Corrine
Premium
join:2004-08-27
| Lavasoft Launches Public Beta Testing Program
quote:
Public Beta testing program launched
Today, Lavasoft launched the first installment in preparation for a new research portal with the launch of our public definitions testing program. This new testing regime is designed to enable a greater frequency of updates while maintaining a high level of quality. This will enable quality testing over a greater number of potential system configurations and operating systems and ensure our users have the most intensively tested updates available.
»www.lavasoftusa.com/
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Corrine, Administrator Freedomlist; Proud Charter Member ASAP Since 2004 (Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals) |
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Name Game
Premium
join:2002-07-07
North Myrtle Beach, SC
| Lavasoft Research Portal Launched!
April 8th, 2005
Welcome to the first installment our all new Research Portal, the Ad-Aware Beta Definition Testing site. We will be uploading new test definitions on a regular basis and want to thank all who participate in advance.
You do not need to install any of the reference applications that are listed in the information below, but if you do, or you test this file against a system that has this content installed, please provide feedback regarding any potential false positives. Remember, these files will be Betas; though we have performed internal testing, these files have not been released so please take the time to fully evaluate what is detected using these files.
Definition file details
MD5: A822518FDB6C0D384F2B050A206ACFFE
Reference Number: SE1B38 BETA
Internal build: 44
File location:
C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware SE Professional\SE1B38 BETA.ref
File size: 458861 Bytes
Total size: 1387485 Bytes
Signature data size: 1357114 Bytes
Reference data size: 29859 Bytes
Signatures total: 38669
CSI Fingerprints total: 783
CSI data size: 29483 Bytes
Target categories: 15
Target families: 648
New
Dialer.FreeConnectltd
IEHijacker.ZestyFind
Updated
CoulombDialer
CoolWebSearch +5
IMIServer IE Plugin
VX2 +12
WurlMedia BHO
Zango
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Gladiator Security Forum »www.gladiator-antivirus.com/ Missing Kids »www.missingkids.com/ |
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fatdcuk
Premium
join:2005-02-20
England
|  reply to Corrine
in plain english.....definition tester's wanted to limit the number of f/p's generated by ad aware se.
apply at »www.lavasoftresearch.com/index.php
and help boost their profit margin's for the rich kids at the top of LS by them not having to employ tester's in the first place.
what is in it for the volunteer tester's ? |
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hXc
| I thought this was a way to steer the responsibilty more towards the users and take the heat off LS because future lawsuits. Maybe thats thinking too far. I mean, lets us users take the responsibilty...
quote:
To provide you the user with the protection you require and to bring about positive and ethical changes to advertising models. And most importantly, to place the control back into the hands of those who should have it, namely you the user. It is your computer and you have the right to decide what will or will not be installed. Don't let others decide for you when you have the most advanced detection and removal technology at your fingertips. Try our software and see what Ad-aware can do for you.
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Name Game
Premium
join:2002-07-07
North Myrtle Beach, SC
1 edit | reply to fatdcuk
said by fatdcuk  :in plain english.....definition tester's wanted to limit the number of f/p's generated by ad aware se. apply at » www.lavasoftresearch.com/index.phpand help boost their profit margin's for the rich kids at the top of LS by them not having to employ tester's in the first place. what is in it for the volunteer tester's ? Do it if you have the time for all those Million of people in our community who still use the free version..that is the incentive..and then since you are a nice person who does keep abreast of all the happenings Internally of the Drama at Lavasoft..do us a favor and kept all those type of comments confined to the PM's, IM's and chatterboxes since it has nothing to do with the topic of the thread..and there is no reason for the continual slamming in every Security Forum out there.
What do you think ? Sound like a good idea.
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Gladiator Security Forum »www.gladiator-antivirus.com/
Missing Kids
»www.missingkids.com/ |
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fatdcuk
Premium
join:2005-02-20
England
| quote:
nothing to do with the topic of the thread
a translation of the announcement into plain engish for the layman/woman was more on topic than your last post.
OT but supportive of my previous post,
f/p's are present with most bot killer's free or paid.when new definition's are released by most products there's alway's the risk of f/p's occuring.
