DriveSentry

[MidnightCowboy]

Apologies to both kendal and grimbles because I'm going to be a bit vague on both counts re: OpenDNS and DriveSentry/ThreatFire.

Here in Brazil influence is everywhere and all service utilities are restricted in one way or another. Consequently if I want a reasonable chance of being able to hold a connection I have a grand total of one ISP to choose from (there is no cable where I am and I need to use a wireless broadband). I don't pretend to understand the reasons why but there was supposedly a security issue with the use of their own DNS servers, plus quite often during peak demand they would go down anyway. These are the reasons I decided to switch to OpenDNS. Like everyone else I read things on the Net and this convinced me to make the switch.


"Mar 18, 2009: Healthcare Organizations Across the U.S. Switch to OpenDNS,
Mar 11, 2009: OpenDNS Web Content Filtering System Achieves 5 Million Milestone"

Regarding DriveSentry and ThreatFire my technical knowledge is nowhere near proficient enough to list out the technical differences, nor did I feel that such a comparison was valid for a typical review on our site. Even with this knowledge there are too many variables possible to make a direct comparison of any use. For example long before I joined the site I used DSA for over a year with no problems at all. A neighbor on my recommendation also installed DSA into a very similar environment and had regular problems with freezing. We were never able to sort out why between us so eventually he took it off. I would say if you like ThreatFire and use it without problems, then carry on. The main point in my review is what could happen if you experience problems with ThreatFire as opposed to DriveSentry. One issue that I'm certain of is that if you use a mobile broadband modem with NDIS driver and then uninstall ThreatFire with an aggressive app. like Revo set to max. then the driver will get removed along with ThreatFire and with it your Internet connection. All of the people I know who use Revo always leave it set at “Advanced”. This might not apply to all modems but it certainly affects Sony and Huawei. To date I have been unable to uncover a single issue with DriveSentry that did not allow for the full return to normal system functionality after it's removal, for whatever reason. I have also witnessed ThreatFire freezes on other PC's that refused to respond to any remedy other than disconnecting the power supply. Of course this does not happen for everyone and in terms of user numbers it is probably only a tiny percentage. That said there are enough of them for me to suggest that using DriveSentry might be a better option. In truth we need to see the DriveSentry user numbers increase to get a better level of feedback but still the forum postings reveal nothing drastic unless they're being censored. Having communicated at length with both their UK and USA offices I do not believe there is any manipulation. Also, in targeting drive access DriveSentry does adopt a unique approach compared to traditional HIPS type behavioral blockers or however you wish to categorize them. I have always encouraged the use of new technologies if there is no evidence to suggest that doing so might be detrimental to mind, body or property. I am now relying on feedback to confirm whether DriveSentry is a worthwhile choice or not, and would ask anyone with the time and facilities to take part in the exercise to please let me have their comments. Everything reported will be shared and evaluated to see if DriveSentry is worthy of it's current position. Just like Manchester United, being top of the league now still doesn't guarantee the championship, and having seen Liverpool score thirteen goals in their last three games I can understand why!

[jim]

On seeing your comments on Drive Sentry I did a lot of research on it. I found only one negative review but that was two years ago on version 2.something, all others were good. So, I downloaded it. On trying to install it I got various problems so tried to find a solution - eventually in their forum. It turned out (according to a moderator there) that they do not support 64 bit systems (mine is Vista Home Premium 64 bit). He said they would support it in the very near future but that post was 9 months ago, so who knows? There was no mention of 64 bit on any of the reviews, only that Vista was supported. So, bottom line as far as I can tell is that it appears great - on 32 bit systems at least - on all the reviews I have read..

[grimbles]

Plus Man U got beaten 2-0 by lowly Fulham

Thanks for the reply MC....a sensible approach. I'll stick with Threatfire for now (seeing as how it remains trouble free) but will definitely be keeping an eye on your progress with DriveSentry.

thanks again...much appreciated,
JIM

[MidnightCowboy]

Thanks for reminding me - I watched the Fulham game! I can only assume they are saving themselves for Europe because this display and the one against Liverpool were pretty dire!

[MidnightCowboy]

Originally Posted by jim

On seeing your comments on Drive Sentry I did a lot of research on it. I found only one negative review but that was two years ago on version 2.something, all others were good. So, I downloaded it. On trying to install it I got various problems so tried to find a solution - eventually in their forum. It turned out (according to a moderator there) that they do not support 64 bit systems (mine is Vista Home Premium 64 bit). He said they would support it in the very near future but that post was 9 months ago, so who knows? There was no mention of 64 bit on any of the reviews, only that Vista was supported. So, bottom line as far as I can tell is that it appears great - on 32 bit systems at least - on all the reviews I have read..

Thanks for that Jim. This is the jungle here mate - everything is still steam powered and 32 bit. The only 64 I hear people talking about is some sort of position?

[chris.p]

@MC

Thanks, point taken and understood. My appologies if this advice is already somewhere in the editors guide and I've missed it.

You're dead right, this advice isn't anywhere right now - but should be. Well, we're just evolving at the moment. And also having some growing pains as well - we've gone from 15,000 visits a day a few months back to 25,000 visits per day. That's bigtime. And the issues get magnified too...

Christoph's stickied that info on the Mod's board here but that doesn't help the editors of course, most aren't mods. So I guess we should also dupe that to the editors' board.

[MidnightCowboy]

Appreciating the tendency for some users to run multiple live AV components, DriveSentry confirmed last week that this can be done with Avira. Anyone getting a message to uninstall Avira can safely ignore this and carry on installing DriveSentry. There is still some debate as to if and how conflicts might arise with other antivirus software. My own advice if you insist on running two is to ditch whatever else it is you have and partner DriveSentry with Avira instead.

[MidnightCowboy]

See here:

Free Competition!

to win a free license for DriveSentry GoAnywhere.

[turnerjazz]

Any feedback so far on how DriveSentry fares compared to Avast or Avira?

I'd prefer to stick with one active AV (plus an on demand scanner). I'm currently trying out DS and have no problems so far.

[MidnightCowboy]

To my knowledge there has still not been any reliable independent testing of DriveSentry. I can only repeat what they told me and that was to remove Avast! from my machine because the protection would be the same. I guess the inference is that known bad stuff will be blocked and unknown will be prompted before it's allowed drive access which it must have in order to run, copy, connect or whatever else it was written by some backyard scum to do!
It's certainly a new dimension in security approach and if you like it stick with it.

Enter the competition and you might win a free copy of the portable to go with it!

Let us know how you get on regardless.