Anti-spyware | Anti-adware | Spyware Protection

I have changed to Sunbelt Software's <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=952&amp;entry_id=128" title="http://www.myaffiliateprogram.com/u/hatespam/t.asp?id=3597" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.myaffiliateprogram.com/u/hatespam/t.asp?id=3597';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;">CounterSpy</a> for my constantly-running anti-spyware / anti-adware prevention program. and also periodic scanning needs. Sunbelt Software licensed the Giant Antispyware technology before Microsoft did — at the moment, the interfaces of the two products are similar, but the protection recommendations are starting to diverge — with <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=952&amp;entry_id=128" title="http://www.myaffiliateprogram.com/u/hatespam/t.asp?id=3597" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.myaffiliateprogram.com/u/hatespam/t.asp?id=3597';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;"><br />
CounterSpy</a> being the more conservative in its approach.<br />
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I used to use Microsoft's Antispyware (beta), but have changed to CounterSpy because of Microsoft's recent weakening of the defenses. Microsoft has changed the default action on many adware programs to "Ignore" instead of "Quarantive." They made this change about the time that there were rumors about Microsoft's negotiations to purchase Claria (formerly "Gator" — the company was renamed because of the extremely bad reputation Gator's adware received). <br />
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It also made me lose faith in Microsoft dedication to effectively deter spyware. It made me consider whether Microsoft itself might be considering the technology for incorporation into future versions of Internet Explorer or even Windows. <br />
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