Free Microsoft AntiSpyware Software!

[_=DeltaForce=_]

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/default.mspx

If you want to download it using the Microsoft's website, you have to validate your windows... " This download is available to customers running genuine Microsoft Windows. Please click Continue to begin Windows validation "

Here is the Direct Link if you dont wish to :) (http://www.file-mirrors.info/listoffiles/MicrosoftAntiSpywareInstall.exe)

It looks user friendly and actually it did detect some spywares that Adware and spybot didnt detect.. GIve it a shot and Post your feedback...

[erina]

I just tried it out, for a microsoft product I'm impressed. It found 6 spyware components, mostly associated with internet explorer, that spybot and adaware failed to detect. Since I use firefox I didnt notice any pop ups, but I'm glad to be rid of extra spyware. I didnt enable the real time protection, so I cannot comment on that. The interface is nice looking too. Worth a download in my opinion.

[zippyjuan]

http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83051



Last Updated: Thursday, 6 January, 2005, 14:05 GMT From the BBC
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Microsoft debuts security tools

Microsoft is keen to do a better job of protecting PCs
Microsoft is releasing tools that clean up PCs harbouring viruses and spyware.
The virus-fighting program will be updated monthly and is a precursor to Microsoft releasing dedicated anti-virus software.

Also being released is a software utility that will help users find and remove any spyware on their home computer.

Although initially free it is thought that soon Microsoft will be charging users for the anti-spyware tool.

Paid protection

The anti-spyware tool is available now and the anti-virus utility is expected to be available later this month.

Microsoft's Windows operating system has long been a favourite of people who write computer viruses because it is so ubiquitous and has many loopholes that can be exploited.

It has proved such a tempting target that there are now thought to be more than 100,000 viruses and other malicious programs in existence. Latest research suggests that new variants of viruses are being cranked out at a rate of up to 200 per week.

Spyware is surreptitious software that sneaks on to home computers, often without users' knowledge. In its most benign form it just bombards users with pop-up adverts or hijacks web browser settings.

The most malicious forms steal confidential information or log every keystroke that users make.

Surveys have shown that most PCs are infested with spyware.

Research by technology firms Earthlink and Webroot revealed that 90% of Windows machine have the malicious software on board and, on average, each one harbours 28 separate spyware programs.

Before now Microsoft has left the market for PC security software to specialist firms such as Symantec, McAfee, Trend Micro and many others.

It said that its virus cleaning program would not stop machines being infected nor remove the need for other anti-virus programs.

On spyware freely available programs such as Ad-Aware and Spybot have become widely used by people keen to keep the latest variants at bay.

Microsoft's two security tools have emerged as a result of acquisitions the company has made over the last two years.

In 2003 it bought Romanian firm GeCAD Software to get hold of its anti-virus technology. In December 2004 it bought New York-based anti-spyware firm Giant Company Software.

Last year Microsoft also released the SP2 upgrade for Windows XP that closed many security loopholes in the software and made it easier for people to manage their anti-virus and firewall programs.

[kevs]

I used it and it found like 6 spyware that Ad-Aware didn't find.

My question is how come it appears to scan less files than my Ad-Aware scan? I ran full computer scans for both...

[wung]

I used it and it found like 6 spyware that Ad-Aware didn't find.

My question is how come it appears to scan less files than my Ad-Aware scan? I ran full computer scans for both...

yeah, i noticed the same thing, but the scheduled system test (around 2am) seemed to have scanned all the files . . . just because it took a long time.

[zippyjuan]

For me the WIndows scan takes longer than the AdAware scan does. If you watch it, you can see all the files it is scanning. I think that after the first scan it only fully scans a file if it detects any changes made to it so it skips them otherwise. Spybot is doing real-time blocking for me so I disabled it on the Microsoft one but it still launches at start-up and shows up in my tray so I close it down from there again.

[smthayer]

For me the WIndows scan takes longer than the AdAware scan does. If you watch it, you can see all the files it is scanning. I think that after the first scan it only fully scans a file if it detects any changes made to it so it skips them otherwise. Spybot is doing real-time blocking for me so I disabled it on the Microsoft one but it still launches at start-up and shows up in my tray so I close it down from there again.


