Download: Windows AntiSpyware (beta)

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Thanks to PanicButton for the heads up in BPN.

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.

The worldwide SpyNet™ community plays a key role in determining which suspicious programs are classified as spyware. Microsoft researchers quickly develop methods to counteract these threats, which are automatically downloaded to your PC, so you stay up-to-date.

The user must be an administrator to install this application. Current Giant AntiSpyware users with active subscriptions are advised to continue to use their existing software.

Download: Windows AntiSpyware

View: Neowin screenshots and coverage

This is BETA software, please use caution when installing it on your system!

Appologies for first version - 4AM Press Conferences are not good fun.

(3 replies) #1 BananaMan on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:33

Very nice! It's detected spyware that Ad-Aware and Spybot hadn't picked up on a scan I ran a few minutes ago.

#1.1 todbran on 07 Jan 2005 - 01:04

I had the exact opposite. Spybot S&D and Adaware found spyware that WinAntiSpyware missed. Already uninstalled it and am going to stick with what I already had.

#1.2 Goalie_CA on 07 Jan 2005 - 01:21

Stating the obvious but that's because its impossible for any 1 application to detect everything. It's also quite possible there are false positives.

#1.3 russshoe on 08 Jan 2005 - 11:09

[B]scheduler does not work

#2 eck0 on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:34

Yay I was waiting for this, w00t

(2 replies) #3 iron2000 on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:36

Will MS request this to be off soon?
If so anyone who want it better get it fast!

#3.1 eck0 on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:38

Why would they want to do that? its off their own site.. Its public enough..

#3.2 iron2000 on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:39

OK
should've clicked the link first..

(4 replies) #4 squirrel_vomit on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:39

Microsoft AntiSpyware Version: 1.0.501

This version expires on: 7/31/2005

#4.1 morgan99 on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:44

quess that means they are planing to charge for this sofeware at some point

#4.2 squirrel_vomit on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:50

Jasc does the same thing with their Paint Shop Pro betas.

#4.3 Fanon on 06 Jan 2005 - 15:45

Nothing new here. MS usually has an expiration date on their betas.

#4.4 Jugalator on 06 Jan 2005 - 16:30

Yup, this is common beta practices, not even restricted to Microsoft.

They don't want a ton of Windows users sitting on beta software when the final, or beta 2, is out.

It has nothing to do with commercial software, so far I have no reason to believe they're going to charge for it.

(1 reply) #5 nwBen on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:40

It's just a re-branded GIANT AntiSpyware, but I like it

#5.1 morgan99 on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:42

edit

(6 replies) #6 eck0 on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:45

Ran it on a box that is filled with spyware on purpose..

Looks like Microsoft forgot to change the name..

Ops microsoft..

edit: abit resource hoggy too

#6.1 westonb_2005 on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:55

Yea, NIS reported GIANT AntiSpywareUdater.exe wanted access to the internet

#6.2 Sn1p3t on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:57

Mine's not that high...

#6.3 FISKER_Q on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:03

I can see how performance would be a problem if your browser takes up 36% of the cpu

#6.4 eck0 on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:08

Finished the scan, it actually did a long, but good job, im impressed.

#6.5 _Dom_ on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:17

bargins.exe?? isnt that a spyware program

#6.6 cheesegoduk on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:34

yes, if you read what he wrote he said it tested it out on a box filled with spyware on purpose

(2 replies) #7 Storm™ on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:46

mmm how are realvnc and ed2k spyware?

#7.1 Sn1p3t on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:12

The bundles are.

#7.2 Arkos Reed on 06 Jan 2005 - 16:18

it does not react to the installer but to the installed application, which is valid and definitely NOT a spyware

(1 reply) #8 username on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:48

hey that verification thing worked with firefox

#8.1 alerosenfeld on 06 Jan 2005 - 18:10

Yeah, but it never remembers it, i have to do it everytime i download something from their site, thank god i download very little from there.

#9 jerry on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:48

Program is really nice, works well. Interface is really good too, never liked Spybot or other antispyware interface.

(3 replies) #10 FuhrerDarqueSyde on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:49

mmmm it says TightVNC is spyware

#10.1 squirrel_vomit on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:52

FlashGet is seen as Spyware.

#10.2 jerry on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:55

Probably installed Flashget demo first and registered it. Adware is bundled with Flashget.

