Windows Defender and Security Essentials will now automatically delete annoying cleaners
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RonanH
Not sure how I feel about this.
On the one hand I've regularly found these programs on people's pc and they do induce panic in non-techy people. Sometimes inducing them to purchasing unnecessary software.
On the other hand, this is Microsoft actively removing software from your pc that it doesn't think is appropriate. What's to stop them from deciding the same for other types of software in the future. "This emulator can run pirated software - deleted" "This bittorrent program can be used for downloading copyrighted material - deleted"
Slippery slope.
fantaskarsef
War of the malwarez? 😀
Sounds a little fishy to me that even if a user installs such a software, well aware that it's asking for a premium yet you are fine with the free version, m$ still forces the uninstall onto the user (I did not read about any user defined rules you can change or exceptions you can set). That forcing the software environment sounds to me like what Apple does with their stuff (I have only heard about how that works), once again taking control of stuff that once belonged to the user's sphere of influence (like windows updates).
alanm
Just now? Would have thought they were doing that from the beginning.
Singleton99
When i first started with computers and the internet some 15yrs ago i did fall for this and also paid money as i didn't know any better at that time and thought that said programs (Registry Mechanic it think it was called) would make my PC run faster, there will be many many novice users out there that fall for these programs everyday and believe like i did that they are fixing problems that don't really exist ,or can be fixed from within windows itself .
cryohellinc
"A form of natural selection, if you will. " That's just a pathetic, childish and ignorant comment. Next time you visit a doctor, he will grin and laugh in your face saying something in a line of - "Oh you got ill? Too bad. Hahaha. Should have studied medicine, you fool! "
Not everyone is tech-savvy, as a lot of people browse the internet without any protection and are absolutely oblivious to potential threats.
lucidus
Oh, cool. I thought these were already considered a form of badware. I hope this is for everyone and not locked away to enterprise as PuP detection is.
KissSh0t
I can see a future where it will delete "unlicensed" files, things like music and video and... video games.
kilyan
What about the legit ones? will i be able to recognize them as not harmful?
TheDeeGee
Will it delete Windows 10?
KIDDING! :P
Glottiz
Pathetic post. There are some incredibly elaborate malware apps out there that mimic functionality of popular applications. Even seasoned computer power user has a real chance to get scammed, usual normal users like moms and granpdas don't stand a chance against these malware apps.
Kaarme
Based on the article, it won't be very heavy-handed filtering. Some of those scam programs might easily get away with it by being more subtle and actually adding some screen listing convincing looking "faults" found within the OS. So, I don't think anybody, for the time being, needs to worry about MS automatically deleting their random downloaded/installed stuff. It's a rather big step from recognising the most crude scam programs to actually pretend to recognise some really special software (that the user might have even coded themselves), let alone media files. MS would face lawsuits if they were too eager to delete without user consent.
Fender178
To me MS AV and security software sucks and I do not believe that it would do what MS is claiming that it would do.
You my friend shouldn't work on Computers if you have that attitude because if you did you would be fired if you had a job in the IT field because you probably would stand by and do nothing for the customer. Also if you fall for a phony scanner does your mentality apply to you?
fantaskarsef
I'm still surprised how many people seem to need those 3rd party programs. Haven't used them in the last 15 years, never had issues without them, so I wouldn't know why to get one. Also haven't fallen for a scam.
Embra
If done right this could be a good thing. Seems they want to target the malware that tries to look like an official MS OS warning/product.
Size_Mick
Aside from CCleaner, are there any other good cleaner programs out there? I've never run into one.
H83
I understand the logic behind this move but this opens a very dangerous precedent...
cryohellinc
Wrong, Watson. Your biased pre-assumption isn't reflective of the real world. Not even close. Majority of people that get caught into stuff like that are 40+ age group with lack of tech knowledge as the main factor. Once again, if you or someone you know is tech-savvy, that by no means is reflective of the broad mass.
mbk1969
Cleaners are only the probe, the test, I guess. Microsoft can go further and catch all apps which pop up any dialogs and delete them. Easy quiet life for easy users.
AsiJu
Not sure (probably not) and CCleaner is getting worse as well, trying to ninja-install other software with it every time unless you know to select custom install and de-select extras.
That plus it has some active monitoring enabled by default which, to me, kind of negates the point of running a cleaner (you want less crap in the background, not more).
I'm still using CCleaner but mostly because it's a convenient way to empty browser caches and other temp files and as I'm accustomed to it.
Wouldn't recommend it anymore to less computer-savvy people (which I used to do).
WhiteLightning
Moderator
No only WOW , not kidding 😀
