Installation and Usage of Microsoft's Anti-Spyware Tool
Microsoft's Anti-Spyware tool safeguards your computer against a wide variety of the most common types of spyware, ad-ware and other malicious software. This easy to use tool also provides continuous protection for your computer thought built in real-time protection and the aid of Microsoft Spynet.
Microsoft Anti-spyware tool can be downloaded here.
Downloading the Program
1. After clicking the above link, you will be taken to the main download page for Microsoft Anti-Spyware Tool. At the first screen, you will be asked if you would like to validate you version of Windows before proceeding. Hit the Continue button to proceeded to the next page.
2. The next page will ask you to verify that you would like to validate your Windows version. Validation is not necessary for this download so select No, do not validate Windows at this time, but take me to the download. Once you have selected this second option hit the Continue button to proceed to the download page.
3. This page displays the information for the file download. Click the Download button to start the download.
4. Once you have clicked the download button, the following prompt will appear for Windows sp2 users. Click the run button to begin the download.
5. The actual download may take a few minutes depending on your download speed.
6. Once the download is complete, the prompt on the right will appear asking to begin the installation.
Installation
1. Once Run has been hit, the installation will begin and the Microsoft Anti-spyware setup will begin to run.
2. Once the setup is ready to run, to screen to the right will appear. Hit the Next button to continue with the installation.
3. Next, the License Agreement will be displayed. You should always thoroughly read such agreements so you fully understand the legal implications and applications of the software to be installed. Once you have done this, select the "I accept the terms in the license agreement" option, and hit the next button to continue.
4. This screen asks which directory you would like Microsoft Anti-spyware Tool to be installed into. Let the default directory remain set and hit the Next button to the next step on the installation.
5. The conformation screen will give you one last chance to go back and change any of your installation options before installation is completed. We are using all the default options for this installation so we can hit the Install button and proceed with the rest of the installation.
6. The install progress window will appear as the software is installed to your system.
7. After installation is complete, the installer will give you this prompt to let inform you that installation was successful. Make sure the "Launch Microsoft Anti-spyware" box is checked, and then hit the finish button to load the program and the first time setup.
First Time Setup
1. This logo will be displayed whenever the program starts up.
2. When Microsoft Anti-spyware runs for the first time, this Setup Assistant will appear. On the right is the Setup Assistant welcome screen. Press the next button to start the setup.
3. Step one of the setup asks if you would like to turn auto-update on. This is selected by default and should be left selected. Then hit the next button to continue.
4. Step two of the setup asks if Real-time security agents should be set up and activated. This option should definitely be selected and should be by default. Simply hit next to continue.
5. Step three asks if you would like to send the results of your spyware scans to Microsoft Spynet. This feature should be selected by default, and should be left on. Hit Finish to proceed with the setup.
6. At this point, the popup on the right may appear at this time during setup. For this alert for NetBIOS alert, you can simply make sure that "Remember this action" is selected, and hit the Stop Service button to close this alert.
7. Then you will arrive at the final setup screen. Make sure that the "Run a spyware scan every night at 2 a.m." option is selected, and then click the "Run scan later" link to continue.
8. Now we arrive at the main Anti-spyware Menu. To finish the setup, click the Options menu, and then open Settings.
9. This will bring you to the main Settings menu. From here we want to access the Alerts menu on the left side of the screen by clicking on it's icon.
10. On the alerts menu, all the options are checked by default, but we want to change them all to be unchecked. Once all the options have been unchecked, hit the Save button and a message will pop-up informing you that your new settings have been saved.
11. Finally, click on the Microsoft Anti-spyware logo on the top of the screen to return to the main menu.
Scanning
1. From the mail Anti-spyware menu, select the "Scan Options" link below the "Run Quick Scan Now" button.
2. Now, at the Scan Settings screen change the scan settings from the default "intelligent quick scan" to "Run a full system scan". Be sure to select all the other full scan options are selected and also the "Save these options" then hit the "Run Scan Now" button.
3. The scan will then commence running. Scan time can range anywhere between 20 minutes and 2 hours depending on the size and speed of your computer.
4. Once the search is done, any results found will be listed. Read carefully through the list. Some programs that are installed on purposefully may appear on the list. If you know for 100% certain that an entry in the results is not spyware, then change it to ignore, otherwise change all entries to remove.Once all the entries have been set to remove, hit the continue button to begin deletion. If a prompt appears asking you if you would like to send the results to Spynet, choose yes.
5. A prompt will then appear asking for conformation. Make sure the "Send to Spynet" box is selected, and hit the Yes button.A window will appear displaying the status of the operations you selected. This prompt will disappear and you will be taken to the summary screen when the selected actions are complete.
6. After a few moments deletion should be complete and then you are done. You computer is now one step closer to being spyware free.
Additional Resources
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