<a href="http://www.pronetworks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=53189"><img src="http://www.pronetworks.org/main/images/2005/reviewsawards/ChairmansChoice.jpg" border="0" align="right"></a>Microsoft Anti-Spyware Beta
Today, there are all kinds of threats lurking around out there on the world wide web just waiting to infect anyone's computer. Spyware has become a fact of life anymore and it takes a true Windows guru to avoid it. Luckily, there is a solution to help keep computers free of all the nasty programs out there that take over a computer and track anything and everything. Microsoft's Anti-Spyware Beta, built off of GIANT software's anti-spyware program, aids in the removal of spyware from the user's computer and even has advanced tools to help restore Internet Explorer back to normal if something takes over the browser.
After installing the program, a nice quick setup screen that will take users through most of the basic steps in cleaning the user's computer.
This will go through the update process to download the latest updates for the spyware detection database in the program so that it can find the latest threats to appear that may be on the user's computer. To help keep computers spyware free after the scan, they have included a real-time protection feature that runs in the background. It silently watches for suspicious programs so that nothing installs that is unwanted. Another useful feature that has been included and can be setup in the initial wizard is the SpyNet community. By joining, the program will send what was found and then removed to SpyNet where they can see what was removed and why. This helps them keep the definition database up to date so that fewer products can get past the program. The final step in the wizard is an initial scan, to quickly find any threats that are currently on the user's computer.
Microsoft has taken a few very good steps to make a good program to remove spyware and adware from computers. The automatic updates feature that is available ensures that the latest definitions are being used for the scan so that nothing new is missed. The automatic updates portion of the program is also customizable so that it can be set to update when the computer or internet connection is not in use.
The real time protection that is offered for free is also a major benefit. With many of the current anti-spyware programs, the real time scanning agent is only available if the program is payed for. The real time scanner combined with automatic updates is very good as it prevents most of the spyware from ever being installed by notifying the user about any suspicious activities that may be going on in the background without the user knowing, and with the automatic updates, it prevents even the most recent threats from doing any major damage.
Another great feature is the option for either a quick scan to go through all the common spyware infested locations on the computer, or the full scan option, which looks at every little file and even within archives. This gives the user the ability to get rid of the common things quickly, then go back later and scan everything to get rid of any little bits that my still be floating around within Windows. Along with the scan options, Microsoft's Anti-Spyware Beta can remember scan options so that it always runs a full system scan or a quick scan, then set it to run and scan the user's computer at any time during the day or week. This scheduling feature, much like that of the automatic updates, is meant to help keep the user's computer secure by checking for anything bad when the computer is being used the least.
Along with all of these features, Microsoft's Anti-Spyware Beta also has a lot of advanced settings to help out the end user. The most useful of these is the Browser Hijack Restore, which will allow the internet settings and default pages to be reset after spyware has ruined all of the normal settings. This prevents spyware from coming back by changing the homepage or search page to something not run by a spyware installing company or site. The System Explorers tool is also very useful. It gives the user a list of different settings that can be changed in Internet Explorer to help make it more secure. There are also options for removing any suspicious plugins and helper objects not identified as malware by the manual or automatic scans.
With all of these good features, one would think that this program is perfect for everyone and good enough to replace the thousands of other spyware programs that are out there. While the program is very good at finding things that are bad for the system, there is one part of the program that may turn a few heads. The SpyNet Community, which is aimed to help detect more spyware and determine what should be done with spyware that is found, may cause security concerns for users. SpyNet collects information after completing a scan, then requests that it be sent to the SpyNet Community so they can adapt new detection definitions to capture new spyware. Where this may cause concerns is in the fact that people may not trust information of what was found being sent off to an unknown person. While it doesn't send anything personal about the user(s), the pop-up with SpyNet in it may seem like adware itself and something meant to spy on its users.
Also, users shouldn't get rid of their current favorite spyware/adware removing program. While Microsoft's Anti-Spyware Beta does a very good job compared to what is currently available, but like all the others it out there, it doesn't catch everything. With new spyware being thought up and distributed everyday, it is hard for people to constantly update what is considered spyware and what isn't, so it is likely that any current programs will find malware that Microsoft's product won't and the other way around.
The utility is also a late-comer to the anti-spyware party. Although it still does a good job, things such as Lavasoft's Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy have been out for over a year before Microsoft introduced the Anti-Spyware Beta. Many of its tools have been adapted from all the programs that are currently out there, and chances are that at least two or three of them are available in another program. In a world full of popups and other things that detract from the online experience, it's nice to have another good product to keep all of the junk that is on the internet away.
Overall, Microsoft has a very good program in development. Even though it hasn't been around as long as some of the other major players in spyware detection and removal, it does just as good. While some may be concerned about information about the scan being transmitted to SpyNet, this problem is easily remedied by turning off the SpyNet Community option. With automatic updates, it keeps users safe from even the latest threats and the real-time protection keeps users safe by preventing spyware from even installing. With all of the options and utilities that come with this program for free, it makes it worth while to have as many other similar products charge for the same functionality. Its ease of use, even for the beginner make it a great program, and the extra tools will help get rid of the toughest spyware and help keep Internet Explorer and the whole system safe from a world full of malware.
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Anti-Spyware Homepage
It took a few weeks to do due to school, but i feel that it should give people a good idea of what the program is like and what it has to offer. as long as it stays free, which it likely will from what i've read, it will be a very popular program.
