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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
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Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders

By | November 11, 2010, 4:58am PST

Microsoft is continually looking for new ways to ‘encourage’ Windows freeloaders to pay up and go legal, but limiting Microsoft  Security Essentials to a 30-day trial is a bad move.

Winrumors has the details on the new Microsoft Security Essentials update:

The latest update, 2.0.552, has been released to beta testers via Windows Update. The latest beta introduces several enhancements including context menu scanning, heuristic scanning, remove quarantined files after a certain date and the ability to enable a network inspection system to protect against network-based exploits.

Microsoft has also introduced protection mechanisms against the latest Windows 7 activation bypass hacks. A Winrumors reader contacted us to explain that the latest update now bypasses some of the latest techniques that pirates use to avoid purchasing Windows 7. Activation by-passers will be greeted with a warning message stating “Windows did not pass genuine validation.” Users will have to resolve the issue by running a new validation check. If this is not resolve after 30 days the product will be disabled.  The beta, distributed by Windows Update is currently in public beta and is expected to be released in early 2011.

So two things are going on here. First, Microsoft is using the Security Essentials package to ’out’ freeloading Windows pirates. Secondly, Microsoft is limiting access to security software to the sorts of people who really need it (people who download and install cracks and so on), which in turn opens up the rest of us to increased hack attacks and spam.

I don’t like this. While I support Microsoft in its commitment to give people running ‘genuine’ Windows rewards in the form of free software, I feel that limiting access to security software is both counterproductive and unhelpful. Having as many systems as possible, both genuine and bootleg, running security software is good not only for the individuals involved, but for the entire Windows ecosystem.

[UPDATE: This in from a Microsoft spokesperson:

Real time protection like that found in Microsoft Security Essentials is a great tool in the fight against known malicious software; however improving the overall health of the ecosystem also requires addressing malware at the distribution source. Driving more systems to genuine has the opportunity to better serve the business and security needs of the ecosystem overall.

Personally, I don't agree, but I guess Microsoft has licenses to sell.]

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Topics

Security, Microsoft Corp., Winrumors, Security Software, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows 7, Operating Systems, Software, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
Tommy S. 27th Dec 2010
@endermc12 Well... there are the crackers/hackers, there are the pirates/script-kiddies (most of us) and there are the PC end users/Apple consumers(95% of the people on the interwebz). The typical end user/apple fanboy think that opening the side panel on their computer will likely open a portal to hell, like in doom.

Do you think that every owner of a pirate Windows is able to do the ho so complicated task of downloading and burning a preactivated torrent!?! If you can get a end user to put the install disc in the computer by himself you sure deserve a cookie. Let alone finding/burning/installing the said pirate OS. A nutless monkey could do it with 1 hour of training but not the average PC user.
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They need to realize that
Cylon Centurion 11th Nov 2010
No matter how hard they try, there will always be "ungenuine" systems. Either way, security is something ALL users need. Pushing MSE to freeloaders would be a huge step in the battle against malware.
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Agreed. It's like giving free fire extingishers
John Zern 11th Nov 2010
to everyone, including those that wired their homes illegaly.

In the end, if they put out a fire created by that, I'm safe in the fact that it won't take the rest of the neighborhood with it were it to grow out of control.
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And while we are at it, why don't we....
Economister 11th Nov 2010
@John Zern

provide free, automatic crash protection for ALL drivers on the road, including those who drink and drive. That would surely be good for road safety would it not?
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
bobiroc 11th Nov 2010
@Economister

I am not sure if your comment is sarcastic or not so if it is apologize ahead of time, but if you are serious then I feel sorry for your logic. I do not see any advantage of rewarding criminals of any kind. Take steps to protect the legit users and honest people and let the criminals crash and burn. I hope their identity gets stolen and they lose money and their credibility. An unfortunate side effect is that sometimes innocent people get harmed in the process so that is why I think it is good that Microsoft has created Security Essentials despite that there have been other good free solutions for years. Putting it as an optional download for computers not running any security software because they ignored the security center/action center warnings is also a good thing but screw the pirates. Let them rot.
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Sarcasm indeed
Economister Updated - 11th Nov 2010
@bobiroc

I mistakenly thought that post would be read in the context of my other post, but I realize that is a stupid assumption, because my posts can end up VERY far apart.
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
Jimster480 12th Nov 2010
@Cylon Centurion 0005 I Kind of agree but at the same time I don't. Because while its better against malware to have it on all systems, Windows 7 is worth buying, and freeloaders don't need free ms supported anti virus aswell. There are plenty of other free anti virus softwares out there that they can use if they wish to remain non legit.
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"Good for the entire Windows ecosystem"?
Economister Updated - 11th Nov 2010
What the heck does that mean? That is one of those feel good, motherhood and apple pie statements that nobody is supposed to disagree with.

