Paul Thurrott on GIANT AntiSpyware

As you've probably already heard, Microsoft acquired GIANT Company Software, Inc. so that it can "provide Microsoft® Windows® customers with new tools to help protect them from the threat of spyware and other deceptive software" (from the press release). A beta version, based on the AntiSpyware product, is expected to be available by the end of January, 2005. Personally, I hadn't heard of GIANT until our announcement, but based on what I've read, it sounds like a nice piece of technology. For a more in-depth review, read Paul Thurrott's article on his SuperSite for Windows. One of the more interesting quotes:

And I'm not alone: In a Spywarewarrior.com product tests, Giant AntiSpyware came out on top, detecting 111 of 138 possible spyware installs, compared to just 79 for Ad-aware (second place) and 69 for Spybot (fourth place).

I've long been an advocate of both Lavasoft's Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy. I have both products installed on all of my computers, and I run them freqently. However, it would be nice to have a single application that provides broad coverage. Welcome to Microsoft, GIANT!

Comments

• Anonymous
  December 30, 2004
  I was just lucky enough to try a Trial Version of GIANT just before MS bought them and the download went down. I had read about it in a review where it had also beat the other Spyware removal programs. It was a nice program and I look forward to what MS has instore.
• Anonymous
  January 05, 2005
  Any Idea what they are doing with some of Giant's other tools, I have been using Giant's Anti Spam Software for as long as I can remember both at home and at work.
  
  It had things in it's anti Spam software no one else ever had, at least not that I seen. The best one that finally started getting me removed from Spam Lists was auto bounce Email Address not found. That combined with some spammers using real email addresses started getting me removed. Anyway At work we have firewall level anti spam filters, then outlook has it's spam filter, anything getting past both of those Giant would catch.
• Anonymous
  January 07, 2005
  Just downloaded and ran it. It's very nice. Never used the GIANT version (I used SBS&D) so don't know what Microsoft changed.
  
  It has a reasonable UI. I like the real-time protection, and it was able to find two programs I planted that SBS&D missed!
  
  I think I'll switch to MS's product. And I'm glad Microsoft is taking a stand against Spyware. It's a bold move that may get them in trouble from Spyware "vendors" who may claim their software is legit.
  
  (Too bad Microsoft didn't label Real player as Spyware! I hate that thing. ;-) )
• Anonymous
  January 13, 2005
  I believe in running every reliable freeware spyware utility you can get your hands on. There is no perfect program and you need to run four or five to catch all your spyware. Also, you need to be savvy enough to uncheck the "good" spyware like your banking login, and so forth.