If you haven’t decided which Windows anti-malware service to use… if any… join the club. The current list of choices includes Windows Defender, Windows Live Safety Center, Malicious Software Removal Tool, Windows OneCare Live, and Microsoft Client Protection.

All of the services include, at their base, Windows Defender.

Windows Defender (WD) springs from the same antispyware soil as competitors like Ad-Aware and Spybot, with a bit of RegRun functionality thrown in. Previously known as Windows Anti-Spyware/GIANT Anti-Spyware, WD actively watches for aberrations, like unauthorized connections to the Internet and unapproved changes to:

  • password settings;
  • security permissions;
  • web access settings;
  • Internet Explorer.

In addition, WD prevents unauthorized program startups. It’s free for personal use, as either an online service or an auto-updating downloadable.

Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) is a half-blood antivirus program, that only checks on demand. It digs for infections by big-name malware, including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom, then helps remove any infection found. Like WD, MSRT is available as a free service or downloadable tool for all users of supported Windows systems. Updates come once a month. If you already have a full-blood antivirus product, don’t bother.

Windows Live Safety Center (WLSC) performs a one-shot scan on demand, and checks for disk fragmentation, deletable temporary files and open ports. WLSC gives you all the features of MSRT and WD, but without WD’s real-time active monitoring. WLSC is available free online for home users.

Windows OneCare Live (WOCL) includes all of WLSC’s features, plus antivirus, active monitoring, defragging, backup and the two-way firewall that should have been shipped with Windows XP. You must uninstall your existing antivirus software to try it. Same goes for any firewalls like ZoneAlarm. Think long and hard before taking this leap. You will be exchanging a multi-vendor approach, with all its headaches, for a monolithic dependency on a vendor with one of the spottiest security records of all. Virus writers and hackers will love you as they can finally focus on a single target. And if you do decide to return to your original vendors… reinstallation can be a major pain. The WOCL subscription will set you back about US$16 yearly per computer, three home computers minimum.

Microsoft Client Protection (MCP) racket is scheduled to be out of beta Q3 2006. Think OneCare for Business. Targeted at networked desktops and servers, MCP will include antivirus, along with a management console for Redmond’s coming Antigen, ISA Server and FrontBridge offerings. Again, attackers will be delighted. Pricing is rumored to be around US$15 per seat each year.

In response to comments that Microsoft is peddling water for the fire it started, Luke Abrams, a Program Manager on the Windows OneCare team reasons, “It’s no secret that all software has bugs and vulnerabilities - and like other software companies, we are committed to building software as secure as we can make it and finding and fixing bugs as quickly as possible. But let’s not confuse code defects (exploitable or otherwise) with malware, and methods of protection.”

As proof of the company’s fidelity with user needs, Abrams offers up Microsoft Update, the built-in updater for Service Packs, and Quick Fix Engineering hotfixes. Still, some wonder how willing Microsoft will be to sink money into Service Packs and QFEs once an anti-vulnerability income stream is established.

Abrams goes on to claim Redmond is using no API tricks that aren’t readily available to the community.

Running Firefox, Konqueror, Netscape Navigator, Opera, Windows ME, Windows 98, or Windows NT? This screen from Windows Live Safety Center’s for you:

Whoops. The scanner doesn’t work with your Web browser or operating system.

You need Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows Server 2003, or Windows 2000 Server to use the scanner. You also need either Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0, or MSNr 9.0.

Same goes for Windows OneCare.

On the other hand, Windows Defender lets you use Firefox or Netscape Navigator, once you’ve installed the Windows Genuine Advantage plug-in. And Malicious Software Removal Tool is a simple download. As long as you’re running post-Millennium Windows… and your product SKU is supported by the service in question… you’ll be fine… you hope.

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