Windows Defender Into Second Round of Testing

By Jimmy Daniels
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews

The latest version of Microsoft’s anti-spyware program, Windows Defender, is preparing to go into the second round of beta testing in the next couple months, and some of the improvements sound promising. They are going to support more than just Windows XP, it will now run on Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Vista with support of some of the other versions of Windows to be added at a later date. They will also add support for Outlook, it will have a new interface and it will add automated updates for the spyware definitions and scanning engine.

Among what’s new in Beta 2, said the developers, is integration with Outlook, Microsoft’s e-mail client, to scan incoming attachments (Beta 1 scans only files retrieved through the browser), a totally-redesigned interface, and automatic updates that include both spyware definition updates and upgrades to the scanning engine, allowing Microsoft to update the software without having to explicitly release a new version.

The Vista and non-Vista versions of Defender will be similar, though not identical, said Ron Franczyk, a founder of New York-based GIANT Company Software — the anti-spyware firm that Microsoft purchased in late 2004 — and now working as a Microsoft developer, in the online chat.

“They are very similar, with Vista’s version taking advantage of User Access Protection,” said Franczyk.

The long Beta 1 run of AntiSpyware, said another Microsoft developer, was necessary because of the company’s plans for the GIANT technology within Vista. “The priority for development has been integration with Vista,” said Jeff Williams. “Because Beta 1 was essentially a rebranding of GIANT’s very successful and useful product development, focus has been on inclusion with Vista and on the upcoming Beta 2 of Windows Defender.” Source: Informationweek.

We Say: Wow, that is a long beta 1, wonder how long beta 2 will run. The developers did say that Defender will remain free to everyone with a validated copy of Windows.