I think MS is more interested in the base technology behind Claria and how they manage data, not the intrusive manner in which Claria currently uses their software. Claria has a new behavioral ad network, which would make me think MS is in the market to compete with contexual advertising, or behavioral advertising actually, which would offer up the same thing as Adsense but more targeted.
Then again that may not be the case, just an assumption.
But of course it is M$ so the great “evil” must be out to do something horrible!