Interesting, indeed.

But I do not agree with the conclusions. I suspect the spyware itself has changed, which would cause the detection to fail until it's updated.

In any case, thanks for the info.

Edited by - LXP on 2/15/2005 1:40:59 PM

are you sure? because they said that an older set of definitions found the spyware, but the new ones did not. i don't see how the change of spyware would matter to that.

Yes, I am absolutely sure this is a possible reason for this phenomenon, and imho the most probable.

I suspect Lavasoft and the other anti-spyware company (can't recall the name atm) will already have gotten the information. Based on that assumption, the easiest way to get an idea about what's really going on is to wait what they do. If the next version (or maybe the one after the next, depending on the schedule) of their software detects the particular spyware in question again, I'd say my suspicion was correct. If it keeps undetected in new versions from now on, it's time to worry.

Spyware detection basically works like virus detection. But in the whole process, there is one difference which is significant here. If a virus is only slightly modified, the known detection schemes fail, for obvious reasons. Later, when the new variant has been analysed, it gets a new name; maybe the similarities with the older version get discovered and published. If a particular spyware's internal techniques get changed, detection based on old versions will fail, but analysis will show who the originating party is, therefore it won't necessarily be renamed. Or, in other words, it may just be a case of a new or modified piece of spyware made by a company or organisation which already has been active in that business.
A better comparison than viruses are CD copy protection schemes. Think about SecuROM, for example.

Edited by - LXP on 2/15/2005 2:28:26 PM

I dont really need to worry about spy ware
My trojan can take care of it


@Wolfy:

Sorry about your dog

one quick answer to the topic is some of the big brothers out there i.e. bill gates are a little greedy to our liking

@speedmaster:

And the connection to the original topic would be what?

Be careful with MS Anti-Spyware. There was a news broadcast not to long ago saying a new key-logging virus was out and about that targeted MSAS and sought banking passwords, etc...

Er....

'MS Anti-Spyware'..

sounds a bit contradictory, doesn't it?

Edited by - LXP on 2/16/2005 8:10:57 PM

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that targeted MSAS and sought banking passwords etc.

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won't be a problem on my system it's used for gaming and typing and i don't have that particular *Cough* program i don't trust it as far as i could throw my car, besides how often can you watch the news without hearing about some new virus or spyware that targets said monop- er company

My mom always says that there are 2 divisions of virus protection companies...In the 1st room there is the people trying to make the virus protection better and in the 2nd room there are people 1 step ahead and trying to destroy all the computers in the world.....well maybe not destroy them but...to infect them