Re: Microsoft? Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)
Posted by satchmo on Fri Jun 24th at 10:44pm 2005
I am torn between installing it and not installing it on my machine. Would it provide decent protection against spywares or would it just slow down the performance? Does it consume too much resources running in the background? Does it make games crash (since it is only a beta)? Is it really an anti-spyware, or is it just a spyware itself in disguise?
Has anyone else tried this? What's your opinion? I know it's from Microsoft, but try to look past the bias.

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Re: Microsoft? Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)
Posted by Andrei on Fri Jun 24th at 10:52pm 2005
You shouldn't fully rely on beta antispyware soft for protection IMHO.
I haven't tried it nor am I tempted to. For me, adaware and zonealarm
are kings.

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Re: Microsoft? Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)
Posted by RaPtoR on Fri Jun 24th at 11:53pm 2005
I use ad-aware and Norton Internet Security 2004. Why switch to something else when this works perfectly?

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Re: Microsoft? Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)
Posted by Myrk- on Sat Jun 25th at 12:22am 2005
I've got it installed. Like most (or all) spyware program it only runs when you tell it to. I actually reckon its the best free spyware program there is. It spots alot more spyware than any other program too. I don't think it runs in the background unless you want it too either, and IMHO I think theres no need to run that sort of program constantly. Just schedule it every week (an inbuilt function of the program I believe).
If you don't have a spyware program already, get it. You don't need an authentic copy of windows either, you can actually skip the authentication process as its a breach of statutory rights or something.

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Re: Microsoft? Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)
Posted by Myrk- on Sat Jun 25th at 12:46am 2005
Just did a scan... First I did a system scan, and it took 2 minutes. Then I did a deep file scan which scans every file on your PC, and that took 45 seconds. Just to make sure you know, I have around 400Gb of data on my HD's.
Pretty quick eh? Much faster than AVG and other programs.

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Re: Microsoft? Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)
Posted by Madedog on Sat Jun 25th at 6:32am 2005
I have it, and it is running on the background as well. It also gives
me an inquiry (as always, with M$ "are you sure" and "do you want"
style) when a program makes way for itself to startup, and i can review
it and either allow it or block it.
*wished microsoft would release a free antivirus oneday*
Anyway, microsoft is making great steps towards security. IMO they
should buy Symantec corporation and make an AV from Norton and also
integrate a part of NPF to the Windows Firewall. Then the security
would be perfect and it would be hard to infect anyone. Perhaps they
should even include it into Windows install so you would not be
infected on the first 15 minutes you are plugged in :-P

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Re: Microsoft? Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)
Posted by $loth on Sat Jun 25th at 6:40am 2005
Apparently it's very good, I would install it.

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Re: Microsoft? Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)
Posted by Crono on Sat Jun 25th at 6:56am 2005
My dad installed this, apparently, and it has this hideous window that pops up and takes up like half the screen whenevery it finds something. Depending on what you have running, this could be a major pain in the ass (and laggy).
Think MSN sidescreen popups x 4.
(I'm slightly exagurating on the size, but it's still rediculously huge.)

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Re: Microsoft? Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)
Posted by Loco on Mon Jun 27th at 9:42am 2005
I'm an anti-spyware-software-maker's nightmare - i.e. I have everything
installed even if they recommend you uninstall other stuff. I have MS
Anti-Spyware, Spybot S&D, AVG, and Ad-aware. Never had a problem
with MS Anti-Spyware, and it does have a couple of really handy things.
Firstly it spotted an MSN extension I'd downloaded as spyware, which I
have to confess I didn't have a clue about, and secondly it runs
regular quick checks which whilst they slow the machine down a bit I
can just leave going while I'm in lessons. Worth getting, but you can
always back it up with other programs.

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Re: Microsoft? Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)
Posted by satchmo on Mon Jul 11th at 6:56pm 2005
I guess we should all think twice before trusting Microsoft. It doesn't really have a great track record.

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