PC Training & Consulting Weblog

Free Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)

January 06, 2005

Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) Home

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.

Downloaded 6MB installer. Took 2 minutes to install. Ran default quick scan. Total scan time was 8 minutes (a "deep" scan took 25 minutes with the same results). One threat detected plus 47 registry keys. All related to Weatherbug, which I was not aware I had. A full Spy Sweeper system sweep took 31 minutes and did not flag any of this as suspicious. mjh

Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows: Microsoft Anti-Spyware Preview

In a Spywarewarrior.com product tests, Giant AntiSpyware came out on top, detecting 111 of 138 possible spyware installs, compared to just 79 for Ad-aware (second place) and 69 for Spybot (fourth place). None of those programs reported any false positives, though another popular product, Pest Patrol, suffered a whopping 10 false positives and found just 55 real spyware installs.

Effectiveness is obviously the most important aspect of any spyware solution, but I'm also a big fan of Giant's user interface, which is far nicer than that of Ad-aware or Spybot, and more Windows-like.

Neowin.net - Exclusive: Microsoft Anti-Spyware Beta Due 6th January

Check out our exclusive screenshots.