#10.3 sullysnet on 06 Jan 2005 - 21:09

any of the VNC clients are reported as spyware. I guess it's for people if they don't use it and have it loaded without knoweledge this lets them know

I guess

#11 mdew on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:50

tightvnc and a registered copy of flashget are spyware? o_O

(1 reply) #12 supernova_00 on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:53

nice little program...and of course no spyware on my system since I last ran alike program about 10 months ago. Thank you firefox!

#12.1 morgan99 on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:11

None on my system either first time running anti spyware ever. thank you internet explorer

#13 username on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:53

no, i really want slimftp running, thanks anyways though

(1 reply) #14 axis on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:54

TightVNC, Flashget and Dameware were all detected as spyware. It looks good and cant wait for it to be built into Windows in the future, but better.

#14.1 FISKER_Q on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:12

Yeah stuff like WinPcap is also labeled spyware, and not with bad reason either. For some people they know what they use WinPcap for, but don't forget it could easily be used to sniff packets and relay to other persons.

But the severity rating is pretty good about those, "not considered spyware usually but could be-programs" where it has "Ignore" as default.

The same with the Gamespy ****.

Also anyone know where to report bugs? Found 2 minor bugs already. (One where it won't accept that it doesn't need IE closed to IGNORE the spyware threats

)

(2 replies) #15 Synthetic on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:55

Doesn't seem to be scanning cookies, anybody else getting that?

#15.1 gwheaton on 06 Jan 2005 - 14:26

Synthetic, See Post #45 below for More info on what worked in Giant and what was removed my MS

Cookie Detection and Removal. GIANT AntiSpyware detects and removes cookies from your computer. Because many Web sites require the use of cookies to enable a great user experience, Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) does not remove cookies.

#15.2 Synthetic on 06 Jan 2005 - 16:13

Ah I see now, thanks for clearing that up

#16 sfaizanh on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:55

Yeah i was waiting for this

#17 cjb1118 on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:56

Ooh, nice.

#18 AndyD on 06 Jan 2005 - 07:59

interesting...would they really do it this way if they weren't planning on giving it out for free? It would be a great move on their part that's for sure.

(3 replies) #19 thenay on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:01

Works great, only thing is it uses 20mb of ram, meh I got a 1GB

#19.1 Sandoval on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:10

20mb of ram!!

thats absurd!

not even a web browser uses that much

#19.2 eck0 on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:12

Lol yes it does, look at my screenshot above :p

#19.3 Jugalator on 06 Jan 2005 - 16:34

not even a web browser uses that much

Hm... At least Firefox, Opera, and IE does for me.

Well, OK, IE only used 18MB on the start page (Google), but got up to 22MB after going to Slashdot.

#20 brent3000 on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:04

did a scan and dident find anything new all that was good was fast scan... thge rest was all normal...

(2 replies) #21 nienor on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:08

It's M$....
Maybe it will detect all programs that he hates

#21.1 Sandoval on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:13

Firefox detected.... removing...
Opera detected..... removing...
AOL Instant Messenger detected..... removing...
ICQ detected.... removing....
Alternative media players detected.. not removing because of the EU but re-registering file types for windows media player 9...
OpenOffice detected..... removing...
GIMP detected.... removing... fetching Paint.NET... installing...
Crashing

Last edited by 88552 on 06 Jan 2005 - 16:44

#21.2 nienor on 06 Jan 2005 - 09:03

HAHA...
Funny

But.. well...
It detect in real eDonkey and Gnokster (from Shaeraza) and MsN+...

(3 replies) #22 TmasterT on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:11

wtf the link doesnt work

#22.1 eck0 on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:12

lol it got neowned

#22.2 AquaDex on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:13

yeah Microshaft removed the download

#22.3 SquareSoft0 on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:18

Wow, it did get taken down, currently making a suitable mirror.

#23 SquareSoft0 on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:14

Even if they made 0 mechanical changes to it doesn't change the fact that this is a nice piece of software.

#24 shadowdawg on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:17

if u have a prob downloading, keep on hittin the refresh, the servers are packed, ull get in sooner are later...

(1 reply) #25 FuhrerDarqueSyde on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:17

i would post the direct link but i doubt neowin/msft would like that. plus the original link has a windows validation check, so....

#25.1 SquareSoft0 on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:20

Validation is *optional*

(1 reply) #26 RanCorX2 on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:20

links down btw.

#26.1 wormeyman on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:28

I can confirm that the link is down any mirrors?

(1 reply) #27 SquareSoft0 on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:29

Edit: The upload didn't register, oh well.