Can you disable it from starting up, does it show up in the startup menu, or start up tab under msconfig?

[zippyjuan]

I haven't used msconfig to try to take it out yet but that might be a good idea. I just want to use it for occasional scanning, not constant monitoring- I already have enough programs doing that- Spybot blocking, pop-up blockers from my internet service and Windows SP2, antivirus, firewall. For now I just click on it and "Close Application".

[luddeluring]

eeehh ??

This is Giant Antispyware ! i have been using that for quite some time now, i guess microsoft bought the rights or something for this prog, oh well, it works pretty good :)

[tenor]

eeehh ??

This is Giant Antispyware ! i have been using that for quite some time now, i guess microsoft bought the rights or something for this prog, oh well, it works pretty good :)

Microsoft bought Giant.

[brainsmile]

nice proggie

[olerox]

I have to give this MS program a 'thumbs-up' too. It caught some things SpyBot and Ad-Aware missed for me also.

Thanks DeltaForce! :)

[bbrian]

'thumbs-up' here too.. the 'advanced tools' are nice too. No other app will show you all the BHO's (browser helper objects) and/or IE installed activeX controls. It will also show all apps that have hooks into the winsock stack. If you have spyware/trojans you should be able to find it with this app, even if the app doesn't currently detect it.

[mechmike0034]

No other app will show you all the BHO's (browser helper objects) and/or IE installed activeX controls.

Doesn't Spybot do this (in Advanced mode)? If my memory serves correctly, it does, but I also remember the interface as being a little unclear. The MS app certainly provides more detail.

[bbrian]

Doesn't Spybot do this (in Advanced mode)?Sure enough, however even under advanced it is disabled by default.

[gptraveler]

I went the other way. I downloaded and used the Microsoft program. It found 1 spyware. Cleared that, called for any updates, and ran it again. It found nothing as I had suspected. Then I ran AdAware. It found 20 data miners. UGH. What's with that? :throw:

[bbrian]

Data miners are usually just harmless cookies. There are tons of advertisement companies with cookies that qualify as 'data miners'. Until all the spyware apps are using a centralized 'data miner' catalog, they will always detect different sets of threats, although I wouldn't ever call a cookie a threat.

[gptraveler]

thanks for that info bbrian. I have always been nervous about everything that turns up. :shrug:

[qtboyzz]

For me the WIndows scan takes longer than the AdAware scan does. If you watch it, you can see all the files it is scanning. I think that after the first scan it only fully scans a file if it detects any changes made to it so it skips them otherwise. Spybot is doing real-time blocking for me so I disabled it on the Microsoft one but it still launches at start-up and shows up in my tray so I close it down from there again.
For all of you who have this problem,...you can fix it by going to Start->Run
then type "msconfig" and go to the last tab (I think it called start up or somein) and remove the check mark on the program so it wont run at start up...This is a good way to speed up your start up time too. That is my 2c
:stupid:

[mechmike0034]

Data miners are usually just harmless cookies. There are tons of advertisement companies with cookies that qualify as 'data miners'. Until all the spyware apps are using a centralized 'data miner' catalog, they will always detect different sets of threats, although I wouldn't ever call a cookie a threat.

And if these really bother you, open IE, go to Tools, Internet Options, Privacy Tab, click the Advanced button, put a check in the "Override automatic cookie handling" box, and select Accept First Party Cookies, Block Third Party Cookies (most of these are ad cookies anyway) and Always allow per-session cookies. Close out by selecting OK, Apply, and OK.


Javacool Spyware Blaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html) will also add a list of known sites to this policy to never accept cookies from. These sites are "the usual suspects" for malware.

[bbrian]

snip.. Good suggestion!

[gptraveler]

And if these really bother you, open IE, go to Tools, Internet Options, Privacy Tab, click the Advanced button, put a check in the "Override automatic cookie handling" box, and select Accept First Party Cookies, Block Third Party Cookies (most of these are ad cookies anyway) and Always allow per-session cookies. Close out by selecting OK, Apply, and OK.
I'll give that a try, thanks.

[x1337xD335C1P13x]

YAY stupid spyware is to die!