Sunbelt were looking for beta tester's back a while.they offered a free license for their product to tester's as reward for helping to improve their product.
on that if i knew that beta testing definition's would only benfit the free version i would happily help test/feedback on them but the truth is its beta testing for the paid version as well(which i do not want too promote or prop up by support).
i would suggest if you disagree with me rather than go OFF topic doing so,send me a PM.those that know me know i'm capable of rational discourse but dislike being told DHAO in public just because you don't agree with my posting.
on that was there anything untrue about my first post on this topic,please publicly correct me ? |
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cacroll
Eventually, Prozac becomes normal
Premium
join:2002-07-25
Martinez, CA
| reply to fatdcuk
said by fatdcuk :what is in it for the volunteer tester's ?
The opportunity for some portion of Lavasoft customers, who get free software from them, to contribute something back to their benefactors. And, by using their personal computers as a test bed, to use their personal (and unique) combination of hardware / software / internet usage, and validate updates to a very useful (though controversial) security product. This ultimately results in a better product for all of us.
I'm personally honoured to be part of this effort, and would welcome any other product to do likewise. |
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Name Game
Premium
join:2002-07-07
North Myrtle Beach, SC
| reply to Corrine
Naw..you just go ahead and hijack the thread and do your thang..not interested in swapping spit as you ramble
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Gladiator Security Forum »www.gladiator-antivirus.com/ Missing Kids »www.missingkids.com/ |
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cacroll
Eventually, Prozac becomes normal
Premium
join:2002-07-25
Martinez, CA | IMHO we can get some idea of his (her?) seriousness (reliability) by the nym that she (he?) uses. |
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Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| reply to Corrine
Sunbelt got ZERO REPLIES to their appeal for beta testers over at their official forum at ComputerCops and they are offering free software. They got a few negative replies here and no positive ones if I recall correctly. So, I sure don't see how LavaSoft, after their debacle, can expect people to test their software and not reward them with at least a free license to the Pro product.
I'm a beta tester and I don't get paid in any way for what I do. But I only beta test for companies for which I have some respect.
I see no reason why we should shut up about Lava Soft's debacle. That should never be swept under the rug. Shutting up about it means that newbies will never know what happened and never realize that they cannot trust this company.
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The first and foremost function of our jurors is to protect private citizens from a tyrannical and intrusive government...Jurors are the last line of defense for liberty. Thomas Jefferson 1789 |
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boblandy
Premium
join:2002-05-06
| reply to fatdcuk
said by fatdcuk :what is in it for the volunteer tester's? don't participate in the beta testing and spare everyone the bellyaching
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look out kid they keep it all hid |
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cacroll
Eventually, Prozac becomes normal
Premium
join:2002-07-25
Martinez, CA
2 edits | reply to Mele20
Well I won't deny that they fscked up big time last month. And where is their forum - it's kinda weird that they would start such an ambitious effort to involve volunteer Beta testers, just days after the forum goes offline.
But I think it's only fair that we provide them some assistance - at least I should cause I'm using their product for nothing. I don't care about the Pro version - I run AA and SSD as complements to each other, scanning manually weekly.
IMHO providng them Beta testing services will only give them a better product, and that's what we all need. Run the Beta 1/2 hour then 5 minutes to post feedback - not a lot of time out of my day.
But yes, keeping silence about their problems and fsckups will not benefit anybody longterm. As long as we discuss them objectively, and don't use any disparaging terms, or show stupid attitude. |
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mers2
Premium,MVM
join:2004-03-20
USA
clubs:
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to Mele20
said by Mele20 :Sunbelt got ZERO REPLIES to their appeal for beta testers over at their official forum at ComputerCops and they are offering free software. They got a few negative replies here and no positive ones if I recall correctly. So, I sure don't see how LavaSoft, after their debacle, can expect people to test their software and not reward them with at least a free license to the Pro product. Those from here who chose to beta test for Sunbelt didn't volunteer via the thread. They emailed the OP privately, which was requested. There were some volunteers. I was one of those.
