Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta not too Shabby

Microsoft has new Antispyware software beta to download for free on its web
site. There are plenty of anti-spyware apps out there, among the most popular
ones are Webroot Spysweeper, SpywareBlaster and Spybot Search & Destroy. I
have all of them installed on my computer, plus Norton Internet Security 2005
which picks up spyware. I run spyware scans atleast once a week. Each program
always picks up something that the others do not and none of them provide very
good real-time protection so I decided to try out Microsoft’s run at the
anti-spyware game.

First thing I took offense too when I went to the download page was a notice
that said "Validation recommended. This download is available to customers
running genuine
Microsoft Windows." These instructions suggest downloading a program
first which validates your OS to make sure it’s authentic before you download
the anti-spyware software. My OS isn’t pirated so I figured I might as well try
this validation for fun. Ofcourse it didn’t work. Why am I not suprised.
So
i downloaded and installed the Anti-spyware software and then scanned my system.
It picked up 13 spyware programs that none of the other anti-spyware programs
had picked up. Some of these spyware programs were high level threats. I’m
impressed that Microsoft’s program was able to pick up things that the others
couldn’t and at the same time I’m horrified that I had all this crud sitting in
my pc and didn’t know it. Aside from removing spyware, it also offers real-time
protection. I’ve only been using it for a day so I can’t say how effective it is
yet, but I am glad to have it, you can never have enough protection from spyware
it seems. I also liked the layout of the program, it’s very clear and easy to
use. It offers descriptions of the spyware as well as the specific level of a
threat that the spyware is. On one of my computers it picked up Kazaa and next
to it it read "Under Investigation." How Microsoft of them.

Being a beta tester for the big guy isn’t always the smartest thing
to do but so far there hasn’t been any hassle involved. However, if you are
going to try Microsoft Anti-Spyware on your computer, then when you get upto
setting up the software I suggest opting out of being apart of they anti-spyware
community. Something about that just doesn’t seem to kosher to me, and I assume
it’s probably another way Microsoft will use to keep tabs on you.