MS Antispyware Beta

[syntax010]

Despite the massive number of new people who are flocking to the Beta of Microsoft's anti-spyware program.... I have some concerns. It seems that those concerns are justified. Before you fall all over yourself to proclaim the new MS(Microsoft) Anti-Spyware Beta as the holy grail of PC protection....you might want to give this a read.

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1836008,00.asp

This is a very informative article that covers exactly why the MS Anti-Spyware program is no longer one that you or I can trust. It even goes into some good detail as to exactly why we can no longer trust what was once a great product.

I have tested the MS Anti-Spyware Beta, and honestly, it's left me feeling more frustrated at the fall of a once great product, than anything else. The program blatantly disregards any customized user settings. Even if you tell it not to, it still shows pop-ups every single time that it allows something. That's right, every single time that it allows something to happen, a nice, informative, and annoying pop-up comes up to let you know what a good job the program is doing in allowing things to happen. I can possibly understand a pop-up, if user requested, when the program blocks something.....but a pop-up EVERY time that it allows something? That's completely ridiculous. It's also a feature that will cause many games that run in full screen to crash. For some reason, it also ignores user settings to not run a spyware scan of your files and folders whenever it suits the program's whim to do so. The so-called "Spynet" that you can subscribe to, supposedly for faster updates to newly found products.....is one that I don't trust as far as I could pick up and throw Bill Gates limo. Why? Because I do not trust the findings of untrained individuals, with no professional experience, to decide what is spyware and what is not.

Sadly it seems that the war with spyware, unlike the war against computer viruses, is a war that is being lost. Even the best rated commercial anti-spyware program will only detect about 50-60% of the spyware out there. Sadly, a lot of those programs are unable to even remove some of the spyware that they detect. Freeware alternatives aren't much help either. Even with Spybot Search and Destroy, Ad-Aware SE Personal, and Spyware Blaster combined, you still miss a lot, and I mean A LOT of spyware that is out there. Even with the latest definition files for each of those programs, you're still not fairing too well at finding, removing, or blocking spyware.

Is there a solution? It's hard to say. Part of the problem all comes down to the motive of any business......to make money. Why be in business if you aren't trying to earn a profit? Sadly, some companies will pursue profit by any means necessary. Does this include intentionally changing their spyware definition files to allow this product or that.....so the company can get a check from an advertising firm? It's scary to think of, but given the proof documented in the above link, it doesn't seem that far fetched.

I also feel that part of the problem has to do with how spyware and/or adware is classified. They are classified as an entirely different animal from a computer virus. You won't find Norton, McAfee, or any of the other anti-virus giants, intentionally allowing viruses onto your PC. Why? Because computer viruses, regardless of their intended function, are ALL blatantly harmful in one way or another. Adware is just a program for putting advertising in front of potential customers. Spyware is just a program that gathers "research" information on a user to better be able to create new programs tailored to their needs....right?

So then, what is the problem? Those don't sound too harmful. WRONG. Not only can spyware or adware cause all sorts of problems, but worse still they can lead to serious crimes such as identity theft. There is simply no justification whatsoever, for any company to resort to spying on people, and blatantly invading their privacy. Likewise, there is no justification for harassing people with unwanted advertising. The old line that a company can only allow you to try or use their product if you accept advertisements from their sponsors.....is completely and total bull. There are so many potentially areas that a company or individual can gain profit from a product....that there simply is no need whatsoever for harassing people with advertising or stealing their private information.

[+Warwagon MVC]

so basicly he doesn't like microsoft's or any other spyware remvoing application.

I think Spy Sweeper does a DAMN good job!

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

it's Microsoft, not M$, or MS, or Microshaft, or Micro****..

and that is totally bias.. hes just attacking microsoft

but a pop-up EVERY time that it allows something?

... ive been running Microsoft anti-spyware beta for a couple of months now.. since it first launched. and it only comes up ONCE (per program) and never comes up again... and you can disable that.

:no: this is bogus.. not worth reading

[digistil]

I'm more critical of Microsoft than I am of any other tech company, as they have an enormous advantage in developing Windows-based software. That said, I've been using their anti-spyware app since it's first public beta, and I think it's fantastic. I haven't looked into it's accuracy of detecting spyware, but from a UI standpoint, it's top-notch. It's very informative, and if anything, I think it makes the user more knowledgable in computer use.

