New Spyware Detector

[Shortie (imported)]

Erm, I installed the antispyware program, now my browser keeps returning my starting page to about:blank. Which interestingly features an irritating popup about Microsoft AntiSpyware. I've tried everything I can, changed the settings, ran scans, everything short of uninstalling the program. (too lazy to do that) An Antispyware program that installs spyware? Amazing!

Without knowing which browser you're using, I can't say if you have a problem or not. If your default browser is Crazy Browser, then there is no homepage. It opens, by design to a blank Address Bar. If you're using Internet Explorer, then you have what's known as the "About:Blank homepage hijacker." Since that particular piece of crap is not true spyware, the MS AntiSpyware program probably won't have any effect on it.

To remove the hijacker, go to this link:

http://www.pchell.com/support/aboutblank.shtml

I suggest you ignore all the geeky advice in the first part of that page. The simplest way to remove About:Blank is to follow the instructions in the "Automatic Removal Method" section. Once you have removed the hijacker, you can then reset your homepage to whatever you choose by opening IE, clicking Tools, and then Internet Options.

[Geotarr (imported)]

Hey thanks oldsoftie! It worked.

[Paolo]

If you're using DVD2SVCD or DVD2AVI, the audio encoder besweet.exe can't run with MS Spyware running. It'll crash every time.

[Geotarr (imported)]

Hey thanks oldsoftie! It worked.

Alright. One reboot and it's bye bye sanity for my browser again. (Internet Explorer)

I'll just uninstall the program, and see if I can clean IE then.

[ssindysmith2002 (imported)]

What software was it that Microsoft bought? I use Lavasoft Adware Pro and Spybot plus a few others.

[Shortie (imported)]

What software was it that Microsoft bought? I use Lavasoft Adware Pro and Spybot plus a few others.

The "new" Microsoft AntiSpyware program was actually developed and marketed by Giant Software. Microsoft bought the rights to the program, and released the current beta version under its own name. However, if you look at the files in the AntiSpyware program folder, you'll still see many of the modules still bear the Giant name. Interestingly enough, the daily updates still come from the Giant Software server, not any of Microsoft's.

The latest scuttlebutt is that Microsoft will continue offering this program for free, even after it's no longer a beta. I certainly hope so, since it's the most effective I've found so far, and in tests run by some folks I respect, it removed more crapware than AdAware and Spybot combined.