Microsoft on Thursday introduced a beta version of its Windows AntiSpyware application.
The product is designed to help protect users of Windows products from spyware--software that's secretly installed on people's computers for a variety of purposes, such as bombarding them with pop-ups and tracking their Internet usage. The company claims the anti-spyware tools will help people keep their computers running faster and with fewer Web-related glitches.
The beta, which is available for download on the company's Web site, was built using technology that Microsoft gained through its December acquisition of Giant Software, which specialized in tools designed to fight spyware. Microsoft said that in addition to loading the software with the capability to combat many known strains of spyware, the company will continue to research emerging forms of spyware and to offer automatic updates to the product to fight new threats.
Microsoft said that users of existing Giant anti-spyware applications should continue to use those tools. The company was also quick to point out that the beta release is merely a first version of the software that the company is distributing for feedback and testing purposes.
The software maker is also working on an antivirus package, which is likely to be a standalone application. The tool is expected to be released sometime later this year.
