The Matter with Claria

By Jerry Pournelle

July 11, 2005

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Column 299 (Continued from the Previous Week)

Microsoft, AntiSpyware, and Claria (Gator)

The rumors are flying around the Internet. In extreme form the rumor is that Microsoft has gone over to the dark side and can never be trusted again. Even Microsoft's supporters have been somewhat taken aback. The buzz is too loud to ignore.

What's being said is that Microsoft is going to buy Claria (formerly known as Gator, a name that does not inspire fond memories), and second that the latest revision of Microsoft AntiSpyware ignores Claria attempts to install adware on your machine, so we can no longer rely on Microsoft AntiSpyware to protect us from unwanted pop-up programs.

It's important to keep our facts straight: Neither of those statements is precisely true.

Regarding the rumor that Microsoft is acquiring Claria, no one I know has the facts on this. Microsoft's official position is that they never comment on pending acquisitions. I think Microsoft ought to consider buying Claria, but I'll get to that after we get the facts straight.

Regarding the rumor that Microsoft AntiSpyware now ignores Claria's attempts to install popup adware on your machine, and thereby allows those programs to enter unwanted and unnoticed, it's just not true. AntiSpyware continues to detect Claria's products, and to notify you of that detection. Claria, or Gator as it used to be known, can't creep in on systems running Microsoft AntiSpyware unless you let it.

What has changed is the recommended action. AntiSpyware used to recommend that you quarantine or remove Claria's products. Now the recommendation is that you ignore it (i.e. allow it to install and run); but you retain the option to quarantine or remove it, and if you want my personal recommendation, that's what you ought to do.

The change in the AntiSpyware recommendation came about early in June, and wasn't noticed until after the rumors about Microsoft acquisition of Claria were flying about.

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