MS Anti-spyware - beta

I'm curious about this program. Those of you who installed it when it first came out and have kept it (and essentially allowe it free rein on your computers): Do you find it actually works any better than the other programs out there (i.e. Ad-aware)? Do you find it takes your system resources moreso than other comparable programs? It's been quite a while now and you should have some feel for it. Thanks.

 

James,

I have the Beta running all the time and it sweeps my system every morning after boot. Also updates automatically. I have Spybot S&D, Ad-Aware SE Plus, and Spywareblaster with auto update.

After the first install of the Beta, and finding the initial thing that everyone found, It has found nothing.

I also have Spy Sweeper installed but not running. Yesterday I opened Spy Sweeper and updated the definitions and ran the full scan. It found 3 hits!!

Am I happy with it? Beats me. I stay confused about the whole subject all the time. I don't know what works and what doesn't and I have decided to stop worrying about it. I use FF 1.0 exclusively now and I was all fat and happy with it but Ramona posted a spoofing problem which blew my Spoofstick out of the water.

Sometimes I curse the day I first put fingers to keyboard.

 

lol... this is very encouraging. I "had" all the programs you mentioned (as did my wife) until my better half ran into problems with Spybot. She asked me to remove it (which I did) and for some reason I became frustrated and removed everything except for Ad-aware. I also use FF exclusively and remain in a perpetual state of confusion about how safe I am and whether or not the dangers we read about all the time are magnified out of proportion. I'm not navigating to any websites that I would consider dangerous and I take reasonable precautions about which links to click on and whether or not I'll open attachments. So I'm not sure I really need all this extra baggage. What do you think?

 

I think Bmoore has the right attitude. I have used the three major spyware removal tools. None are flawless and all seem to find something the others overlooked. I don't worry about it either. It doesn't matter what browser you use if your surfing habits take you to less than desirable web sites. Seems like IE has the most exploits only because it is the most widely used browser. The more popular a browser gets the more people will try to hack it.

 

Spybot?

James ( I "had" all the programs you mentioned (as did my wife) until my better half ran into problems with Spybot. She asked me to remove it (which I did) and for some reason ){ Sorry but I guess I don't know how to use QUOTE}James could you please share the problem that you experienced with SPYBOT if you would be so kind loonychoons that is Lenny Chowns

 

MS Anti-spyware beta 1.

I have just yesterday downloaded MS Anti-spyware Beta #1 What a job down on my knees with a torch (flashlight) trying to record that never-ending computer product key number? But when I ran it I was shocked to see the number of hits on undesirables in my system! What has my other 6 or 7 protection programs been doing to miss them? I update and scan daily? It say that it is only good for 175 Days or so. Then what? I hope that it will then not be a beta program and allow us to update to the final version? Any thoughts on that? Other-wise I kind of like it., but what do I know

 

Hi Lenny

It's been quite a while since I removed Spybot from both of our computers. As I recall... it brought up items for removal which ended up creating problems since I'm not that computer literate and simply let it do as it wanted. I know that it will create a copy of the registry and that what it does can be undone, but for the average person like myself... that is a bit of a mytery. I don't want something on my computer whose worth is dubious (particularly when other programs do the same job). I know.. Spybot, it is said, find "different" spyware programs... but I'm just not convinced that we need all this stuff. For heaven's sake.. some are running half a dozen or more programs to combat this spyware threat and they haunt these forums... daily... worrying about this and that. It's become almost a joke as far as I'm concerned. I've decided to use Ad-aware and "possibly" the beta from Microsoft...but that is "IT ". I've Firefox on my computer and I believe it is not as susceptible to many of these problems as is IE. Anyway... I probably didn't answer your question. Sorry.

 

Lenny

To use Quotes:

Copy the part you want to quote or click on the quote icon at the bottom right of the post you want to quote. Then click reply and in the reply screen, click on the little icon on the far right (little cartoon bubble).

Make sure your cursor is in the box and right click and paste. You can start to write your reply and insert the quote at the spot you left off.

 

I installed it last night and it says: "This version expires in 160 days. Please contact Microsoft for an updated version "???
Does any one have any idea what they mean by that?
What one should do, once it will expire?

Thanks,

Barry

 

It means the Beta will stop and the final version will be ready for download. MS has said it will continue to be free.

 

MS AntiSpyware caused LSP conflict

I tried MS AntiSpyware and had to remove it because it conflicted with EZAntivirus, causing the email scanner to stop operating. Apparently the LSP API can only handle one application. Since I already have PestPatrol and SpyBlaster, which are either paid for or free, I removed MS AntiSpyware.

 

I may be wrong (and I often am) but it "seems" to me that this program by running in the background, took more resources than I felt necessary and caused my box to drag somewhat. Since I use FF and Ad-aware, I removed it, believing it to be overkill.

 

Hi James,

Then why not use it as an on demand scanner?

For the time being, it's better than Ad-Aware/Spybot and Pest patrol. I'm not recommending MS-AS use only, those others have their value, one of which is tracking cookie scanning. The latest MS-AS version may have added that capability, don't know yet.

Regards - Charles

 

Hello, Charles

What do you mean by the "latest "? I downloaded my copy when it first came out. Is there any indication that what is being offered now is different in any substantial way? Thanks.

 

Thanks, Pete. I downloaded the latest version and I'm giving it a try for a week.

 

Do I understand correctly that this program will not run on Windows 98SE?

Bummer!

Ramona