XP-AntiSpy

XP-AntiSpy claims that users of Windows XP are at risk from catching a nasty virus with the program's built-in updates. This download aims to let users make the decisions about what gets added and what gets turned away at the door, but is best used by experienced users.

This freeware program's interface is as basic as it gets. It's designed purely for functionality, with no thought for aesthetics. Users see every possible nook and cranny that spyware and viruses can wiggle through on their computers thanks to a long, scrolling list that showcases everything from Media Player Functions, Error Reports, the computer's network, Internet Explorer, and more. Under each heading, users see the different functions each perform and are given the option to disable them.

On any given system, this list can stretch for quite a while and, as the manufacturer claims, it can take up to half an hour to go through each and customize. Each listing comes with a brief description at the bottom of the screen, but novices could be overwhelmed with so much information. XP-AntiSpy has a default setting, which was extremely easy to implement, but we weren't totally comfortable leaving it up to the program to decide which updates to permit.

XP-AntiSpy is simple to operate, but deciding which updates are critical and which are not isn't a task for the novice. More experienced users who want a quick way to disable certain updates might find this to be a very useful tool.