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Review of Microsoft's Anti-Spyware Tools
happyslayer writes "Matthew Fordahl has written a review of Microsoft's anti-spyware tool and has declared it, in a word, 'ineffective.' Though the methodology isn't carried out completely (he uses another anti-virus program after trying MS's tool, but doesn't do the same with the anti-spyware tool), it's a fairly good anecdote on the MS product's usefulness."
What's up with all these "reviews" immediately condemning this new tool? As far as I can tell, it's an honest attempt on Microsoft's part to actively aid it's customers in removing crap from their computers. I've used it myself at work, and after running Spybot, Ad-Aware, SpySweeper, and HijackThis, Microsoft Antispyware still manages to flag and remove quite a few leftovers.
Granted, by itself it may not be the most effective thing in the world, but the same can be said for any antispyware/antivirus software. We need to run at least 3 antispyware programs at work, and at least 2 antivirus programs before we feel confident that a computer is clean enough to return to the customer.
Besides the fact that it's just a beta, it's worked out pretty well for what it is. The interface is easy enough to figure out and use, and it identifies software which comes bundled with adware/spyware. When was the last time Spybot or Ad-Aware flagged Kazaa or Imesh as adware bundlers, while the default action is "ignore," but removal and quarantine are obvious choices? I say enough of these reviews. I'll be "reviewing" it myself by using it for what it can do well. If the final version works as well as this does, or better, it'll stay on my list of removal tools for my customers.
That seems to be the common mindset amongst a good majority of /.'s. While I don't necessarily agree with their business practices, I admit that they put out some pretty good software. The visual studio family of compilers for one. Another thing, I've /never/ experienced a crash with XP. Because I know how to use it. I've never had a crash with Slackware either. You know why? Yup. Because I know how to use it. Also, firefox is not some magical solution to spyware. I'll admit it's a bit harder to become infected if you use ff instead of ie, but a stupid user is a stupid user regardless of what software you place in front of them.
In short, MS AntiSpyware looks like a very promising app. One which I hope MicroSoft continues to improve.
I also ran it after Spybot and AdAware and it found more items.
Quite frankly, I was impressed.
Perhaps the author of the review went in with the intent of giving a bad review?
I know... I mean why test if you don't do an objective test. And how is this news?
This kevlar armor is ineffective. I mean I tried it out and the knife went right through it.
The MS thing is mostly to get rid of the most annoying worms at this point.
I neither hate it nor love it or Microsoft. The simple fact is that the review was crap. The methodology was lacking and the scientific process non-existant. We've done several anti-virus and anti-spyware comparisons. What you do is simple: - Load up a virtual machine with XP and take a snapshot - then kill it with viruses or spyware - run a tool and find what it catches/cleans - revert to the snapshot and run the next tool - do some simple math
"I've never really seen any of the removal tools that were 100% effective"
Fdisk.
I sincerely hope they never do charge for this product.
MS selling anti-spyware is like Goodyear selling anti-defective-tire-glue-or-something.
1.Build defective product
2.Let customer get flooded with problems
3.Instead of fixing defective product, sell customer
some kind of half working fix you bought from someone else
4.profit!!!
We should have been
So much more by now
Too dead inside
To even know the guilt
Am I the only one reading the comments? Or just the only one noticing that for every Microsoft-basher, there's someone jumping into Bill Gates' corner. Granted, there might be a marginally higher population of [Insert trendy alternate OS here] fanboys than MS ones, but come on. I see /tons/ of Highly-Moderated comments that favor Microsoft on any given issue. Considering the comments are moderated by the slashdot readership, one has to assume that not everyone here is a MS basher, doesn't one?
Bottom Line: Microsoft is not entirely evil, nor entirely good. Intelligent people will not label them as such. Rational, right-thinking people will examine each story/issue/what have you, and make judgements accordingly.
Microsoft-bashers: Shut up
Microsoft-basher-bashers: Shut up
This is my sig. There are many like it, but this one is mine...
Well that's real interesting. Especially as how loved this software when it was Giant's and now that MS has bought it, it's suddenly shite. Gimme a break.
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