Consumer Reports Ranks Microsoft AntiSpyware #1

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Consumer Reports Ranks Microsoft AntiSpyware #1

by Jason Clarke Sep 2nd 2005

Consumer Reports has come out with antispyware rankings for the top tools in this niche, including Ad Aware SE Plus, Allume Internet Cleanup, Computer Associates eTrust PestPatrol 2005, McAfee AntiSpyware, Microsoft AntiSpyware (beta), Spybot Search & Destroy, Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2005, and Webroot Spy Sweeper. Microsoft's AntiSpyware program came out tops, even though it is still in beta status. It ranked "good" for detection, tying with Webroot and Computer Associates' offerings (none achieved a rating of "excellent" for detection), and ranked "excellent" for ease of use, something that no other AntiSpyware package in the list was able to accomplish. Although it is a prevention tool with no detection and removal functions, Javacool Software's Spyware Blaster product is notably absent from any list of top spyware protection utilities.

Tags: antispyware+Microsoft+consumer+reports, AntispywareMicrosoftConsumerReports

Featured Time Waster

Civiballs is a beautiful, soothing physics puzzle Time Waster

I have an absolute weakness for physics games, and while Civiballs isn't the strongest physics-based game, what it lacks in the physics department it makes up for a few times over in style and fun.

In Civiballs, you are presented with a few colored balls, and your goal is to get those balls into the same-colored urn on the level. The "civi" part of Civiballs is that there are 3 sets of levels to play, each representing a different civilization. While the civilization doesn't affect gameplay, the artwork for each level is beautifully themed to it's appropriate era.

To play the game, you are given only one tool - a sword with which to cut the chains that are holding the balls. The puzzle part of the game is in figuring out what order, and with what timing to cut each chain. Do it right, and all the right balls end up in the right urns, with no stray balls entering an urn (a no-no). Do it wrong, and you get to start over again.

Civiballs is not terribly deep on gameplay; the entire game can be completed in about 15 minutes. But if you enjoy this type of game, it will be a very enjoyable 15 minutes.

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