>>> called Antivirus XP 2008, according to Alex Eckelberry, president of
>>> Sunbelt Software."
>>> [unquote]
>>>
>>> You have to admire Alex Eckelberry's arrogance and the nerve for
>>> commenting on this issue!
>>>
>>> In his website:
>>> http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/home-...onal-firewall/
>>> He claims:
>>>

>>> The Windows Firewall (both XP and Vista) is worse than useless, it
>>> gives you a false sense of security."
>>> [unquote]
>>>
>>> (Although it is a fact that his software engineers have a different
>>> view).
>>>
>>> His assertion in relation to both WinXP and Vista F/W is ridiculous
>>> and is not based on facts; It is misleading the uninformed users!
>>>
>>> The false advertising (hype) is nothing but a deceptive technique to
>>> fool the inexperienced!
>>>
>>> Therefore, it *is* Scareware as well (besides it's a blatant lie :-))!
>>>
>>> MSFT, please take note and initiate appropriate action!

>>
>> Sunbelt by the way provides a free version of their firewall which by
>> the way is better than the one on XP since it monitors both incoming and
>> outgoing traffic, IMHO since their is a "free" version their is nothing
>> wrong with Sunbelts statment.

>
> First, one would have to 'buy in' to the notion that you *need*
> this feature in the name of *security*. It is a defeatist attitude
> that you allow malware to execute and then try to mitigate what
> happens next.

Precisely, prevention is the key! Attempting to block outbound unapproved
traffic provides no additional security whatsoever, but is often used as a
selling point by vendors who either do not understand security, or are
trying to make money by misleading customers! Sadly, many IT experts and
forum moderators etc. seem not to understand the issue either.

Dr. Jesper M. Johannson wrote quite some educational material concerning
this and other (Internet) security issues. (I wonder if A. Eckelberry would
enter into a discussion with him).
Managing the Windows Vista Firewall
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/m.../cc510323.aspx

Note the scenario in relation to: "...the proverbial naked dancing pigs".

Michael D. Ober wrote:

> "Kayman" <kaymanDeleteThis@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:OE3Iz%23FJJHA.4968@xxxxxx
>

>> On Thu, 2 Oct 2008 00:24:08 -0400, MAP wrote:
>>
>> Software firewalls that advertise they can stop malicious outbound
>> traffic
>> are, as outbound control on a XP platform as a security measure against
>> malware is utter nonsense!
>>

>
> OK - what about spambots. Having software to block unauthorized
> outbound SMTP connections would be a very good thing as this would
> eliminate a lot of the SPAM that gets sent.
>
> Mike Ober.
>

Unfortunately, once the novice user allows the machine to be
compromised, then the malware simply disables outbound monitoring, and
all you are left with is a compromised PC and a false sense of security.