[2xSilverKnight]

first of all it's not microsoft that are developing MS anti-spyware anyway ....

they support and fund it bit it's not beeing made by themselves.

[Veedems Veteran]

It hasn't ignored my settings. I have it set to not run unless I run it. I don't need it nor desire it to run in the background. It hasn't gone against my wishes at all. As for detection success, it found stuff ad-aware found and more.

[AltecXP]

it's Microsoft, not M$, or MS, or Microshaft, or Micro****..

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MS is even how Microsoft calls itself lol what do you think the MS in MSDN means?

[Hitman2000]

I love this prog it gets the job done well and i got spybot and nod32. Not a single virus or spyware has gotten into my pc. Plus most people oly get spyware when they click on things like " win a million dollars" etc..

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

MS is even how Microsoft calls itself lol  what do you think the MS in MSDN means?

586546105[/snapback]

when you spell it in a title, or in a paragraph.. you used Microsoft. you don't need to use abbreviations while writting on a forum... it literally takes, no more then 2 second for me to type "microsoft" why do you guys keep typing M$...

[C]

For me, Microsoft's it's the best antispyware, but you'd better use one or two more antispyware apps.

[JK1150]

yea about the "allowed alerts..."

but I guess that setting will be ignored so Microsoft can prove something to me, right?

This has to be a joke...

and just so you know, for the evil Micro$oft not to ignore your settings, you have to outsmart them by clicking "save" at the bottom.

[Ironman273]

Wow, talk about spreading FUD. And, yes, the M$ in the title clearly gives away the bias.

[McSmiggins]

Tbh, starting a debate with "M$" removes about half of the respect people will have for your point.

There's only one real solution to cleaning spyware/adware, a clean install and a bit of an education, spyware's always gonna be a problem for one simple fact, it's not completely illegal, write a virus, and you know it's illegal, write some of the stuff GAIN comes up with and you're in the money.

Yes, antispyware programs aren't there yet, but I'm a big believer that some of the free programs do a damn good job, (but then I'm biased cos I think Symantec's Let's-Take-Norton-And-Bolt-On-A-Few-Spyware-Definitions-And Bump-Up-The-Price is a bit of a joke), plus I've seen higher detection rates on free software than on most commercial stuff.

As for Spynet, it's edited by a lot of people who know what they're doing, no company in their right mind would just let the world's opinion of software be the only deciding factor.

Antispyware does a good job, always has, even when it was Giant, for me, the popup arguements a mute point, installed it, once it's settled it's fine, as for popping up during a game, what software are you running in the background.

[JK1150]

my only problem with Antispyware is that it does not seem be to anywhere close to the implementation that Windows Firewall has. I think that it needs to become less bloated and more like Windows Firewall where it is completely integrated and not a separate program (possible Service Pack 3?). Also, it mentions that it tells you to ignore Claria software, but you can change that to remove it, and at least it still detects it. For me, it's the best one out there, always has been even before MS bought it.

[Porp]

lmao. just hilarious. Microsoft Anti-Spyware does a good job.

And it's not "M$"

[ZZOOzzoo]

I think that it needs to become less bloated and more like Windows Firewall where it is completely integrated and not a separate program (possible Service Pack 3?).

586546154[/snapback]

The moment Microsoft does that, at least a dozen of lawsuit from Anti-Spyware software companies all over the world will be filed.

Also, while Microsoft didn't completely develop this software, the credit still should go to Microsoft for making it publicly available and easier to use. Afterall, we thank Google for Picasa.

[jimbo11883]

You also have to remember that GIANT AntiSpyware was written in Visual Basic. If Microsoft wants to do anything as far as OS integration, I'm sure they will integrate it in Vista, and hopefully rewrite it in C++, if not, C#/VB.Net.

[theMaxx]

Wow there sure is a lot of Microsoft spelling police in here! :ninja: . . . . . . . M$

[Slimy]

yawn this is pure bs. people will read it because it's so controversial, not because it makes any sense. it's a very good application and gets the job done. if you don't like the company, don't use their programs you fool.

[Max Veteran]

I love the way people complain about bugs in betas.

