"...The lawsuit alleges that Secure Computer LLC used deceptive pop-up ads to warn users that their computers were at risk and could contain spyware. The ads allegedly directed users to the company's Web site. According to the lawsuit, when users visited the site and consented to have their computer s hard disk scanned, the results labeled innocuous files - such as harmless tracking cookies and Microsoft Windows registry keys - as spyware infections and categorized them as having either high risk or extreme risk.
The site advised users to purchase Secure Computer's Spyware Cleaner to remove the files. In addition, Microsoft's lawsuit alleges that advertisements for Spyware Cleaner used Microsoft s trademarks to falsely suggest that Microsoft sponsored or approved of the product"...
http://www.techtree.com/techtree/jsp/article.jsp?article_id=70896&cat_id=582 I'm an opponent of deceptive advertising. I have 8 kids and the computer gets alot of use. Some of the ads scare people into downloading products. The anti-virus program ads are especially horrid. When the ads work and they scare the user into downloading and installing their software, the installation of the product also installs viruses on your computer, so that when the software gives you your free scan the user sees that this program finds viruses that their current virus program didn't find. Microsoft might use this method. I've never used their anti-virus program, but other people that have used their software say that they do use this method. If this is true it would make Microsoft more unethical than the company they're sueing. I don't know how unethical people sleep at night. I wouldn't be able to.
Running two versions of same type of programs can damage the installation of your OS. Virus programs, spyware programs, registry repair programs etc.... With many computer users in home, I've had to reformat and install fresh copies of windows XP many times. I always try the repair option first. Sometimes it works. Most of the time it doesn't.
Some of the virus programs tell you uninstall your current virus software before installing theirs. Most do not. User beware!
Microsoft wants to be the only OS. I hope that never happens. Alot of good OSs are history already. Amiga DOS, Atari DOS and OS warp are three that come to mind. Because of the nature of Linux, I think it will be around forever. It even has the potential of putting Microsoft out of business. I don't think that will happen though. Microsoft will resort to anything to keep that from happening.
I agree, having been inflicted by this deceptive advertsing on a number of occassions and also by my son who is at Uni at the present time. It is rather difficult on sometimes to get rid of the dam thing.
whether it be Microsoft or someone else Secure Computers LLC need to be dealt with to get that dam pop-up off our screens
Good Job Microsoft!!!, those compenies only pretend to be a true helping compenies-but at the same time they infect our computers with spam,and spyware-and then they tell us that we'e got spyware or something like that and sadjest that we purchase from them the software that they've developed.. scom bags!!! 
| ChargerBear wrote: |
| Some of the ads scare people into downloading |
all the more reason to configure your system to show NONE of the ads:
http://adblockplus.mozdev.org
https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=1136
With whitelisting you can configure your browser to load the ads for sites you support WHILE hiding them from your view. | kjuvale wrote: |
| innocuous files - such as harmless tracking cookies and Microsoft Windows registry keys - as spyware infections and categorized them as having either high risk or extreme risk. |
I expect that these files actually are spyware and are sending all your personal informaiton to microsoft.I disregard any ad for Antispyware software. I just don't trust a program that is supposed to remove adware/spyware that is promoted through ads.
I tried the microsoft BETA and it found a keylogger. I had it removed, yet later I found the same keylogger on my hijack this log, and the BETA hasn't been succesful at finding this. It is operating from the same folder it was before. Anybody had this problem? And also when I log into my account at a different site it often says I last signed in at a different connection. Could my connection just go through different systems each time I connect or is there a chance someone has been logging in as me? It usually says I've been connecting from dialup in Denver. I use dialup but I definately dont live in Denver. Is this typical or am I just being paranoid?
Those ads/tricks are so stupid, I never fall for them... seriously, I see two Close buttons in the corner of the screen.... I close the window... instead of clicking on the advertisment.
I'm actaully going to support microsoft on this one.
