February 26, 2005 – (HOSTSEARCH.COM) – Website silicon.com reported earlier that Microsoft’s Anti-Spyware beta has paid a small settlement to popular(in the Netherlands) Dutch portal Startpagina.nl after the software warned users that the site was a malicious browser hijacker.
Ilse Media, which owns Startpagina.nl, director Media Bert Wiggers repeatedly tried to contact Microsoft to let them know about their error.
"I tried to reach them, I tried to call them, I tried to send them a letter. They did not answer. I sent them a letter saying I would see them in court. Then they got their voice back."
Wiggers said he was "very insulted" when Microsoft branded Startpagina as malicious.
In the end, Microsoft apologised and updated its AntiSpyware software.
Microsoft has posted a notice on Microsoft Netherlands and Microsoft Belgium with an apology for the difficulty this issue may have caused Startpagina.nl and its users.
A Microsoft spokeswoman said: "This specific issue has been addressed in the latest update of the Windows AntiSpyware beta, and users of the latest version can access Startpagina.nl and set it as their home page unhindered."