I am usually not too kind to MS, but I think you are being unfair. MS is clearly part of that ecosystem. Why would it benefit MS to provide full security on pirated copies? More and more people would have incentives to pirate and MS's revenues might shrink. Should they still provide security SW if ALL Windows users have pirated copies? That would still be "good for the Windows ecosystem", would it not?. And if not, at what level of piracy would MS, in your opinion, be entitled to decline to provide security support? 10%?, 20%?, 30%?.....I guess you get my point.

You used the words "counterproductive" and "unhelpful", but did not elaborate AT ALL. If you want to express an opinion in a blog, I think you need to provide a slightly better justification than you have provided so far.
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So you are condoning piracy?
bobiroc 11th Nov 2010
That is just insane. I don't even have words for how stupid this blog post is. Microsoft or any company has the right to not offer updates or extras to people that obtain the software through illegal means. Heck I know some Free software titles that will not let you update or use some features if you do not register it. If you want to be a freeloader then use one of the many flavors of Linux and accept the limitations that come along with that.
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I'm not condoning it, no.
Cylon Centurion 11th Nov 2010
@bobiroc

But no matter how hard you try people will do it. Knowingly or unknowingly.
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
bobiroc 11th Nov 2010
@Cylon Centurion 0005

Well then they need to accept the risk by doing something illegally then don't they. No other software company willingly allows pirates of their software to get updates or enhancements do they? It would be like someone stealing a car and allowing them to get warranty work for a recall or some other problem now wouldn't it?
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As far as I'm concerned...
ahh so 11th Nov 2010
...I don't have to worry about any of this, since I'd rather pay an outside AV vendor an annual subscription than have M$'s WGA spyware pinging my machine every 30, 60 or 90 days.
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
bobiroc 12th Nov 2010
@ahh so

Then why are you here? Oh to just spread your anti-microsoft and your misinformed commentary. I get it. One of these days you will grow up I hope. I am not too hopeful though as I think you are a lost cause.
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This isn't just a forum for shills and redmond fanboys
ahh so 12th Nov 2010
Then why are you here?

Because some people need to know about it, that's why bobrockhead.

If you download Security Essentials then WGA is a part of the deal, and some people who care about that sort of thing, might think twice before they accept another so-called freebie from M$.

Oh to just spread your anti-microsoft and your misinformed commentary.

Nope, just telling all the facts like it is, and correcting the lying by omission part.

One of these days you will grow up I hope. I am not too hopeful though as I think you are a lost cause.

Yup, I am a lost cause as you say. Ever since that sh!tty Vista install back in 2007. I haven't forgotten about that.
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LOL you are a funny guy
Tommy S. 27th Dec 2010
@bobiroc I am a free loader since windows 95 and I always had all the updates and perks of the highest versions. Now Im happy and virus free thanks to my illegal Windows 7 Ult. x64! Damn I would be stuck with a lowly x86 home ed. if I was a paying customer. I pay my AV though.
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Its all about market shares,
Quebec-french 11th Nov 2010
If MS would like to be Pirate free ... ITs easy as 1-2-3 If your connected to the net Boom your neither legal or your OUT ...... But How many pirate user out there 10-20-30-50%.

IN some country maybe 90% ..... Now we touch a nerve because if you remove all the windows pirate. Guess what they will go toward 2 thing win 2000 that is still a working OS without WGA or they go OPen source linux,bsd, and the rest or they will go with Apple ...... That the thing that MS dont want they prefer to be pirated than to be oust to linux ....... Because of the market share.


Keep skating MS your going nowhere
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
bobiroc 11th Nov 2010
@Quebec-french

I think at this point you would realize that Free Operating systems have been available for years and even the Pirates refuse to use them. What does that say about the Free OSes out there?
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You miss the point completely
Quebec-french 11th Nov 2010
@bobiroc
If you go 100% pirate proof out there some people will have 2 choice buy the os or find alternative .

1 Win 2k is still out there easily pirated and still doing the job
2 buy the os some will never do that
3 get a alternative
And remember the argument is about having 100% pirate free no work around , or the comment is no good .
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
Tommy S. 27th Dec 2010
@bobiroc They are useless sh*t. I have a dual booting Ubuntu 10.10 installed, but I never use it. Its nice but useless.
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Interesting point!
NonZealot 11th Nov 2010
@Quebec-french
or they go OPen source linux,bsd

The thing is that bobiroc is 100% right, they've had that option from the beginning yet 99.2% of desktop users go out of their way not to run Linux on their desktops / laptops. So no, I don't think Linux would benefit that much from this.

the rest or they will go with Apple

Now that thought is interesting. Of course, none of these people will actually buy any Apple hardware, nor will they pay for OS X. If you aren't going to pay $130 for Windows, you are certainly not going to pay $130 for OS X + hundreds / thousands more on a Mac. So they will steal OS X. What do you think Apple will do when 95% of OS X users are stealing OS X? Seriously, what do you think they will do? I have my guess but I'm curious to hear what you think.

Personally, I don't believe anyone will ever make a hack proof OS so in your scenario where pirated Windows gets shut down when you connect to the net, my guess is that within minutes, a workaround will be found. The very simplest workaround would simply be to block outgoing traffic to the validation server. Done.
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I never believed that Linux would gain from it
Quebec-french 11th Nov 2010
@NonZealot

I just mention linux but it could be anything If MS goes 100% pirate free ... Those user that refuse or are unable to pay for the os will have to go somewhere . and that some where is FOSS/gnu/linux/bsd. that all Im not defending FOOS/linux .... Im just thinking why MS is letting itself by pirated ......

1 market share
2 denying potential FOSS rooting
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MS allows Windows to be pirated?
NonZealot 11th Nov 2010
Im just thinking why MS is letting itself by pirated

Considering how much negative press they've taken over activation and more recently they reduced the number of copies you can activate with Technet subscription, I think you are crazy to say that MS is allowing piracy. If MS could go 100% pirate free without annoying legitimate owners, they would do it in a heartbeat.

The truth is that no one has ever made hack proof consumer oriented software. The best they've ever come up with making sure that your software only works with your hardware like Apple did before the switch to Intel. That option simply isn't available for MS.

The funny thing is that the ABMers argue both sides of the fence:
MS is so evil for their horrible anti-piracy tactics!!
and
MS is so evil because they make Windows so easy to pirate that it doesn't give Linux a chance!!

Hilarious.
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And yes i do believe that MS let ....
Quebec-french 11th Nov 2010
@NonZealot
Its self be pirated for all the reason in the world . Because are you telling me that hackers around the world are more brilliant that all those MIT big brain that work at MS.
I freaking sure that if MS would like to have a 100% anti-pirate they could have it.
Or MS have better reason for not doing it .... Market share.
And as far as negative press .... i dont care .

I dont know if you where there in the early 2000 when you had win 98 and win 2000 key about everywhere you look in internet . Ms was not the only one adobe was there too . The best exemple that i can give you .
Its was hard to get a pirate version of macromedia yet it was easy for adobe 8-9 years later macromedia is dead and adobe is very wealthy ....

Like it or not believe it or not proof are there , if you check them .

so good night
to much tired to much beer to much going to bed .... g'night folk
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THAT IS SO TRUE!!
Ron Bergundy 11th Nov 2010
90% of the world uses Windows??? take away the pirated copies and they will have less of a share then Apple or Linux!!

You are super smart dude, because you can see what no-one else can!!!
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
bobiroc 11th Nov 2010
@cyberslammer3

I sure hope that was sarcasm. You are basically saying that over 90% of users of pirate it. Or are you just upset that more people probably pirate or attempt to pirate Windows than actually like and use Linux? I would be willing to bet if you just take an overall percentage of Windows or MacOS about the same percentage of total users pirate it in some fashion. They do this because they do not want to use the Free OSes that Linux offers despite Linux Advocates claiming that if people had the choice they would choose linux. I think it is quite obvious that when people are given the choice of using Linux they choose to try and Pirate Windows or MacOS. And that, my friend, is the truth.
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what ever
Quebec-french 11th Nov 2010
@cyberslammer3
if you in for sarcasm at least be funny
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
Marco nn 11th Nov 2010
@Quebec-french
You are correct, the problem is not MS defending its right, the problem is the moral validity of its argumentation (amoral or immoral, depending of our point of view).
In others words, MS allow the piracy where it is to their advantage (destroying free competitiveness) and after that (when they/we become 'MS dependent'),it wants everyone paying out the MS' tax.

Obviously MS has some responsability, to say the least.

Said that, my rant; Use another OS or at least use third part updates and software.

'MS dependent': Mental state in which by ignorance laziness or apparent comfort we choose the known bad thing instead any other alternative.
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Marco nn, how would that be any different
Mister Spock 11th Nov 2010
then any other large corporation?
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THAT IS MS
Marco nn 12th Nov 2010
@Mister Spock

Marco nn, how would that be any different
then any other large corporation?