Personally, I think Microsoft AntiSpyware does a decent job. I don't have it running in the systray because I believe it to be a resource hog (I'm very picky with what loads up in my systray). But if ever a customer has a spyware/adware problem then on it goes.

[Herby]

^^^ Yep, but it aint bugs,.. lots of people are to lazy to have a good look in the settings.

About the $$$: If you owned the company, wouldn't you do the same thing?

+ Microsoft's service is quite good if you compare it to other software companies.

[syntax010]

My apologies if my opions of the Microsoft Anti-Spyware program seem a bit biased. I have been critical of Microsoft for a number of years now. Why? Because they have been proven repeatedly to behave in a manner quite contradictory to the bevaviour any respected company should behave.

If they are so respectable, then why did they force retailers to refuse to sell PCs that had anything other than Windows on them? Why did they blackmail them by saying that if they sold PCs with Linux, or carried any Apple computers, that they would refuse to allow them rights to sell any computer with Windows in their entire store?

If Microsoft cares so much for security, then why has one of their flagship products, Internet Explorer, been proven time and time again to be a black hole of endless security threats?

Likewise, as stated in the article I posted, if you take the time to read what the author wrote....why then have they decided to classify something that is obviously and blatantly SPYWARE as something that is no threat? Why have they decided to have their own program, designed to protect the privacy of Windows users, configured to ignore that program and leave it on their systems?

As far as Microsoft, yes they refer to themselves by the abbreviation MS....I just choose to use M$ instead as that it is more fitting to their quest of greed and power in the computer world.

Do I hate Microsoft? No. Do I have some overwhelming need for vengeance against them? No. Why am I so critical of them? They have a responsibility. By being the biggest dog in the yard, they have a responsibility to uphold themselves to a much higher standard than any other company. Especially since they have so often gone well out of their way, to squash what chances any other has had at even coming close to their level of near total ownership in the computer world.

Am I some patron saint for Linux? No. Linux is overall not ready for the home computer market for the average computer user. Am I a patron saint for Apple? No. Apple computers are far too expensive for the average computer user to even own one. That being said, I do find many good qualities to Windows, and to other software that Microsoft creates. However, as proven by the article I posted...their motives as of late seem to be suspect.

Do you really want to trust your privacy protection to a company that is already allowing one well documented spyware program to remain on your system, just because they have a vested interest in the company that creates it? How many other such programs might be on that 'ignore' list, that simply haven't been found or documented as of yet? Do you really want a massive systemwide infestation of CoolWebSearch, just because the company that produces that godawful program, offers to sell their advertising rights to Microsoft?

edit: As to game crashing, just try playing Guild Wars sometime with it enabled. I've had many a game either freeze up, or crash, just because one of the pop-up alerts of that program decided it needed to tell me something.

Edited September 21, 2005 by syntax010

[NightmarE D]

Even with the alerts on I've never seen it crash a game.

The guy obviously just hates Microsoft and for some reason felt he should rant about it here and obviously didn't test the Beta very well at all.

BTW...you sound like The Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons.

Worst thread EVER!!!!!

Very annoying when people rant about something then come back later to try and say why they said this and that and completey change what they said in the 1st place. You came back seeing that you were proven wrong and now you're saying "well if you had read this" STFU. Don't try to change what you said in the 1st post. You've made it obvious yuo hate Microsoft and you didn't really test Antispyware out like you say you did.

Thanks for the waste of a thread

Edited September 21, 2005 by halloween_david

[NightmarE D]

Sorry but I've played a lot of games on here and never seen it crash any of them and it was turned on.

If it bothers you soo damn much then why you even using it

[Berserk87]

the deal microsoft/ms/M$/micro**** made with Claria, a "research" company, moniters webhabits and such and then sells the info to make more user focus'd ads, but if microsoft is making a deal with them, then its probly going to be so that Microsoft gets the info, and can use it to improve apps and add features, its not getting paid off.

[SteMan]

I just ran SpyBot here in the office before I do anything and there is always at least 1 or 2 in the system. Also I run Ad-Aware which 9 times out of 10 scan clean, but on the odd occasion it finds at least 1 critical object.

So my query is that I thought MS AntiSpyware was supposed to detect and clean spyware before it even gets onto your machine?

:unsure: