Microsoft Anti-spyware Beta Extended.

[Poppa_Meth]

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=321cd7a2-6a57-4c57-a8bd-dbf62...displaylang=en

Microsoft has extended the Beta license of their Anti-Spyware software to December 31st, 2005 for those interested.

Beta 1 Versions
Since releasing Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) on January 6, 2005 (Build 1.0.501), we have continued to receive feedback from customers. We introduced a first beta refresh on February 16, 2005 (Build 1.0.509) which enhanced some of the real-time protection agents, added new threat categories, and improved stability and performance.

In this second beta refresh (Build 1.0.614), we’ve made other enhancements to the detection and removal capabilities, including improved Winsock LSP removal capabilities and support for long descriptions of categorized software. In addition, we have also extended the Windows AntiSpyware beta expiration date to December 31, 2005.

Existing users of the beta (Builds 1.0.501 and 1.0.509) will receive a software update that extends the expiration date and includes the enhancements to the detection and removal capabilities. The second beta refresh is also available for download through this site.

[AlecWest]

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=321cd7a2-6a57-4c57-a8bd-dbf62...displaylang=en

Microsoft has extended the Beta license of their Anti-Spyware software to December 31st, 2005 for those interested.

When I partitioned my main hard drive with Win98SE on one part and XP on the other, and noticed how often XP (and software under XP) attempts to "phone home," I came to the opinion that the worst possible spyware on my computer was XP itself.

[mbellot]

I came to the opinion that the worst possible spyware on my computer was XP itself.

You are not the first, nor the last to come to that conclusion.

[CuCuy]

This is actually good news. MS Antispyware is a good little app. It often finds stuff not picked up by Adaware or Spybot. That's why I use all three on a weekly basis.

[guns1inger]

It is a pretty good app. However, if you use firefox you render more than half of it's protection points redundant as they only apply to IE.

[JohnnyCNote]

Mine automatically updated itself to a new version the other day. So far I have no complaints with it....

[Poppa_Meth]

My mother's PC auto-updated it but mine has never prompted. Even when I manually prompt it to update through the software it won't do it. I updated it fine with the standalone installer though. Go figure.

[waheed]

It is a pretty good app. However, if you use firefox you render more than half of it's protection points redundant as they only apply to IE.

Well afterall, IE is by microsoft. Guess I'll give it a try, even though I mainly use Firefox.

[Nilfennasion]

Or you could just install decent firewall software (McAfee's works well for me) and prevent the spyware getting on your computer in the first place. The fact that Microsoft ship their programs set by default to allow this garbage in through a variety of holes demonstrates how much of an impediment they really can be.

[AlecWest]

The Spybot people recommend users to install SpywareBlaster software ... which is supposed to stop a lot of spyware from getting on your computer in the first place. Not sure how well it works, though, since every time I run AdAware and Spybot, I seem to always find "something." Mostly tracking cookies, though.

[churchie04]

I use MS Antispyware and the default windows Firewall and have never had a spyware problem. Spyware becomes a problem in the form of Ebkac.

AKA - Error between keyboard and chair.

[waheed]

I am currently using Ad-watch as part of Ad-aware to block any spyware, as well as running spybot from time to time. I guess an additional Anti-spyware app from microsoft would only be further beneficial.

There surely cant be such a thing as too much protection

[BJ_M]

The really ironic thing is that Microsoft is in the process of buying the largest spyware company around , claris (also known as gator) ...

now that is a weird thing if you think about it .

news release in off topic section

[Poppa_Meth]

I'm running Spybot, Ad-aware, MS Anti-Spyware, Spyware Blaster, AVG Free, Kerio Personal Firewall, and a hardware firewall. I've had only minor results in the past on spyware and since adding the hardware firewall I've had a clean scan of all but cookies and MRU lists in ad-aware. An occasional trojan still slips through though, always via Java.

[BJ_M]

"A week after word leaked out that Microsoft was negotiating an acquisition deal with Claria , spyware researchers have noticed that the Windows antispyware application has downgraded Claria's Gator detections and changed the recommended action from 'quarantine' to 'ignore.' Screenshots of the new default settings below."

What this means is that while Microsoft Antispyware will still find Claria adware, in most cases, it will have a recommended action of “Ignore” (versus “Quarantine” or “Remove”). I'm not talking cookies, I'm talking the actual adware programs.

http://sunbeltblog.blogspot.com/2005/07/microsoft-sets-claria-to-ignore.html

[BJ_M]

If this indeed checks out, Microsoft Antispyware will be removed from our regional ISP's recommendation list by the end of the day. Our customer care people presently recommend it as the first tool for spyware infections due to its previous effectiveness in identifying items that several other no-fee tools did not.

Software that intentionally misleads users regarding the actual risk of unauthorized application behavior is malware, regardless of the vendor or intent.

[shelbyGT]

Nice catch on the Claria/Adaware correlation. That's just sneaky by MS. But, on the other hand, makes business sense. I use adaware and spyboy very randomly, and the only thing they ever find is cookies. So, I'm not too worried about spyware, seems I'm doing enough.