What?...There are some Black dogs THEN All dogs are Black?
other analogy: Some CEO have the name of Ballmer THEN all CEOs are named Ballmer?... That is your logic? (MS is corrupt then All companies are corrupt..ha.ha)


-----
That was funny, but this is not:

"Tried and convicted"
"Joel Klein, head of the Justice Department's antitrust bureau, said the evidence proved that "Microsoft is a monopolist and it engaged in massive anti-competitive practices that harmed innovation and limited consumer choice."


"Gates and his prophet Ballmer":

Bill Gates has unveiled Microsoft?s unlikely secret weapon in China, a territory he is adamant will turn out to be the software giant's largest market: piracy.
"It's easier for our software to compete with Linux when there's piracy than when there's not," the Microsoft co-founder and chairman told Fortune magazine.
The idea that bootlegged software can create demand for its legitimate cousin in the longer term is not new.

THAT IS MS
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
DaveN_MVP 11th Nov 2010
If MSE truly protects my system, then I guess I'm not overly concerned about the status of other people's systems, right? Where that argument falls apart is in the cases where MSE (or whatever malware app I choose) fails - in that case, you're right, I'd like the others to be spreading as little malware as possible.
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
sys4me 11th Nov 2010
To avoid situations like I had; My Gateway one day spontaneously turned itself into an Acer. Within hours Windows posted a message saying it was not a legal copy. Shortly after that MSE shut down saying my windows was not legal. I lost my antivirus right in the middle of trouble shooting a serious problem requiring internet access. I have replaced MSE with Avast. I cannot rely on an antivirus that is dependant on Microsoft accurately determining if my windows is legal
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
anthonymaw 11th Nov 2010
Microsoft became the Number 1 software maker on the planet BECAUSE of piracy. If PC users were not able to pass around MS DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, etc. to all their friends and family back in the 80's and 90's so that the vast majority of the public could gain familiarity with the Microsoft ecosystem then there would arguably be much LESS demand by education, corporations and government to choose Microsoft Windows over other competing operating systems. Just look at Apple - Despite having what everyone considered a superior PC platform it was kept so tightly buttoned up and restricted that Apple today still only has a small fraction of the PC market share.
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
bobiroc 11th Nov 2010
@anthonymaw

Yeah that's how they did it. NOT! And Apple having the superior platform is a matter of opinion. I use both and support both at work and find nothing that Apple is superior on other than being less compatible on hardware and software.
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Can't They Use Some Other Free Software?
MichP 11th Nov 2010
AVG or Avast? If these users know enough to get themselves a free version of Windows, they should be able to find those pretty easily. Microsoft isn't telling them they can't have ANY protection, just not theirs. I don't see the big deal.
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
bobiroc 11th Nov 2010
@MichP

How dare you speak such logic? Don't you know when Microsoft does something to protect their interest it is them forcing their evil upon everybody? There is no choice you must use Microsoft. Resistance is futile.

/sarcasm
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Why pretend that's sarcasm
ahh so 11th Nov 2010
They taught you how to say that.
  • Flagged
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Re: Why pretend that's sarcasm
bobiroc 12th Nov 2010
@ahh so

As usual your comments are irrelevant. We get it, you hate microsoft. No one cares what you think because everything you say is idiotic.
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Re: Why pretend that's sarcasm
ahh so 12th Nov 2010
As usual your comments are irrelevant.

Well they must have some relevance to them, otherwise you wouldn't keep responding to me.

We get it, you hate microsoft.

That's right. And I hope they get corporately chopped up into little pieces someday.

No one cares what you think

Well you obviously do. Here you go responding again.

And you will again in the future, too. I guarantee it.

because everything you say is idiotic.

Regardless, I'll continue to speak out here. I'm not going away anytime soon.

Better get used to it... wink
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Skills of pirates
endermc12 11th Nov 2010
What I don't get is how someone could be intelligent enough to download, install and crack Windows, but not smart enough to download and run a free AV suite?
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
Tommy S. 27th Dec 2010
@endermc12 Well... there are the crackers/hackers, there are the pirates/script-kiddies (most of us) and there are the PC end users/Apple consumers(95% of the people on the interwebz). The typical end user/apple fanboy think that opening the side panel on their computer will likely open a portal to hell, like in doom.

Do you think that every owner of a pirate Windows is able to do the ho so complicated task of downloading and burning a preactivated torrent!?! If you can get a end user to put the install disc in the computer by himself you sure deserve a cookie. Let alone finding/burning/installing the said pirate OS. A nutless monkey could do it with 1 hour of training but not the average PC user.
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This is somewhat off topic but the quote given concerns me:
ye 11th Nov 2010
"e latest update, 2.0.552, has been released to beta testers via Windows Update. The latest beta introduces several enhancements including context menu scanning, heuristic scanning, remove quarantined files after a certain date and the ability to enable a network inspection system to protect against network-based exploits."

