Microsoft released for download on Monday evening another Beta 1 release of its Windows AntiSpyware product.

Microsoft officially announced its plans to field a Microsoft-branded anti-spyware product (code-named "Atlanta") in January, following its purchase of Giant Software in December, 2004. The anti-spyware beta supports Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

Microsoft released the first beta (Build number 1.0.501) of Windows AntiSpyware on January 6. Since then, the company has made available regular beta refreshes of the product. In June, Microsoft released an interim beta refresh at the same time as it extended the Windows AntiSpyware beta expiration date to December 31, 2005.

On Monday, Microsoft issued the latest public beta build (No. 1.0.615) to testers.

The latest Beta 1 update provides new signature updates to customers; provides more information on the programs and processes running on users' PCs; and eliminates the need for rebooting following the downloading of new anti-spyware signatures for some customers, according to Microsoft.

Beta 2 of Windows AntiSpyware is still slated to hit some time before the end of calendar 2005, Microsoft officials confirmed on Tuesday. But Microsoft has yet to commit to a final delivery date for the product. Microsoft will decide on that date once testers send in Beta 2 feedback, officials have said.

Currently, Windows AntiSpyware is mostly a consumer and small/mid-size business-focused offering. But Microsoft also has said it is planning an enterprise version of Windows AntiSpyware. The company has yet to release timing or other details on that product.