Topic: Security

Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta): a first look

Summary: Following its December purchase of anti-spyware specialist Giant, Microsoft has produced a tool designed to protect Windows against spyware. We take a first look at the beta version.

By Kai Schmerer | January 11, 2005 -- 13:10 GMT (05:10 PST)

A major plank of Microsoft's corporate strategy has always been to buy products from its competitors, rather than pour resources into home-grown developments. Famously, back in 1980, when IBM was seeking an operating system for its PCs, Microsoft bought q-DOS (a.k.a 'Quick and Dirty Operating System') from developer Tim Paterson for $50,000 and called it MS-DOS. As we all know, MS-DOS licenses subsequently earned Microsoft billions.

With the purchase of anti-spyware specialist Giant in December 2004, Microsoft obtained the basis for its AntiSpyware product, which has now appeared in beta form. There are plenty of other anti-spyware programs available: the most popular, Ad-Aware, is available in a free version, although others are paid-for products. Life could become more difficult for the latter if the final version of Microsoft's tool becomes available for free.

On starting, Microsoft AntiSpyware automatically delivers the latest status report.

Microsoft AntiSpyware recognises more suspicious programs than, for example, Ad-Aware or Spy Sweeper. However file sharing programs such as eDonkey2000 are falsely classified as Adware Bundler.

The About screen shows that the current beta version expires on 31 July 2005. In the licence conditions, Microsoft also limits the life of the utility up to the completion of a commercial version.

The System Diagnostic Report shows the current status of Microsoft AntiSpyware. The current version of the utility and the operating system is also shown.

The Advanced Tools screen offers extra functionality.

The Security Agents Status screen gives detailed information about the selected agents.

Topics: Security, Reviews, Software

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12 comments

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After installing this program on our WinXP Pro (SP2) machines it no longer allows the launch of our Java applications.

Microsoft has not changed, it appears they are still looking for sneaky ways to kill off competing technology.

anonymous
11 January, 2005 18:33

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We have this installed on approx 100 test machines. None of them lost Java functionality.

Sounds like the anti-ms crowd continues it's tradition of FUD

anonymous
11 January, 2005 19:45

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Regarding a Java app not working after installing this, I have two comments:

1. So far, Microsoft has made barely any changes to the program since buying it from Giant -- mostly just putting the Microsoft name on it.

2. The software is in beta. The whole purpose of beta is to have these types of issues found and resolved. Have you contacted Microsoft so they can investigate this?

anonymous
12 January, 2005 04:40

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i am not very computer literate, but rely heavily on my pc, i had adaware installed but still somehow managed to get a trojan on my system. The only spyware that actually worked to clear this out of my was the ms antispyware. I really dont care who produces the product, i just want something that actually works, and this does.

anonymous
5 February, 2005 12:24

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I have used this so called anti spyware product since it came out

Take it from me its just like all the rest of Bill gates products, IT Dont Work

anonymous
18 February, 2005 18:15

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I am afraid that the person with the Java problems is on heroin and needs to find someone to fix his PC mess. I have installed this prog on several PCs and Jave works great.

anonymous
20 February, 2005 17:55

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Installed ms-antispyware today (25/02/05). It has already found spyware that ad-aware and spybot has failed to find and does not seem to affect any other software installed on my pc.

anonymous
25 February, 2005 17:42

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I installed ms-AntiSpyWare weeks ago and I find it was one of the better ones that have used.Although i'm not very Pc literate i also found it easy to use and understand.

anonymous
26 February, 2005 16:48

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I happen to come upon this website after looking for a solution for my problem with Java. The problem started after the installation Microsoft AntiSpyware. I read the comments and think that all of these "computer technicians" that are saying that this is all made up are really ignorant and dim-witted.

anonymous
6 April, 2005 01:20

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Just to let everyone know. I am not against Microsoft, at all. As a matter of fact I don't know what I'd do without it. Microsoft is great but this does bother me as I have NEVER had any trouble with Microsoft in the past. I only which there was someone who would help me keep both Java and Microsoft.

anonymous
6 April, 2005 01:26

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I've tried to use the program and have been getting a Runtime message that shuts down my computer with a C:000021a Fatatl System Error message. I noticed though that is has picked-up more adware and virus than some other progams I've ran in trying to clean up my computer

anonymous
19 April, 2005 14:51

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It would appear that Mr Leslie Pasque is suffering from a rather insidious virus himself - it's called Antimicrosoftatanycost.
While I have issues with Microsoft on some of their software functionality it is important that each product should be judged on it's own merits, or failures, and not on blind prejudice and ignorance.
My own experience of MS AntiSpyware, so far, is that it performs well compared against Ad-Aware SE (which I have previously used) and has a slightly better user interface. So far I have no grounds for complaint.

anonymous
17 May, 2005 08:06

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