Scan reports spyware present while summary says no spyware found

[Graham Bird]

I recently installed MS Spyware as well as Spybot S&D & Adaware. All three
removed a number of different infections. I have switched off system restore
and run all 3 programs in 'Safe Mode' until all 3 report clean.

I have now set up a daily schedule for a MS Spyware scan. When the scheduled
scan runs and displays progress it states that it has detected Spyware on my
system. When the scheduled scan completes it reports no Spyware found.

Do I or don't I have Spyware on my system???

Not sure I want to switch system restore back on until I now I'm clean.

 

[Andre Da Costa]

Confused! You are doing system restore, which is probably rescuing the
spyware the doing scans in normal mode.

Here's a suggestion. Turn off system restore, restart in safe mode, open
Microsoft AntiSpyware, on Scan page, choose scan options (expand), choose
full scan.

Andre

 

[Bill Sanderson]

You know, Graham--you may be mistaking the same appearance I found confusing
at first:

when an auto scan is started, you get a blue window in the lower right with
text like this in it:
-------------------------------------------------
Microsoft AntiSpyware Scheduled Scan abort
Scanning file: thusandsuch

Detected Spyware on your system:
-------------------------------------------------------------
I found this confusing too--glad to see I'm not the only one. I think they
should change it so that the text isn't displayed until the count of items
found exceeds zero!

That really is a colon at the end of that phrase, not a period--so it isn't
a simple declaration, it is a header for a list, and in your case, and mine,
the list is empty. But it is confusing to the user, I think.

 

[Graham Bird]

Agreed it is confusing. Especially when it took 4 Spyware products and
multiple scans to clean my system. I was somewhat nervous that I may not
have got rid of all the infections. Seeing a message that Spyware had been
detected did nothing to reassure me!

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Agreed it is confusing. Especially when it took 4 Spyware products and
multiple scans to clean my system. I was somewhat nervous that I may not
have got rid of all the infections. Seeing a message that Spyware had been
detected did nothing to reassure me!

Yep--thanks for reinforcing my sense of this one. I don't know if they'll
change it, but I'll push the feedback further.