The vendor is Microsoft. Windows Defender is Microsoft's anti-spyware program. It is a component of Windows Vista and is available (and was heavily promoted by Microsoft) for Windows XP. I got the impression you were thinking the vendor was a tiny company with little influence. I don't think that's quite accurate.

I think you (Edi Weitz) would have more leverage with Microsoft than any of the users. (See my original message for what the users can do.) Also, keep in mind that sometimes unscrupulous companies hack good software and put trojans in it. Just because you didn't put adware in it doesn't necessarily mean there aren't bad versions out there, unfortunately. Or maybe Microsoft is just confused - it certainly wouldn't be the first time.

I tried to post information about Windows Defender flagging The Regex Coach on the regex-coach mailing list a couple of days ago. It didn't appear. (I used an email alias that probably confused the mailing list.) In any case, here again is my original email to the list (from here to the start of Edi's message):

In a scan today [Thursday], Microsoft's Windows Defender (Beta 2) identified The Regex Coach as WinSoftware.WinAntiSpyware. The information Windows Defender gave me is just below:

Start Quote -->

Category:

Potentially Unwanted Software

Description:

This program has potentially unwanted behavior.

Advice:

Review the alert details to see why the software was detected. If you do not like how the software operates or if you do not recognize and trust the publisher, consider blocking or removing the software.

Resources:

regkey:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\The Regex Coach_is1

uninstall:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\The Regex Coach_is1

file:

D:\Program Files\Accessories\The Regex Coach\unins000.exe

View more information about this item online

<-- End Quote

The last line ("View more ...") is a link to: http://www.microsoft.com/security/encyclopedia/details.aspx?name=WinSoftware .WinAntiSpyware&threatid=17446. I installed The Regex Coach in D:\Program Files\Accessories\The Regex Coach, which is why the uninstaller is in a non-standard location.

I'll let you fight Microsoft over this. You might also want to check out http://www.spywarelist.info/spyware_definitions_view.php?editid=793&edit... Adw.WinSoftware.WinAntiSpyware. Another link that might help is: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx.

I am supposedly a member of a "voting network" that's supposed to collect statistics about how users chose to react to the "threat". I ignored it, so at least that's one vote for you.

Eric

-----Original Message----- From: regex-coach-bounces@common-lisp.net [mailto:regex-coach-bounces@common-lisp.net]On Behalf Of Edi Weitz Sent: Friday, November 24, 2006 8:38 AM To: Neville Southworth Cc: regex-coach@common-lisp.net Subject: [regex-coach] Re: Windows Defender and Regex Coach?

On Fri, 24 Nov 2006 10:10:56 +0000, "Neville Southworth" neville.southworth@hawkgrove.co.uk wrote:

Windows Defender today believes The Regex Coach may be spyware?

Please use the mailing list to report bugs and problems.

The Regex Coach does not contain spyware or adware. If "Windows Defender" (whatever that is) reports spyware, you should ask the vendor why they report that.

See also here:

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/regexcoach.html http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-1689730.php

Cheers, Edi. _______________________________________________ regex-coach site list regex-coach@common-lisp.net http://common-lisp.net/mailman/listinfo/regex-coach