Panda wants Ballot Screen for Windows Security Software

[mikedl]

From what I understand MS got in trouble with IE because it came installed with Windows and could not be removed. In this case MSE does not come installed and you have to ask for it with TWO choices. First you have to turn on Microsoft Updates within Windows Updates in order for it to be offered and then you have to accept the install.

Here is the Microsoft Update selection which is turned off by default.

View attachment 112605

As you can see by the language you are asking for the information and it is not being forced to you.

Jim

Today.

Tomorrow?

Discounting the arguments presented by Panda and Trend Micro only shows the desire to not understand the potential ramifications regarding this current tactic.

Oh, and Tews, I wear no tin foil hat.

 

[LiquidSnak]

What the hell...are these people high or something? Since when does offering MSE through Windows Update come even close to bundling? The offer to install it is optional and you don't even see the offer by default. What the hell are these guys smoking?

+1 :roflmao:

 

[jp07764]

I feel it is not being forced on you either.
When you buy a new computer you get
the antivirus program in it already.
Most people will use that.
So what is all the upraor about.

Jimmy

 

[Kari]

Here in Europe we tell jokes about Americans suing anything and everything, because it's possible. A customer of McDonalds' order coffee, drinks it fast, burns his mouth and sues McDonalds for not telling clear enough that the hot coffee is hot, and now the cups must have a warning printed on the side: "Caution! The hot beverage in this cup is hot". Or an older lady puts her pudel in microwave after a walk on a rainy day to dry the poor dog, and after cremating the pet sues the manufacturer of that microwave because manual didn't tell drying wet pets is not allowed.

But even if these people can sue and win, it still seems a bit far fetched to think that a lawsuit based on a theory that because it is now possible for consumers after voluntary opting for updates to choose to install a free product, Microsoft might or might not use this method in the future to offer other products or services, which might or might not be free.

Now I've seen it all!

Kari

 

[Phone Man]

Here in Europe we tell jokes about Americans suing anything and everything, because it's possible. A customer of McDonalds' order coffee, drinks it fast, burns his mouth and sues McDonalds for not telling clear enough that the hot coffee is hot, and now the cups must have a warning printed on the side: "Caution! The hot beverage in this cup is hot". Or an older lady puts her pudel in microwave after a walk on a rainy day to dry the poor dog, and after cremating the pet sues the manufacturer of that microwave because manual didn't tell drying wet pets is not allowed.

But even if these people can sue and win, it still seems a bit far fetched to think that a lawsuit based on a theory that because it is now possible for consumers after voluntary opting for updates to choose to install a free product, Microsoft might or might not use this method in the future to offer other products or services, which might or might not be free.

Now I've seen it all!

Kari

But Kari, they are not suing in America. They are thinking about going to the EU to complain just like Opera did when they complained to the EU about IE. And it is the EU that requires the Browser Ballot which we do not have here in the Colonies.

Jim

 

[yowanvista]

Next thing you know, cable and sat providers will complain that they can't compete with free-over-the-air broadcasts, so televisions will have to present options when they are turned on.

In my opinion, 9 out of 10 people running without security software won't opt to buy the software, so what is Panda really missing out on? Besides, MSE will only install on WGA verified systems. Panda can have all the pirated installs of Windows.

MSE can be installed on non genuine OS

 

[Dwarf]

Will Panda be going after the big manufacturers such as Dell and HP who tend to bundle a trial version of an AV (typically Norton/MacAfee) on their systems?

 

[Lordbob75]

Will Panda be going after the big manufacturers such as Dell and HP who tend to bundle a trial version of an AV (typically Norton/MacAfee) on their systems?

Perhaps they should offer a Linux distro, or a black harddrive when purchasing to encourage others to use different OSes?

~Lordbob

 

[Dwarf]

At the end of the day, it probably isn't going to make much difference, if any at all. Most people have tried a few AV products, found one that they like and feel comfortable with using and have used it ever since.

As for a ballot screen, MS already provides one:

Furthermore, Microsoft already has a ballet screen that comes up in Security Center when you do not have an antivirus: (By click the button "Find a program online") Windows 7: Consumer security software providers Even Panda Security is on it!

 

[Trucidation]

Today.

Tomorrow?

Discounting the arguments presented by Panda and Trend Micro only shows the desire to not understand the potential ramifications regarding this current tactic.

Uh. Nobody was discounting the arguments, we were having a chuckle at their overreactions. Instead of stooping to take a cheap shot at MS, they could actually do something positive like, I don't know, actually marketing their products?

The one who brought up antitrust laws first in this thread was you. All you have to back it up is assertions that MS has the potential for breaching them. Potential. They haven't even actually breached anything. Nobody said anything about the a/v vendors' concerns being false.

Right here in southeast asia, Kaspersky has gone on a huge marketing blitz. The primary IT malls have been draped with huge Kaspersky banners adorned with the face of a huge celebrity: Jackie Chan. Any Joe Random who has even gone anywhere near these malls can not fail to notice the banners. A slightly older consumer may even recall Trend Micro or McAfee, two big names used in many corporate environments. Then say "free a/v" in forums and people would tell you Avira, Avast!, AVG, etc. MSE, what MSE?

Panda should take a leaf from Kaspersky and market better instead of taking a cheap shot at MS, and we called them out on it. Don't like it? Then tell Panda to stop being asses.

 

[Darician]

In the end, this would be a completely worthless case. It would be based on what could possibly, potentially happen. Maybe we should arrest people who look rather suspicious from the get go and just charge them with murder from the get go because they look like they could potentially do it. Give me a break. This sounds like many here have said, as nothing but a desperate attempt from a floundering company to get free publicity.

MSE is an optional update and what's more, it's not even checked off by default. Most people (average joe) don't even look at updates, they just let the computer automatically do it and that means MSE would never be installed as it's not set to automatically install. People are given the choice. MS knows not to push AV out automatically as vendors would cry anti-trust immediately. And what's more, there are certain disk management components within Windows that were made by the Veritas Corporation. This company has now been purchased by Symantec; Microsoft knows not to anger Symantec who is an AV vendor as otherwise, they could not license this component (storage management components of Windows NT and its successors) so I'm not really all that concerned that Microsoft would try to push MSE out for free automatically to people's machines otherwise, they'd just be shooting themselves in the foot.

Seems to be a case of Panda simply crying foul and wanting to make themselves a customer base out of someone else's customer base.

 

[geeve420]

To be quite honest I had no clue MSE was free or even a download. Any system I use, I tend to download Antivir right away. I have heard of Panda and have heard not many good things about them. It seems to me this is nothing more than an attempt at free publicity. Problem is, for me personally, I won't even consider them as an option if this is how they act.

MS is not violating anything, now if I woke up one morning and MSE was installed all on it's own, that I would have a problem with.

Geeve

 

[Layback Bear]

I have a simple question, please help me to understand. Company A takes Company B to court because of something Company B might do in the future. Can this be true?
Panda has been out of business for 10 years or so, it just took them a long time to know it. Must be Microsoft's fault of course.