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My experience with Microsoft's spyware scanner – CobraA1

CobraA1

Member

Posts: 926
From: MN
Registered: 02-19-2001
OK, I've played around some with Mcrosoft's spyware scanner, and I have to say I'm pretty dissapointed.

First off, it gave 3 false positives. Two were lirbaries for NSIS, and were detected as unknown spyware. The third was VNC's uninstall program, detected as the NS keylogger.

There were no real positives, but I sorta expected that, as I regularly clean my computer with Spybot and Adaware and I practice safe computing.

Neither Sbybot nor Adaware detected any of the three as spyware.

There was a fourth item found, VNC - which I'm sure can be used maliciously, but in this case, it's there because I put it there - so I can access my desktop from my laptop.

As if that weren't enough, the spyware scanner is intrusive - it'll demand my attention when I'm, say, playing a game. I'd prefer it do its stuff in the background.

One last thing: The SpyNet idea. It's horrible. Let's be honest: How many users know the difference between a file that's really spyware, and a false positive? Very few, I imagine. More than likely, they'll trust the program's judgement and mark even legit programs as spyware. Now, if it were a network of security professionals, I'd trust the results. But regular users? No, and the number of false positives shows it doesn't work.

So - it was worth a try, but in the end, IMHO Microsoft's spyware scanner is junk.

Edit: Fix spelling . . .

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"The very idea of freedom presupposes some objective moral law which overarches rulers and ruled alike." -- C. S. Lewis (1898 - 1963), "The Poison of Subjectivism" (from Christian Reflections; p. 108)

Switch Mayhem now available! Get it here
Codename: Roler - hoping to get more done over the holidays . . .

[This message has been edited by CobraA1 (edited April 24, 2005).]

Rhyolite

Member

Posts: 86
From: UK
Registered: 08-04-2004
I am currently using McAfee Security Suite (6.0 I think). It does virus and spyware detection plus firewall, anti-spam mail etc. I have been impressed with the virus and spyware detection, no false detections and has detected a number of viruses and spyware. Of course, I can not be sure if its missed anything - but I have experienced nothing to suggest it has.

Only down sides to McAfee - you have to pay and you need to update the virus/spyware/spam files a couple of times a week to stay uptodate. Other than that, its easy to use and fairly unintrusive (as long as you download updates manualy). I have heard some people complain its 'bloatware' and have compatibility problems, but it seems better than some others I tried in the past.

I would appreciate any ideas on better/cheaper solutions?

Rhy

CobraA1

Member

Posts: 926
From: MN
Registered: 02-19-2001
I've been using a combination of AVG, Kerio Personal Firewall, Spybot S&D, and Adaware. Seems like a combination that works well.

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"The very idea of freedom presupposes some objective moral law which overarches rulers and ruled alike." -- C. S. Lewis (1898 - 1963), "The Poison of Subjectivism" (from Christian Reflections; p. 108)

Switch Mayhem now available! Get it here
Codename: Roler - hoping to get more done over the holidays . . .

ArchAngel

Member

Posts: 3450
From: SV, CA, USA
Registered: 01-29-2002
my anti-spyware arsenal:
Mozilla Firefox
Lavasoft's AdAware
Spybot: Search and Destroy

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Soterion Studios

fingolfin

Member

Posts: 197
From: IL
Registered: 03-19-2005
is adaware free?

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Try to explain divine election, and you may lose your mind, try to explain it away and you could lose your soul (my youth pastor quoting somebaody he can't remeber)