One of MSE's strengths is its simplicity where it does one thing and does it well. However this suggests it may go the way of every other anti-virus software package where it tries to do all things, does none of them well, takes system performance down, and causes more problems than it solves.

Microsoft: PLEASE LEAVE MSE ALONE!
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
bobiroc 12th Nov 2010
@ye

I am not so sure about that. I installed the latest beta on my personal laptop at home last night and I see no real performance impact and the interface still seems very straight forward and simple to use. I think the added enhancements are necessary and will overall make the MSE and Forefront products better.
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We'll see in time.
ye 12th Nov 2010
@bobiroc: Added features over time is what has led most of the other anti-virus offerings to be where they are today: Trying to do too much and doing nothing well, sapping performance, and causing more problems than they solve.

Maybe Microsoft will be different. I have my doubts.
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Re: We'll see in time.
bobiroc 12th Nov 2010
@ye

I have to agree with you there but from what I can see from this latest beta which some are calling a Release Candidate that is not the case. Still simple to use, no noticeable performance impact even when scanning. I also think that some of the major players like McAfee and Norton were trying to push their own agendas with adding too much like toolbars, browser plug ins and trials of other add-ons like online backup and really didn't make an effort to work with the operating system but against it which resulted in taking over the machine. From what I can see MSE and Forefront works well with Windows (more so with Vista and Win7) and is practically transparent.
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
bigpicture 11th Nov 2010
Can you not see why this takes on the trappings of an oxymoron? Why would I buy security software from a company that cannot make secure software, which is why I have to buy the security software in the first place. That is why there is ESET and Kaspersky etc.
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We can.
ye 11th Nov 2010
@bigpicture: Can you not see why this takes on the trappings of an oxymoron?

We can see it has nothing to do with being an oxymoron and more to do with you being a moron.
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
bobiroc 12th Nov 2010
@bigpicture

So the facts that show that most of the time when Windows is compromised it is because of user negligence is of no meaning to you. How many people have intentionally bypassed security measures by turning off things like UAC, firewalls, running no security or simply clicking on every link that they get in their email blindly or downloading items via P2P that can and are infected and running them on their computer. I will say that back in the Win9x days and maybe even in the early Win2k/XP days security was an afterthought and responsibility was placed solely in the hands of the operator. But Microsoft has been increasing their security measures over the years but much of the problem is the average user is still ignorant to what it means to be safe on their computers. They disable security because they view it as an inconvenience and think it could never happen to them. I have been working in IT and on computers for many years and every computer that I have seen that has been compromised in probably the last 8+ years has always fit this description. It is very sad that in this day and age we still see people letting their trial security software from the OEM expire and not renewing the subscription or finding a good Free alternative. The information is out there for people to find but they rather spend time playing their games, looking for their porn, or gambling away instead of spending a little time for their own safety.
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Adrian and his MS hate...
transposeIT 12th Nov 2010
first advising his readers not to be early buyers of WP7 and then gloating over it's supposrdly poor sales from an unknown source. Man, you're just sometjing else...
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MSSE is hardly an well-trained sleuth.
rroberto18 12th Nov 2010
I gave up MSSE when its partner in crime detection, Windows Secuirity Center, mistook it for an out-of-date install of Zone Alarm. Extend the logic here and MSSE is hardly a finely-tuned method for recognizing unlicensed users either. Windows Update already cuts off those that MS IDs as the "unlicensed." Why do they need to have MSSE do double duty? It won't make them any more accurate...and will only propagate the malware they should be protecting all of us against. And who can tell whether Windows Firewall is working to do any of that either? When was the last time users saw an on-screen notice of a successfully thwarted port attack?
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Make everything free so criminals won't getting hurt?
HiTechCoach 12th Nov 2010
By the same logic all software vendors should give all of their software away to reduce the number of dangerous cracks people might otherwise expose themselves to.

So we should also leaves our houses and cars unlocked, so that thieves don't risk cutting themselves on broken glass.
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RE: Why Microsoft should push Security Essentials to freeloaders
lehnerus2000 13th Nov 2010
They still haven't learned from the Conficker debacle.

When the media reports, "millions of Windows PCs are infected", they generally never mention that they are mostly PCs running pirated software.

This contributes to MS image problems (and as you pointed out makes everyone else vulnerable to indirect attacks).

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