Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta):

[RC]

What's the deal? Worth it or not? Does it phone home?

[hobbit709]

1. I doubt it would work any better

than any of their other stuff. If it ain't free like Spybot or Spywareblaster why buy it from them ?

[KitchenWitch]

2. It is free

[RoyGBiv]

3. It's worth what you pay for it ...

I used it for brief period, just to test it. It doesn't pick up a lot of things that other free programs do. For example, the default homepage set in IE sets a tracking cookie, and Microsoft's anti-spyware program doesn't do anything with it. This leads me to believe the spyware definitions in the application do not include spyware or adware that would benefit MS itself.

I also read, but do not know from personal experience, that MS anti-spyware program offers suggestions about alternatives to MS apps indicating the program could be dangerous.

In short, I think it is a marketing tool and not much more.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

4. I found a flaw within 24 hours after it came out. However, it did

pickup a piece that the others did not find. If/When they start charging for it don't pay anything; it's not worth it.

[Berserker]

5. I use 98se

and when Giant software owned this program they let 98se use it but when gates bought it they cut all support for 98. So kiss my ass micro$oft.

[Angry Girl]

6. Worked great for me until latest update

Then it started clashing with Windows RAM management and some other apps something fierce and I had to remove it. Couldn't find anyone else with the same problems so you probably won't get affected. It is a bit of a resource hog, if I recall correctly. Good product otherwise.

[cynatnite]

7. It's okay

I use more than one