In the past, Microsoft has taken a fair bit of stick where security and privacy is the subject in hand. More recently they have been trying to abandon the stereotypical exterior that they portray to let people take a look at their sugar coated insides, which contain lots of exciting, user-friendly, Spyware-fighting mean machines..apparently!

Microsoft vs. Spyware

In this article I will be plodding along to Microsoft.com and a few other sites to see if I can figure out exactly what they are up to, as far as Spyware is concerned. I will try and explain what Microsoft thinks of Spyware, How they aim to look after their customers and produce reviews on two of their proudest projects, SpyNet and AntiSpyware. Enjoy!

Contents

• What Does Microsoft Think of Spyware?
• How Do They Educate Their Customers?
• What Products and/or Services Have Been Put in to Place to Try to Combat
• Spyware? Microsoft SpyNet & Microsoft AntiSpyware(BETA)
• The Future of Microsoft Vs. Spyware
• Resources

What does Microsoft think of Spyware?
Microsoft considers Spyware in just about the same way as everyone else does; it is a general term for unwanted software that carries out tasks like advertising, collecting your personal information and messing about with your computer settings. Putting it simply, it is very annoying, and it doesn't have your permission to be there.

Microsoft tells us that they really do not care for Spyware at all. In fact, they are using a lot of manpower and resources to research and combat the Spyware that is often targeted at the users of their Operating Systems.

Adware
As Microsoft says on its website, Adware is software that shows us advertisements. This can include pop-ups, bannerÃ's within programs, Web Browser toolbars and anything else that is used to promote a business or organisation and their products. It can also track your personal or sensitive information to try and send you ads you are more likely to click.

Microsoft, however, do also tell us that Adware is not always bad. For instance, you may have a music sharing program that is paid for by the banner ads that are displayed in it. You would obviously agree to this in the terms and conditions (as long as the program and organisation offering it were legitimate), and see it as a fair trade off. This is a valid point, but you still have to think to yourself, "How much of my privacy am I actually sacrificing for this service or program?" You can often get hold of the same kind of products for free anyway, or even if you do have to pay a small monthly fee, what kind of price would you put on to your personal privacy? This is where you would probably have to make your own mind up.

Other types of Spyware
Microsoft also tells us about other types of Spyware that can make changes to our computer, like changing internet settings, installing toolbars and slowing our computers down. This kind of Spyware is very annoying and unfortunately it is very common. The sad fact is that a lot of the time users will actually agree to the installation of them, not knowing exactly what they are or what they can do. What makes this even harder is when everything the program is going to do is right there in the terms and conditions; but at the very end, hidden amongst other legal jargon. Microsoft instructs us to be very careful.

Most of the time, the Spyware we see on our computers is installed by cleverly tricking innocent users. One common method is to bundle the installation of Spyware with that of other programs. Take for instance Kazaa. I'm sure everyone will admit they have at least tried Kazaa or similar P2P sharing systems, meaning most of you will know exactly what it is like after you have installed it. There are sometimes a few extra programs installed along side the main program itself, which instantly try and connect out on to the internet and share your information. You may notice more pop ups, more spam email and generally worse privacy.

How do they educate their customers?
Microsoft has always given their customers plenty of resources in most areas of their Organisation, and understanding Spyware is no different. The following list is different methods Microsoft is currently using to educate their customers and the rest of the world.

• Tutorials - The Microsoft web site is full of tutorials for you to learn all about Spyware, what it is, where it comes from, how to detect it and how to get rid of it. - http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software
• Spyware Video - There is a video (also available on the web site) all about Spyware which aims to educate users on all the different aspects mentioned above. - http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/video1.mspx
• Online Quiz - Microsoft ask you to "Test your online savvy!" Tackle this fun quiz and see how much you know about Spyware! - http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/quiz/spywarebasics1.mspx
• If your like me, and got 100% on the first (which you definitely should have!), try the Advanced Quiz! Each answer also includes tips on how to low more. - http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/quiz/spywarebasics2.mspx
• Security 360 Spyware Webcast - This monthly Webcast, hosted by Mike Nash, the senior executive of security at Microsoft, discusses latest Spyware techniques used and more importantly how individuals and organisations can combat them. - http://mssecurities.savvislive.com/20050118/registration.html
• SpyNet and AntiSpyware - These two brain-children of Bill Gates will be discussed in the next chapter.
• FAQ Section - On the Microsoft web site is an FAQ section for users to learn more. - http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/faq.mspx
• Support Newsgroup - Finally, Microsoft offers it's own newsgroup for support with Spyware, mainly for the products they also offer to combat it. - http://communities.microsoft.com/newsgroups/default.asp?ICP=spyware&sLCID=us

What products and/or services have been put in to place to try combat Spyware?

Microsoft SpyNet
SpyNet is actually a fairly simple but very good idea. For some time there have been more than one group reproducing the same research and carrying out the same kind of work as far as combating Spyware is concerned. Competing organisations try to get their products out faster, meaning less time is spent on good results, which is a problem. If we put all the resources together and concentrate on one common goal, we are more likely to find a solution. This is what SpyNet is based on. It is a centralised repository of information about all types of Spyware. It is contributed to by Microsoft AntiSpyware users from all over the world.

The repository contains the definitions of Spyware, saying whether it is actually good or bad. This is determined by the users who submit it. Let's say, for example, your browser has been hijacked by 'Golden Retriever Cash Back', and it is redirecting your homepage to different advertisements and you can find no way of uninstalling it. SpyNet would contain the definition, saying "this is Spyware and its not good", and AntiSpyware would download this definition. Upon detection it would delete it, and then send the results back to SpyNet to continue assessing different Spyware. This is how it works, simple, but very effective.

Microsoft AntiSpyware(BETA)
AntiSpyware is essentially an Anti-Spyware program, as its name suggests. Where AntiSpyware differs is where it gets it's definitions from; the global Spyware definitions repository, SpyNet.

Personally, I used to use Ad-Aware and Spybot alongside each other, but it never seemed to fully clear out my system of junk. With Microsoft AntiSpyware it really does seem to work. Microsoft have taken the best bits of all the different Spyware programs out there, combined it with a definition list from SpyNet and released it out to the world. With it being a Microsoft product, you can be sure that it will have regular updates, plenty of support and compatibility within the IT community and generally a good level of quality, contrary to popular belief.

At the minute there are just a few additional tools accompanying the program, such as the Tracks-covering tools to help with privacy on the internet, however in usual Microsoft style, more will be continually added. There are always downsides of course; the program itself is still in fact only BETA, but for now it still looks bright for AntiSpyware.

The future of Microsoft vs. Spyware
So what does the future hold for Microsoft vs. Spyware? Well, personally, I think that with the help of SpyNet and AntiSpyware, the future is quite bright, at least for the Windows users. This can only get better over time. Maybe Microsoft has done something good for its millions of users, world wide? Or maybe it is less than it makes out to be, who knows? All I can say is that it looks good, works well and at the minute is living up to what Microsoft hope for.

Resources:
The Microsoft Corp.
http://www.microsoft.com/
Audit My PC.
http://www.auditmypc.com/