I think it's great that Lavasoft is opening up the definitions to beta testing. This is an opportunity for public input, which is a rare thing with Lavasoft.
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God put me on this Earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now, I am so far behind I will never die. |
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hayc59
VoodooChild
Premium
join:2001-02-26
David R.I.P.
| reply to boblandy
said by boblandy :said by fatdcuk :what is in it for the volunteer tester's? don't participate in the beta testing and spare everyone the bellyaching *Agreed Indeed!!! 
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9/11/01 Never Forget |
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hayc59
VoodooChild
Premium
join:2001-02-26
David R.I.P. | reply to Corrine
Thanks Corrine for the info!! |
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cacroll
Eventually, Prozac becomes normal
Premium
join:2002-07-25
Martinez, CA
| said by hayc59 :Thanks Corrine for the info!!
Yes, Thank You, Corinne. |
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Hickerx2
God Bless The U.S. Military
join:2001-03-04
Franklinville, NY
| reply to Corrine
What I don't get is why anybody cares what LS does. They are illegitimate, and deserve no consideration. After all, they give none to their customers.
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Kerry for President? Is this Saturday Night Live?....whew!....it was only a bad dream |
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keith2468
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-03
Winnipeg, MB
1 edit | reply to Corrine
It is good netiquette to move to the next topic when you come across a post that is irrelevant to you.
If a topic triggers a thought about some similar topic, start a new topic on it.
The topic here is Lavasoft beta testing.
If you want to grip about Lavasoft, start a topic on Lavasoft gripes.
If everyone starts posting that a particular topic is irrelevant to them, all we are going to have here is a forum with 99% of the posts in every topic being by people on how irrelevant the topic is to them.
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(Virus&Hijacking FAQ + Submit suspected malware + Backups FAQ + Security FAQ TOC) |
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keith2468
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-03
Winnipeg, MB
| reply to Corrine
Lavasoft finished in second place to GiantAnti-spyware in Eric Howe's testing. That is a pretty good result compared to all of their competitors (except Giant).
So Lavasoft is an outfit worth supporting, especially if you are running the freeware version on your personal PC, or work for a company that runs many copies of the paid-for version.
Don't be mad at Lavasoft for adding and removing products from their "spyware list". It is a adware/anti-adware industry thing, and a legal thing. It has to do with the laws of liable, how impossible it is for even experienced lawyers to successfully guess how a judge will interpret a point of law, budgetary constraints on doing their own research, how much mis-information comes from malicious adware vendors, legitimate adware vendors, and their opponents, (even though many of the individuals concerned have good intentions).
What is in beta testing for the beta testers?
In accordance with common practices in the industry -- a better product, maybe some adventure or learning in how to figure out what is going wrong with your PC.
It would be nice if vendors held draws for testers, maybe a draw for free product licenses or t-shirts or coffee mugs from amongst those who reported bugs that week. But seldom does that happen.
And product vendors need to keep in mind that beta testers can't don't do exhaustive testing of every logic path. They don't know the code.
Also, seldom do beta testers test the help panels, try all the options, etc.
For medium and large vendors, public beta tests are only cost effective for finding product incompatibilities. (For smaller companies beta testers are also useful for testing useability, that the panels are clear to people from other countries.)
The usual cautions for beta testing any product from any vendor apply:
1. Don't install beta test or release candidate software on systems that you depend on for work or school. Beta testing is really for hobby and test computers.
2. When you discover a bug (bugs are expected in test versions) be sure to inform the test coordinator using whatever means they have setup.
Finding bugs and incompatibilities, and providing feedback to the test coordinator on them, is the whole purpose in what you are doing when you are in the beta test program. No feedback to the vendor -- no point to being in the beta test.
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(Virus&Hijacking FAQ + Submit suspected malware + Backups FAQ + Security FAQ TOC) |
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ASW101
@aol.com
| Re:Eric L Howes test results.
Lavasoft finished in second place to GiantAnti-spyware in Eric Howe's testing.
»spywarewarrior.com/asw-test-guid···ble-summ
This is factually incorrect,they finished third also behind Webroot Spysweeper but this is still a good result. |
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