Options and settings:

    Navigating to the 'Options' menu, and clicking 'Settings', is picture 18. I won't go into all the settings, in fact, I'll show you only two of them, but you get the general idea what the other sub-sections are I imagine. Note that in the 'General' settings area, there is a 'Novice User' or 'Knowledgeable User' option. I couldn't see any difference in selecting either one. So, once implemented, I would hope the novice user setting, which should be enabled by default in further program builds, would easily keep grandma from dropping her new machine to the point of system restore, or a reload of Windows by messing with the settings, or removing something that could do what I just described. It'll happen, you know it will...

Scanning:

    If you hadn't guessed, I'll focus now on scanning for spyware, and how M$'s AntiSpyware handles removal. Now I will not go into a comparison on other spyware removal tools, I'll just say I did a full scan a week before with Webroot's Spyware Sweeper. In all honesty, I still haven't seen the end all of Spyware programs, because there are so many different threats out there. My advice though, is if you can afford to purchase an AntiSpyware program, by all means do so, if you can't, there are plenty of free ones out there.

    So let's start a scan...In picture 20, there are more scanning options by clicking the down arrow next to scan options. I left mine alone, and did a quick scan, which is default. It took about 8ish minutes for a quick scan, and personally, I haven't done a full scan yet. Unless you disable it, a full system scan (Deep scan) is scheduled to run everyday at 2:00 AM. Very useful if you leave your PC on 24/7. You can change the properties of that by clicking on the "Scan Scheduler" located on the main screen, upper right hand corner.

    Anyway, after the scan is done, you are presented with a screen seen in picture 21. Some traces of stuff were found, and if you know what you are doing, you can easily have the program ignore, always ignore, remove, or quarantine the results. (Picture 22)

    After the scan is complete, and you've selected how you want to deal with any threats, if you feel the need to tweak the results. You are given the option to report your findings to SpyNet. Here is a quote about SpyNet that I found on the web from M$. "SpyNet™ is a voluntary worldwide community of Windows AntiSpyware users that plays a key role in determining which suspicious programs are classified as spyware. Any user can choose to join SpyNet™ and report potential spyware to Microsoft. Users participating in the global SpyNet™ network help to discover new threats quickly so everyone is better protected. Signatures are created for programs that are identified as spyware and made available to all users." So in theory, with all of us running this, we are all helping ourselves discover new baddies on a global scale. This was probably the best selling point for this software before, and probably is now. Who better to determine what file is a Windows file or not, but Microsoft.

     After your first scan, one more option is needed to be set, picture 25, your default IE options such as your search preferences, and other browser settings. It is easily skipped by, and you really shouldn't need to change anything anyway, because the program scans for malicious things like that to begin with. But, once again, it you don't know what you are doing, it probably is a good reason to skip looking at those settings.

    By chance if you do have a Browser Hijack (BHO), or something that needs to be removed when IE is closed, the program prompts you about it, and does its thing.


AutoUpdate, about and one more:

    If you are connected to the net, AntiSpyware automatically checks for updated signatures, or program versions by default, daily at a certain time, but can be configured to check on system startup, weekly, or every other week as well. After the initial install, the program automatically updated itself after a few minutes.

    Another good feature is the monitoring of start up programs as well. I installed a Software DVD player, and it wanted to put in a Wise Updater in my start up. I removed it, but at least AntiSpyware told me about it, although didn't have any info about it at that time. (Picture 29)

(27) AutoUpdate window	(28) About	(29) Wise Updater...

Conclusion:

    Microsoft may really have a winner here. Most definitely due to their own previous lackadaisical approach to security issues with Windows, and even more obvious, Internet Explorer. This is one program that should be considered in your arsenal to combat the current epidemic of Spyware that is going around for Windows based Computers. Although this is a public beta, I had no problems with stability on XP Pro SP1 myself. Since the AntiSpyware program was pretty well established and mature before M$ purchasing it, not that much work was done under the hood. Unless you count making it NOT compatible with 9x core Windows as it was previously with Giant. And actually, upon further research, a few things are missing. Such as Inoculation that would block bad sites from being viewed, and there is no file shredding tool. While that may not be a big deal to some, some people want files destroyed so you can't get them back. Lastly, you were able to scan cookies and remove tracking cookies and such. No longer is the case, but with the tracks eraser you can get rid of your cookies. Unfortunately, it's all or nothing.

    While details are unknown on the cost of this program/subscription fee, there are rumors that there will be a free version of this as well. If you've got the supported OS, I'd give this a try today. For starters, SpyNet is a very brilliant idea, and with real-time protection against threats, you can't ask for much else. For now, it's free, and it's good until the end of July, so get grabbing from M$. Or over here at MajorGeeks. You'll avoid that Genuine Windows verification tango, and may even get a faster download of this 6+ meg file.

    I hope you enjoyed my write-up of this. While I didn't cover everything, keep in mind that this is a "Closer Look." Have fun trying it on your own.


Closed:

    I found an interview concerning Spyware and other software right here. Below is a excerpt. You may find it interesting on what approach M$ is finally taking to lock down systems. Or, maybe not...Good read nonetheless.

"REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 6, 2005 -- Microsoft has responded to customer concerns around deceptive and malicious software by announcing two new efforts in the company’s ongoing focus on Trustworthy Computing generally, and security and privacy in particular. The beta version of Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware, a new solution designed to help protect Windows users from spyware and other potentially unwanted software, is now available as a free download, and the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool, which will help rid PCs of prevalent worms and viruses, will be made available as part of Microsoft’s monthly update cycle beginning on January 11th."


   Thanks for coming by! Until next time...


Update:

    Microsoft's AntiSpyware will be free to "Genuine Windows Users." See the homepage here.

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