[Full-disclosure] ZDNet UK: Microsoft OneCare gets a bashing

From: full-disclosure (full-disclosure_at_lists.grok.org.uk)
Date: 05/14/05

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    To: full-disclosure@lists.grok.org.uk
Date: Sat, 14 May 2005 16:35:40 +0100 (BST)

    This ZDNET UK story has been forwarded to you by:

    full-disclosure (full-disclosure@lists.grok.org.uk).

    They have added these comments:

    ------------------------------------------------------------

    http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/security/0,39020375,39198263,00.htm

    Microsoft OneCare gets a bashing

    Dan Ilett

    IT professionals have slammed Microsoft over plans to charge for a security
    service to protect its own products.

    Microsoft on Friday announced an internal beta launch of Windows OneCare,
    which will be a paid subscription service to block viruses and spyware that
    affect Windows machines. But users are upset that the software giant wants to
    make money from securing its own products they say it should have made secure
    in the first place.

    One IT security worker said he was appalled at the idea: "The fact that they
    are charging is the height of hypocrisy. It is unbelievable that Microsoft is
    attempting to launch a service to charge customers for protection from flaws
    in its own products. I feel there should not be a need for that — they
    should have software that's resilient to that."

    ZDNet UK readers wrote they were also angry with Microsoft. "Am I just being
    cynical or does this sound like a way to make money rather than fix the
    product?" asked Nick Stevens in a Talkback comment to the article announcing
    the prouct. "What I am surprised about, considering the high cost of the OS
    in the first place, is how MS have the gall to charge for this service."

    IT consultant John Perczyk added: "Great idea — MS get to turn their
    security bugs into a revenue stream... Perhaps it should be more correctly
    renamed 'No one cares'."

    An emailed response attributed to Microsoft's director of platform strategy
    Nick McGrath, said: "Windows OneCare will be a paid subscription service. As
    it is still early in the product development cycle we have no further details
    to share at this time. We will keep you posted as we get closer to final
    availability. What has been announced is internal beta, which will be
    distributed to Microsoft employees, and represents the first step in
    Microsoft's plan to offer a comprehensive solution to help consumers protect
    and maintain the overall 'health' of their PCs."

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