Intro:

    While no doubt many of you would agree, when Microsoft fails to innovate, they imitate, and call it their own. Or, in other instances, they use their tremendous monopoly of market power and money, to buy the competitors, and then, call it their own. I guess you could say consumers win in the end though really? Regardless, don't let the tone of this intro form your opinion of what this article will comprise of. I'll be showing you a closer look at the "New" (Heckle) Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta in graphical form, and why you should pay attention to this perhaps. In all honesty, you know I just had to get my M$ spiel out early on. So continue on please...


Back Story:

    December 16, 2004, Microsoft announces its acquisition of Giant Company Software Inc., which is security and privacy related firm, and has made a successful adventure into AntiSpyware with its "Giant AntiSpyware" program. December 17th, 2004. Code rights stir some trouble from eWeek. Another good Forbes article on Microsoft's apparently more reactive stance. Ok, I made up the reactive, but as you know, it's far too late for most proactive results now isn't it? IE is so full of holes, something had to be done right?


Minimum system requirements for Windows AntiSpyware (Beta):

   • Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
   • A 300 MHz or faster processor with at least 64 MB of RAM
   • Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server™ 2003
   • At least 10 MB of available free space on your hard disk
   • Internet access with at least a 28.8 Kbps connection to use SpyNet™

    Yes indeed, Windows 9x cores are NOT supported. It was before, until M$ made it their own however.


The install:

    After downloading the 6.3 meg AntiSpyware Beta here, from Microsoft, or better yet, without all that "Genuine Windows crap" here at MajorGeeks, I well, clicked on that bad boy to install it. Being seasoned as a Spyware remover already, I wasn't sure what to expect. I of course have used Ad-Aware, Spybot Search and Destroy, CWShredder, HighjackThis, Spyware Doctor, Pest Patrol, and countless others in the past to combat the multitude of Spyware, Malware, Trojans, and so on. Armed with my common sense attitude, that any PC tech needs, I went ahead on the install.

 
   Installing it was no big hassle, and went fairly quick until it needed my input...

    After the initial install comes the configuration. It is three steps, but in all actuality, is a bit more than that. But I'll touch on that, because that comes in when you do a scan.

    After the initial configure, you have a choice of running a scan now, or running a scan later. For the sake of trying to do everything in conceptual order, I chose to run a scan later. I'd recommend doing a scan immediately after install mostly. Being connected to the net though, your AntiSpyware should automatically update, and of course that would be the best time to run a scan.

The main screens:

    There are primarily 3 main screens in M$'s AntiSpyware program. There is the main/run scan screen, the real-time protection information screen, and advanced tools configuration.  The real-time protection screen summarizes 3 main types of blocks for spyware. It basically boils down to your network connections "Internet Agents," yes, dial up included, "System Agents," which prevent changes to your OS, and lastly, "Application Agents," which would entail running programs, ActiveX controls, software installed already, and so on. AntiSpyware creates snapshots, so you can theoretically restore something to an earlier point if you get an infection of some sort.

Advanced/various settings:

    Above is the advanced tools screen, in case you missed it. I'll go into a bit more detail on just a few of the things you can configure and edit now. I would recommend though changing advanced settings only if you sort of know what you are doing. I'll just let the pictures do the real talking. Not too much to note, except for a few unknowns in the ActiveX section that should be known. Also, in picture 17, having an easy place to clear up some things like autocomplete, your Google toolbar, cookies, and others, in one spot sure could come in handy for a few folks.

    Continue on to page two please...



 

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