Microsoft targets spyware

Microsoft has given an official name to its software for protecting against spyware and detailed some upcoming features for the package.

The software, which has been known as Windows AntiSpyware Beta 1, will be called Windows Defender when the finished version becomes available next year, the company says.

A posting on Microsoft's TechNet Web blog announced the change and revealed some details about new capabilities. The current version of Windows AntiSpyware Beta 1 has 18 million users, Microsoft says.

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Microsoft has given an official name to its software for protecting against spyware and detailed some upcoming features for the package.

The software, which has been known as Windows AntiSpyware Beta 1, will be called Windows Defender when the finished version becomes available next year, the company says.

A posting on Microsoft's TechNet Web blog announced the change and revealed some details about new capabilities. The current version of Windows AntiSpyware Beta 1 has 18 million users, Microsoft says.

Windows Defender will employ the same detection technology used in Microsoft's anti-virus engine, improving its spyware detection capabilities, according to the blog post. Spyware is software that monitors a user's online habits without the user's knowledge or permission.

When Defender finds spyware, Windows AntiSpyware presents the administrator with a list of threats found, details about each threat and recommendations for resolving it.

At the administrator's behest, Windows AntiSpyware removes every vestige of a spyware instance. Like Omniquad AntiSpy Enterprise and other competitors, Windows AntiSpyware can do a quick or full scan. Microsoft says the product will have a central console in the future.

The software also will protect users against rootkits and keystroke loggers, according to the blog. Rootkits hide potentially malicious files from security software. Keystroke loggers are programs that record keystrokes so that a hacker can discover a user's password or other sensitive information.

Windows Defender will have an updated user interface, and corporate customers will be able to receive Defender updates through Windows Server Update Services, Microsoft says.

Windows Defender will be part of Windows Vista, Microsoft's latest operating system, scheduled for release next year. It also will be available to users of Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003, according to the company.

Users will be able to disable it and use antispyware software from a different vendor if they choose, Microsoft says. Windows Security Center, which alerts users if they aren't running an antispyware program, will recognize third-party anti-spyware software.

Microsoft obtained Windows AntiSpyware when it purchased Giant Company Software. In a recent Network World Clear Choice Test, Windows AntiSpyware detected 80% of test spyware.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.