Microsoft Anti-Spyware Assistance

Microsoft is also fighting the war on malicious software as its operating systems and other products are constantly targeted and exploited by such malicious software.

With the massive amount of time hackers spend searching for and creating security breaches in Microsoft's Internet Explorer, one would expect Microsoft to have included either a protection from, or at least, a removal program for spyware. Instead, Microsoft offers their "Windows Defender" as an add on you can download at no extra charge provided you are a licensed Windows customer. Once installed, you will find this is one of Microsoft's better ideas to help Windows computer owners fend off attacks.

Windows Defender is a relatively new service from Microsoft and overall they have done a remarkable job with it. The program gets very high reviewer ratings and has proven itself to be very effective in keeping harmful spyware off your computer system. Among the extra features in Windows Defender, is a scheduler for regular automatic scanning and updates.

The scans tend to be reasonably fast and seem to be performing a thorough job of deep scanning everything on the computer. Microsoft's Defender also offers an excellent real-time guard for your internet experience. You can utilize an override option that allows you to run programs that have been marked questionable by Defender.

It is designed to work on the Windows 2000, XP, and 2003 operating systems, and it was developed as a way to add some needed security to these older operating systems. As with any anti-spyware program, the occasional scan from a second anti-spyware program like "Spybot Search and Destroy" will increase your chances of your computer not getting infected in the first place. Check it out.