Microsoft Anti-Spyware beta
Microsoft gets into the anti-spyware business
Thursday, January 6, 2005 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) is a security technology that helps protect Windows users from spyware and other potentially unwanted software. Known spyware on your PC can be detected and removed. This helps reduce negative effects caused by spyware including slow PC performance, annoying pop-up ads, unwanted changes to Internet settings, and unauthorized use of your private information. Continuous protection improves Internet browsing safety by guarding over 50 ways spyware can enter your PC.
The worldwide SpyNet™ community plays a key role in determining which suspicious programs are classified as spyware. Microsoft researchers quickly develop methods to counteract these threats, which are automatically downloaded to your PC, so you stay up-to-date.
The user must be an administrator to install this application. Current Giant AntiSpyware users with active subscriptions are advised to continue to use their existing software.
Hat tip: www.neowin.net
Kobrano
Reply #2 Thursday, January 6, 2005 8:56 PM
Reply #2 Thursday, January 6, 2005 8:56 PM
This is nothing more than a Re-Badge of Giant, which has been around for years, and Microsoft bought them a few weeks ago. Interesting enough, Microsofts deal didn't include the database, so they can't touch the updates for it unless they payoff another company.
Its bloatware, fairly effective for people that use IE, almost useless for Firefox users - and fairly substantial bloatware. Lots of false positives on this one, beware.
Spysweeper is much better and lighter. I got a free license to Giant awhile back from a guy I knew there, and wasn't impressed enough to use it - nor would I be more impressed if it was rebadged to Microsoft.
Its bloatware, fairly effective for people that use IE, almost useless for Firefox users - and fairly substantial bloatware. Lots of false positives on this one, beware.
Spysweeper is much better and lighter. I got a free license to Giant awhile back from a guy I knew there, and wasn't impressed enough to use it - nor would I be more impressed if it was rebadged to Microsoft.
Action_Jay
Reply #3 Thursday, January 6, 2005 9:09 PM
Reply #3 Thursday, January 6, 2005 9:09 PM
It's nice to see Microsoft making some sort of an effort in regards to the spyware debacle, considering it's their operating system all this crud is takign advantage of. They chose an effective existing product - Giant - and are going to offer it to their customers. This might be the same approach their new antivirus initiative ends up taking, too.
However power users feel about Giant, or Microsoft, this is still a good thing. More regular users will have a solution on hand, meaning the spyware has less room to propegate. If they end up offering it through Windows Update, hey, that could essentially kill the market for the time being.
However power users feel about Giant, or Microsoft, this is still a good thing. More regular users will have a solution on hand, meaning the spyware has less room to propegate. If they end up offering it through Windows Update, hey, that could essentially kill the market for the time being.
Essencay
Reply #4 Friday, January 7, 2005 1:48 AM
Reply #4 Friday, January 7, 2005 1:48 AM
Installed the beta. Pretty easy to configure. It didn't find anything, but my system is very clean. My other spyware scanner did find one item it classified as spyware that this didn't find....Microsoft's Passport cookie 
Chuckf1
Reply #6 Friday, January 7, 2005 2:22 PM
Reply #6 Friday, January 7, 2005 2:22 PM
Very interesting articles contributed by Citizen Kobrano 
Lantec
Reply #7 Friday, January 7, 2005 3:49 PM
Reply #7 Friday, January 7, 2005 3:49 PM
My own feeling is this is like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.
Alternate Setting
Reply #8 Monday, January 10, 2005 11:19 AM
I was thinking that it's more like trusting the people that built this leaky henhouse, with the roofing contract.
On the one hand I guess it's useful that they know where the holes are to be found - on the other, I'm too busy being ticked off that the holes are there, to thank them for applying the patches.
On the whole if I relied on IE, I think I'd rather they were promising to build me a new roof.
Reply #8 Monday, January 10, 2005 11:19 AM
| My own feeling is this is like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse. |
I was thinking that it's more like trusting the people that built this leaky henhouse, with the roofing contract.
On the one hand I guess it's useful that they know where the holes are to be found - on the other, I'm too busy being ticked off that the holes are there, to thank them for applying the patches.
On the whole if I relied on IE, I think I'd rather they were promising to build me a new roof.
Phoon
Reply #10 Tuesday, January 11, 2005 4:10 PM
Reply #10 Tuesday, January 11, 2005 4:10 PM
You know, I cant help but wonder..
If vandals (who have contracting experience ) knock holes in your roof ( by having contracting experience they know where the weak points are ), would you slam the contractor himself?
I still think linux and firefox are built very nicely, but they just aren't as popular "roofs" as Windows and IE, therefore the vandals just haven't gotten around to them as much yet. As I said in another thread, it is painfully obvious that as something gets more popular the vulnerabilities are exposed and thus attacked more frequently. I have never seen a "perfect" piece of software and I would wager nobody else has either.
If vandals (who have contracting experience ) knock holes in your roof ( by having contracting experience they know where the weak points are ), would you slam the contractor himself?
I still think linux and firefox are built very nicely, but they just aren't as popular "roofs" as Windows and IE, therefore the vandals just haven't gotten around to them as much yet. As I said in another thread, it is painfully obvious that as something gets more popular the vulnerabilities are exposed and thus attacked more frequently. I have never seen a "perfect" piece of software and I would wager nobody else has either.
Lantec
Reply #11 Tuesday, January 11, 2005 6:05 PM
Reply #11 Tuesday, January 11, 2005 6:05 PM
I once wrote a program to track bowling scores in basic. I think around 1982. BULLETPROOF, DOS 5 wasn't too bad either.LOL
Old_Crab
Reply #13 Wednesday, January 12, 2005 4:45 PM
Reply #13 Wednesday, January 12, 2005 4:45 PM
None catch all; however get the three best Spyware catchers and you'll rid yourself of most if not all the spooks. I've tried Adawrare, Spybot, and MS. All caught something the others didn't. 
Firedogs Ron Son Jose
Reply #14 Thursday, January 13, 2005 9:05 PM
Reply #14 Thursday, January 13, 2005 9:05 PM
It says that it expires on July 31st. Does anyone know if we will have to then purchase it, or what?
Essencay
Reply #15 Friday, January 14, 2005 2:43 AM
Reply #15 Friday, January 14, 2005 2:43 AM
It's still in beta and as far as I know MS hasn't said one way or another.
Chef Garry
Reply #16 Friday, January 14, 2005 4:28 PM
Reply #16 Friday, January 14, 2005 4:28 PM
funny thing about it. My kids have msn messenger installed and messenger plus. Antispyware identifies this as high level spyware and it's a MS program.
left hand knows not what the right hand is doing?
left hand knows not what the right hand is doing?
surfermaggie
Reply #18 Saturday, January 15, 2005 9:19 PM
Reply #18 Saturday, January 15, 2005 9:19 PM
I am using this product and so far it has been excellent. Some programs that are allegedly freeware have spyware embedded into them. This is the first product that has taken care of the problem and has successfully removed the spyware
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Reply #1 Thursday, January 6, 2005 8:37 PM