By MATTHEW FORDAHL AP Technology Writer
Microsoft Corp. created the world's most popular operating system _
one that's also heartily embraced by hackers and virus writers. And
it begat the world's top Web browser, which makes it all too easy to
mistakenly download and install spyware, adware and other garbage.
You'd think the world's largest software company, which presumably
knows its own Windows and Internet Explorer code, would have long ago
come up with something to repair PCs possessed by malicious programs.
Think again.
Though Microsoft regularly releases bug fixes, security patches and
even the occasional virus-removal tool, it has only recently made
programs available to help people wrangle back control of their
computers after they've clicked the wrong pop-up ad, opened a rogue
attachment or installed adware-packed freebies.
The company now has two free programs to help rid PCs of unwanted
pests. Though Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool and
Microsoft AntiSpyware show some promise, they aren't close to being
magic bullets.
I tested the programs on a Windows XP computer I borrowed from my
wife's cousin. The 3-year-old PC, a Gateway running Windows XP Home
Edition, was basically unusable.
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Monty Solomon (