ChrisM:

Thanks for the link to the MS Antispyware program.  I downloaded and scanned my system.  It found one item that wasn't detected by Spybot and Ad-Aware SE.  I want to learn more about the program.

B4uno

I initially thought that the Microsoft AntiSpyware may be "best" antispyware, because it removed stuff not removed by AdAware or SpyBot.

But upon reviewing microsoft's antispyware boards  ( http://communities.microsoft.com/newsgroups/default.asp?ICP=spyware&sLCID=us ) - the program targets and removes TOO MANY items not spyware, including items from within internet explorer's restricted zone,  registry items pointing to sites banned by spywareblaster,  as well as legitimate program files (included those from microsoft itself).

People have not uncommonly lost their internet connection after following recommendations made by this program.

Who knows if what it removed from my computer was really spyware or not.

I uninstalled the program. 

Message Edited by scoobydooby on 01-08-2005 01:01 PM

Nelson:  I have downloaded the program and the only thing it found it found was the Spyware Squire, (I think it was called). I let it update yesterday and it found nothing at the end of the day...I ran it before Spybot and AdAware. However, I only did the quick scan and after reading you remarks, am kinda leery of doing the full scan as it may remove more than necessary.

I use NIS 2004 and have not had any problems (that I know of ), so am willing to let this thing stay on if it serves a purpose. Or do you think there is a potential of further problems developing. Thanks for any advice.

Message Edited by dalem29 on 01-09-2005 08:19 AM

      From what I've been reading on other message boards/newsgroups, there apparently is a minor compatibility problem between Microsoft AntiSpyware (MAS) and Spybot Search & Destroy.   Here is the text of several newsgroup messages discussing this glitch:

>      I generally don't like to install beta software, but Microsoft
> AntiSpyware has gotten very good reviews so I thought I'd go ahead and
try
> it.  Installation went fine.  I immediately performed a quick scan, and
this
> was found:
>
> < > links that open when you use search engines.>>
>
>
>      SearchSquire was rated "high risk" so I let MAS (Microsoft
AntiSpyware)
> remove it.  Neither Spybot, Spyware-Blaster or Ad-Aware SE 1.05 had
> previously found this file.
>

According to some of the folks in the grc newsgroups, this may be a false
positive related to Spybot S&D's immunization feature.  Because I don't
use Spybot S&D and have yet to install Microsoft AntiSpyware, I'll just
quote the relevant parts of that thread:

"mystic_dragon" wrote in message...
>
> "TJ"
> : Only thing it found on my machine was SearchSquire.  I am pretty well
> : fortified here and I'm not sure where that came from.
>
> That could be a false positive. If you're running Spybot & you deleted
the
> SearchSquire, you may have deleted Spybot's immunization against
> SearchSquire. Rerun Spybot's immunization & it will say you're missing
one.

"TJ" wrote in message...
> You're right, I did run the immunization right after using MS-AS
yesterday
> and it was missing exactly one.  I didn't know why.
> Thanks for the explanation!


"mhicaoidh" wrote in message...
>     Three points for a straight line ... confirmed here as well.  Ran MS
app
> again after re-immunizing in Spybot S&D, and it detected SearchSquire
again.
> Set it to now Always Ignore.

---

@seagem999 wrote:

Hi!

I recently installed Microsoft Antispyware (beta) and I compared with Ad-Aware, which I've been using since I bought my Inspiron 8600 last July (2004).

And for me it's the opposite, MicrosoftAnti Spyware never finds anything when Ad-Aware finds 3 or 4 items! How come everybody says Microsoft Antispyware finds things that Ad-Aware doesn't find and for me it's the opposite? Am I doing anything wrong? What should I verify?

---