Re: Spyware is only a marketing gimmick?

From: Matt Gibson (mattg_at_blueedgetech.ca)
Date: 07/27/05 

Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 10:35:28 -0700

Answers inline.

> Alright, I picked this one to respond to. Why you? Because I've read your
> article and figure I'll thrust the question at you. <g> That's what you
> get for putting GSEC at the end of your name. Someone might read it, find
> it, and then decide to ask you questions.

*Grin* Always up for questions.

> My impression, from the tone of the article, is that he considers spyware
> to be like any other malware and that this means that it is to be
> prevented and cleaned. KAV offers enhanced definitions (I hate them
> personally as they eat my perfectly legit DAP as "adware" even though I
> paid for for the application and get no ads with it) and does actually do
> a decent job at protecting your system from spyware.

I agree. At a certain level, Spware=Virus=Trojan, in the fact that they're
all unwanted

> My impression of the proposition is that he's putting forth that the need
> for separate antispyware applications is not required provided the AV
> application is also capable of defending against it. (With so many blended
> threats these days who has time to split them and tell the difference
> anyhow? They're all malware. Or so it seems the impression I am getting
> from the article and also happen to agree with to some extent.) The
> additional comments that the usage of the term spyware is more often than
> not a marketing gimick may also prove correct. It seems that the hottest
> trend in security is antispyware applications and he believes that this
> isn't required assuming (and that's a big assumption) that the AV active
> protection is adequate to prevent such things.
>
> Idealy? I tend to agree. If the AV is adequate then the additional
> protection isn't required.
>
> Reality? I use real-time protection offered through MSAS and scan with two
> other AS applications. I'm a paranoid fella...

I totally agree with you. When a company brings out a AV/Spyware scanner
that does a good enough job that I'm not running other applications, then
I'll agree with him.

> I suppose that we/you/us are reading more into it than is writen.
>
> To quote from the article:
>
> So, technically speaking, spyware simply doesn't exist as a stand-alone
> cyberthreat.
>
> The programs which are being called spyware are, from a technical point of
> view, simply a limited sub-set of Trojans, advertising software and some
> riskware:
>
> a.. Trojan spies and some backdoors
> b.. most adware
> c.. riskware - potentially hostile programs that require users to make
> conscious choices about using them
> End Quote...
>
> (that will not come through formatted properly - I send in plain text of
> course)
>
> It seems that he's lumping all malware into a single topic and saying that
> they can be prevented with a single application. Idealy? I'd like to
> agree. Realistically? I don't trust it as much as I would like to.

Exactly. This CAN be done, but currently isn't. Personally, I don't see
how this is just a marketing gimmick. Your operating system should be able
to resize partitions on the fly, AND include a fully functional
bi-directional firewall. Do they? No. Is the fact that you can purchase
those products seperately a marketing gimmick? No.

Matt Gibson - GSEC

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Spyware is only a marketing gimmick?
    ... Matt Gibson had this to say: ... My impression, from the tone of the article, is that he considers spyware to ... for separate antispyware applications is not required provided the AV ... protection is adequate to prevent such things. ...
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  • Re: Unwanted Security Toolbar
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  • Re: Antivirus pop up
    ... So even though Aliant tells me I have anti spyware protection I do not ... I try to keep it updated with all necessary updates and I have Anti ... still should install and run the mentioned spyware removal tools since ...
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