Microsoft anti spy and adware tools.

**Matthew Wood** · 20-01-05

Good News..

This was launched a number of day ago., and has been posted on the forum before in SWAG, but thought it was best to add in here to raise awareness to you and your site users

Finally our friend MS is closing the gaps to help combat spyware and adware in one.

To me adware was always a short term solution, where hard selling to greedy merchants, coupled with scare tactics and promises were made to generate traffic and sales.

The below tool is a very positive step to combat the problem.

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...e/default.mspx

Its a useful tool that users can use from their browser or can download for use on their computer. From running it on a few machines it is a very effective product that even removes items that adaware misses.

Importantly microsoft state that they will update the tool once a month

"A new version of this tool is released on the second Tuesday of every month. These new versions will be available from the Microsoft Download Center—this page—as well as from Windows Update / Automatic Updates."

Thus keeping up with any developments that adware companies make.

This is a great development for ethical affiliates.. so for once Thank You Microsoft!

Matthew.

Be interesting to see what people find on their machines.

**morleymouse** · 20-01-05

well, I thought this machine was clean.... oh how wrong I was

very nice, and leaves cookies alone too

**John Jupp** · 20-01-05

Sorry but just one word can describe the program....RUBBISH.

It uses far too much system resources, locks up XP Home, turns a 1 Mb Broadband connection to the speed of a dial - up and is not as good as a lot of the free stuff available.

The concept for the software is very good but it tries to do too much...a fatal flaw of software designers...and that is the problem.

Also I am concerned that it will cause interactive problems with routers (hardware firewall) and ZoneAlarm (software firewall).

Symantec offered something similar and they caused major compatability issues.

**ben01** · 20-01-05

I can't say that I notice too many problems using it on my machine.

John - What software would you recommend instead?

Thanks,

Ben

**lowndsy** · 21-01-05

Not conclusive, but my new machine was fraught with weird random crashes until I did three things:
1) Unplug a flashy blue LED fan that was giving me a headache
2) Unplug my xerox scanner
3) Not install microsoft anti spyware after reinstalling windows

So I suppose it could have been a driver issue from the scanner or a power issue from the fan, but that's not where my money is...

**John Jupp** · 23-01-05

To be honest I'd suggest Ontrack Internet Cleanup.

The software is easy to use and removes lots of different things with the option to remove selected cookies if you wish, without removing them all.

I have a (ehem) copy tucked away online. PM me and I'll give you the url.

**ChrisM** · 23-01-05

Originally posted by John Jupp
Sorry but just one word can describe the program....RUBBISH.

I couldn't disagree more - my net connection is running as normal - 122KBps on a download earlier is perfectly good for a 1 meg connection.

Bear in mind this is a beta release before turning against it - I think its looking very promising, particularly in that its not threatening our beloved tracking cookies!