#27.1 JZolloXP on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:30

Doesn't work!

(1 reply) #28 jafoman on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:33

Well think about it... If VNC got installed on someone's PC without them knowing, don't you think it's important for them to know? I think it's a good idea that this program report ANY remote access software installed.

This found an old NetSlayer RAT file that was from a backup folder from ages ago... Nothing else has found it.

BTW I downloaded this about 30 minutes ago... Not sure why people are reporting the link being down.

#28.1 Molgar on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:50

Well, they do report it because the link is down...

#29 sparkyx on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:36

Anyone else willing to host the install?

(2 replies) #30 apopilot on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:36

Spybot found DSO EXPLOIT and FASTCLICK. Why didn't Microsoft's catch this?

#30.1 Synthetic on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:46

I thought I heard from somewhere that the DSO exploit was fixed a while ago but Spybot Search and Destroy for some reason doesn't pick up on it.

#30.2 SureGuy on 06 Jan 2005 - 13:44

DSO Exploit is fixed in a MS patch, Spybot will continue to detect it though. As long as your PC is patched there is no need to worry about this.

(7 replies) #31 m4dp1x3l on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:37

Direct link to the download:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/1...wareInstall.exe

#31.1 larsonyo on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:38

thank you!

#31.2 sparkyx on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:41

Awsome

#31.3 RanCorX2 on 06 Jan 2005 - 09:10

thanks

#31.4 wormeyman on 06 Jan 2005 - 09:11

Much appreciation i mirrored it on my site i don't think it's against the TOS but i'm sure not linking to my mirror here.

#31.5 Stijn on 06 Jan 2005 - 10:22

thnx man!!

#31.6 NimrodUK on 06 Jan 2005 - 10:53

Thanks

#31.7 sin™ on 07 Jan 2005 - 00:44

Gracias!

#32 CiwirXP on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:43

I like it.

Better than Ad-Aware SE

#33 DJ Prem on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:52

nice

(4 replies) #34 Elite_graphix on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:52

does anyone know if they are going to keep thie prog free? or pay as you go service?

#34.1 shao on 06 Jan 2005 - 09:10

the latter

#34.2 wormeyman on 06 Jan 2005 - 09:13

I think there was going to be a free version and a service version. Microsoft could start by fixing their highly critical vulnerabilites that date as far back as 2003 in IE.

#34.3 canyonblue737 on 06 Jan 2005 - 15:26

MS isn't sure from what I am hearing but they are leaning toward releasing in late 2005 a subscription based service that combines this antispyware soultion with antivirus software in an all in one package. I think they are willing to do it for free but think they will get sued again for anti-trust violations but norton, mcafee and such.

#34.4 MegaManXcalibur on 06 Jan 2005 - 21:52

Actually the only way they could really get into trouble with the courts again is if they bundled this software with their operating system from what I understand.

(1 reply) #35 ramos96 on 06 Jan 2005 - 08:54

I can host the install file if someone would like to PM me. I have tons of bandwidth

#35.1 d_alex on 06 Jan 2005 - 09:39

Can you send me a link to the install file?
I can make a URL point to you

#36 bingham. on 06 Jan 2005 - 09:03

lets try this baby

#37 Fat Tony on 06 Jan 2005 - 09:09

The reviews on Microsoft Watch was very interesting indeed and I shall doawnload this later on when I finish work... Lets compare this with other SPYWARE software...

Has anybody used it yet...?

(4 replies) #38 net-cruizer on 06 Jan 2005 - 09:13

Any way to disable the splashscreen?
Also, any way to add an option for right clicking on a folder and have the program scan that folder? Like Ad-aware has.
But then again, if realtime scan is enabled, we shouldn't get any spyware, lol.

#38.1 hurricane on 06 Jan 2005 - 09:36

download link is dead for me

#38.2 Daninku on 06 Jan 2005 - 09:40

The download you requested is unavailable. If you continue to see this message when trying to access this download, you might try the "Search for a Download" area on the Download Center home page.

#38.3 Kushan on 06 Jan 2005 - 09:44

http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/1/5/815d2d60-49b5-44dc-ae35-fca2f2c6f0cc/MicrosoftAntiSpywareInstall.exe

#38.4 Daninku on 06 Jan 2005 - 09:50

Thanks, this works

#39 WebMotiva on 06 Jan 2005 - 09:41

Dead link here.

#40 leebobs on 06 Jan 2005 - 09:41

Yep Download is DEAD

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