Microsoft(r) Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)

Microsoft offers free security program

CNN Article

Microsoft (r) Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)

Microsofts Spyware Site

Microsoft Anti-Spyware Software Info

I downloaded and installed the beta this morning, and it is interesting. I have attached a couple of screen shots. For those familiar with Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D there are a lot of similarities.

I was curious what this tool would find on my machine after recently running both of the tools mentioned above. It found four additional items, as the screen shot will show.

Some points of interest:

1. When downloading the beta MS says they would like to offer this tool to "validated users of MS Windows" and asks if they can validate your OS. However, they do offer the option of saying no and still downloading the software. I said no thanks...

2. When installing they ask if you would like to join "Spy.net" or "Spyware.NET" which I suppose is a support group for people affected by
   spyware. 😉 Sure why not, if its like cloudmark's SpamNet, it might be cool. And its my work computer...

3. After the scan if threats are discovered, they are assigned a "threat level" which is something that the other tools don't do. I thought that was kind of cool.

4. One of the final steps after cleansing the machine of threats is to "restore IE settings" for browsers that have been hijacked. Another feature that is not available in the other tools I have used.

5. It also gives you a "create a restore point" option which is a good way to roll back your system if you had the SpyNet software remove something that causes your system or applications to break

6. In the advanced tools it goes through and investigates your startup files, registry settings, IE pluggins and more. The key thing I like is that it told me which of the executables in the start up process were known 'spy-free'. I submitted several of the ones it didn't know about to SpyNet, in hopes they get added as well.