Microsoft Readies Second Anti-Spyware Beta

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Windows Defender Beta 2 will add support for Outlook, a new interface, and automated updates to the spyware definitions and scanning engine. Where Beta 1 has been available only for Windows XP, Beta 2 will run on other Windows versions.

Windows Defender, Microsoft's free anti-spyware program that's been in beta for more than a year, will shift into its second round of testing in the next two months, developers for the Redmond, Wash. company said recently in an online chat. Defender is the new brand name for what Microsoft still calls Windows AntiSpyware, the add-on that's been in Beta 1 since it debuted more than a year ago. Beta 1 only works in Windows XP.

Windows Defender Beta 2, on the other hand, will be available for Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Vista, with additional editions for earlier Windows posted at some undisclosed future date. It will be included with both the client and server versions of Vista, Microsoft's next operating system, which is to unveil late in 2006.

News source: InformationWeek

#1 Bamsebjørn on 27 Jan 2006 - 19:09

Nice...

#2 Xabora on 27 Jan 2006 - 19:15

sweet, beta 1 was good... 2 should obviously be better.

#3 Ficman on 27 Jan 2006 - 19:17

I feel safer already....

#4 denzilla on 27 Jan 2006 - 19:43

Great so can anyone give a ballpark estimate as to when beta 2 will be released?

#5 Andy13 on 27 Jan 2006 - 19:52

Finally! Microsoft rocks for doing this for older versions of Windows. YAY!

(6 replies) #6 madnuke on 27 Jan 2006 - 19:55

So will they make us pay for it in the end?

#6.1 Croquant on 27 Jan 2006 - 20:38

I'm sure they want to, but I don't think they will force people to buy it. I could be wrong, though.

#6.2 NetRyder on 27 Jan 2006 - 21:07

No, this will remain free.

#6.3 diablofan666 on 27 Jan 2006 - 23:59

No, unless you get a corperate version of it then it will cost you money, but the single user one will be free forever

#6.4 RevitXman on 28 Jan 2006 - 00:36

Yes, if you pass validation

Awsome, WSUS support!

#6.5 theyarecomingforyou on 29 Jan 2006 - 15:21

"Yes, if you pass validation"

If you don't pass validation then you don't own Windows.

#6.6 Darkinspiration on 31 Jan 2006 - 04:24

correction validation only prouves that you key is registered with microsoft database. Not that you own windows.

#7 hajj_3 on 27 Jan 2006 - 19:56

hope they release it soon, wish we had a date.

(1 reply) #8 bryce_56 on 27 Jan 2006 - 20:08

I hope that it will support XP 64

#8.1 Radium on 27 Jan 2006 - 20:45

Code that's written properly can be compiled for ANSI, Unicode and 64-bit versions of Windows.
64-bit will replace 32-bit, why would they not make it work for 64-bit Windows?

#9 Angel Blue01 on 27 Jan 2006 - 20:17

When will final come out?

(1 reply) #10 willvg on 27 Jan 2006 - 20:28

Beta 1 already works on Windows 2000

#10.1 timmmay on 27 Jan 2006 - 21:04

yeah we're using it on about 10 computers here at work, all windows 2000

#11 Octol on 27 Jan 2006 - 20:42

Been using B1 on WS2003 Standard and Enterprise since it was first released.

Good thing I didn't know it wouldn't work on them!

(1 reply) #12 strekship on 27 Jan 2006 - 20:58

Thats odd. I have used B1 on Win2k.

#12.1 tony1979 on 27 Jan 2006 - 21:04

Reaserch is a wonderfull thing, Gregg (from InformationWeek)
should have checked the ms website for the system requirments.
it works on win2k, and server 2k3 aswell.
thats personal experience as well...

#13 osirisX on 27 Jan 2006 - 21:58

It's a great app. Can't wait to try Beta 2.

(2 replies) #14 rIaHc3 on 27 Jan 2006 - 22:37

Beta 1 is great...I bet Beta 2 will be amazing. Honestly.

#14.1 Jugalator on 28 Jan 2006 - 00:05

Sorry if I'm sounding pessimistic, but what exactly about an (in beta 2) auto-updating anti-spyware tool that runs on more than XP and works with a mail client makes it amazing? Or are you thinking of / betting on something else? Because these new features in beta 2 have sure been done lots of times before.

#14.2 excalpius on 28 Jan 2006 - 00:49

It's the best in class application and it's FREE. A win-win for everyone.

(1 reply) #15 g_denne on 28 Jan 2006 - 03:19

What on earth took them so long for this product? A year in Beta!? Anyone would think they had one programmer working on this thing. Hell, I think even one programmer could've gotten this out in less than a year. The product was already there...GIANT. How hard was it to re-label it to MS Anti-Spyware?

Shows they don't give a toss about trying to make their products more secure. They'd rather make Ultimate Editions of Vista with themes and games and pinball crap and charge the earth for it.

#15.1 osirisX on 28 Jan 2006 - 05:31

Does it truely matter? It was fine as Beta 1 and the only real thing that will be different in Beta 2 is UI, name and an extra feature.

#16 MajinDark on 28 Jan 2006 - 08:02

One thing that's puzzling me. In order to DL Windows Defender from MS.com, you need to pass the WGA check, but Win2K only needed a serial to be installed, so how will WGA work for that?

#17 leesmithg on 28 Jan 2006 - 09:06

Supprised beta testing has gone on for so long.

#18 McCrap on 28 Jan 2006 - 13:45

Microsoft won't ship the final build for xp & other OS's until Vista comes out. The same goes for IE7 & Windows OneCare.

#19 digitalslacker on 28 Jan 2006 - 15:42

MS antispyware ran on windows 200 too didn't it?
not just XP

#20 j0j081 on 28 Jan 2006 - 16:43

FYI MS Anti-Spyware already works great on Windows XP x64 Edition. I know someone commented about it.

(2 replies) #21 Stunna on 29 Jan 2006 - 03:48

How does the WGA work?
I know people that have invaild cd keys and are still able to download updates.
Are there certain updates that are downloadable without WGA, or did they find a way around WGA?

#21.1 WindowsNT on 29 Jan 2006 - 11:33

people that directly link to the EXE helps others bypass WGA, should not be allowed here.

#21.2 WDGC on 29 Jan 2006 - 21:11

Not all downloads require WGA - don't know how MS differentiates.

For example, Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package (x86) download doesn't require WGA

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...&DisplayLang=en

#22 Hills420 on 29 Jan 2006 - 17:07

this app has been in beta for a long time, when is the final coming out??

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