This is not the Windows AntiSpyware Beta you’re looking for
A new version of the Windows AntiSpyware Beta is now available for download. This isn’t the long-awaited Beta 2, but instead is a refresh of Beta 1:
In this second beta refresh (Build 1.0.613), we’ve made other enhancements to the detection and removal capabilities, including improved Winsock LSP removal capabilities and support for long descriptions of categorized software. In addition, we have also extended the Windows AntiSpyware beta expiration date to December 31, 2005.
Mary Jo Foley at Microsoft Watch quotes a Microsoft executive as saying Beta 2 will be released “some time later this year.” If you already have Microsoft AntiSpyware installed, it should update itself. If you are thinking about trying it out, this is the one to download.
Update: More details about changes in this version are available at Steve Dodson’s Weblog.
I have a confession: Windows AntiSpyware Beta pulled my wife’s computer from the brink of chaos when she clicked on a rogue email last month. It’s truly fine, and I was able to remove her from the ventilator since she was panicked.