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First Impression: *****
Pros: Microsoft continues to show interest in it's antispyware offerings.
Cons: I encountered the error "This software requires GDI+. Please load the Windows 2000 PreRequisite Pack" which was followed by "The wizard was interrupted before Windows Defender could be completely installed. Your system has not been modified. To complete installation at another time, please run setup again". I ran Windows and Office Update. After trying to reinstall the Defender Beta 2 and getting the same GDI+ message, I searched Microsoft for "GDI+". Apparently, there is a buffer overrun vulnerability associated with a file called "gdiplus.dll" , to which Microsoft has issued a fix. I downloaded and ran the GDI+ Detection Tool, which reported that I am running Microsoft Software that may contain a vulnerability, and I am directed again to Microsoft to download the latest security updates, all of which must be done using the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser. I mention this because I primarily use Netscape 8.1. Back at Microsoft, I am told how to update my computer with the JPEG processing (GDI+) security update. There is a link to Office Update which I select (again). I then select the option for users of Windows Versions other than Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 to scan my hard drive for offending programs that have this GDI+ vulnerability. After waiting for about 30 seconds, the webpage reports "We are sorry, but the tool did not work properly on your computer. Please try again later". I have tried repeatedly and always get the same result. All of this effort to install a Microsoft Defender Beta. I spent over an hour trying to determine if my system had a security hole, only to give up frustrated and confused. During the process I had uninstalled Antispyware Beta 1 because I thought there was a conflict. There was. I will not be reinstalling that program or any other Microsoft Beta again.
Posted: 14-Feb-2006 05:43:40 PM
