Is it Alive?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tom
  • Start date Start date
T

Tom

I have installed the beta MS antispyware program. How can
I tell for sure that it is active and running, after I
start up my machine? I checked MS config, and I don't see
it as part of the startup menu. When I check the task
manager under processes, neither
gcasServexe,gcasDTserv.exe processes are running, neither
is the app running GIANTantispyware under applications.
Only once I click an open the app, does the icon appear
on the lower bottom right of the windows screen, and
those processes are running in the task manager. Please
advise. Thanks, Tom
 
I agree with Andre's recommendation of an update install.

In the antivirus world, there's a small text string known as the EICAR test
file, which can be used to test whether your antivirus is alive and well,
without any actual risk.

We've talked a few times in these forums about whether some equivalent would
be useful for Microsoft Antispyware--and something like that may be provided
with the final product.

For the moment, my own practice is to use bugs or false positives to
demonstrate that the product is working.

At present, this is a good test:

Go to a command prompt in the windows directory--either \windows or \winnt,
depending.

md winlogon.exe

(i.e. create a directory/folder, named winlogon.exe)

This should, within less than 15 seconds, raise a red threat dialog box.
You can choose either choice in that box--neither will be effective. I
don't recommend choosing always ignore because the UI to repeal that choice
is hard to find and there is a real threat which the dialog box is supposed
to relate to.

To stop the alert, do RD winlogon.exe

This should get you a genuine threat alert, without creating any risk or
danger to your machine.
 
If you find out - let me know!
There is no icon in the system tray
Option to show/hide does not work

Larry
 
An update install, via control panel, add or remove programs, Microsoft
Antispyware, update

May fix this--at least temporarily.

--
 
Thanks Andre, that fixed it. Don't know why it was like
that in the first place, but thanks again for your
assistance. tom
 
Sounds like it is dead.

Try declaring the name of a site in IE as 'safe' and you should get a pop up
window (if real time protection has been activated).

Regards

Dave Neve
 
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