Recent Comments Posted

AVG has come out with version 8.5. As usual, I'm waiting a little bit before installing it. Anybody have any notable experiences?

Also, I'd love to get a reliable review of the new Comodo AV.

This product is under consideration for review.
We'd be grateful if everybody would refrain from further comment about this product here until the review appears, or the product is rejected.
You can re-start the "debate" on our Forum if you wish.

Norton Security Scan and Clean provides free on-demand scanning and removal or repair of viruses, spyware, and other security risks
It uses Symantec virus definitions to scan your computer for the latest security risks.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Norton-Security-Scan.shtml

Thanks for the correction. Oh, yes, Avast has heuristics capabilities and for the peeps who have not configured your Avast yet, here's how to locate the heuristic module.
1. Right-click the Avast tray icon.
2. Hit the top-most menu item: On-Access Protection Control
3. Hit the button: Details...>>
4. Choose which provider you want and then Hit the button: Customize.
5. Look for the Heuristic Tab. It's there. You should be able to find it.

Hope this helps.

- FreeIsEnough

Appreciate the correction.

- FreeIsEnough

Just an observation.

In the XP Control Panel main window (Classic View) and in the Security Center, an Avira icon appears. I think it is a given assumption that once an application is recognized by Windows "as it's own" then phoning Microsoft would be my next (un)educated guess. Just an observation.

- FreeIsEnough

Is it possible that NO ONE has YET discovered how to update Dr.Web and Kaspersky AVP without re-DL? Just Google it...

Will the editors, here, include
-Norman Malware Cleaner-
in their List, too?

I believe that Both
-Norton Security Scan-
and
-Norman Malware Cleaner-

are Useful Freeware Malware Removers!

I am familiar with Microsoft's Certified Partners but this is not answering my query. Even as a 'Certified Partner' why does Avira need to contact Microsoft every time I initiate a scan? The reason I want to know is because just about every other MS process that connects to the net has been exploited in one way or another for malicious purposes and if this is not an essential part of Avira's scanning requirements then it is unnecessary and should be disabled. There are too many of these "friends and family" type relationships between software. What is the point of having any network security at all unless you take all possible steps to ensure that the connections being made are necessary as well as legitimate? There is a huge gap between paranoia and complacency and I try not to be either one - just certain!

The choice of which products to review is entirely up to the Editor. You are welcome to suggest alternatives, but must accept that some will be rejected. If you want to discuss it, please use our Forum.

Am I right in thinking that the Norton scan can only be completed in full using IE with ActiveX Control enabled? In this case wouldn't it be a risk in itself? I know that there was a buffer overflow vulnerability and other issues at one time but I think this was 2006 and most likely sorted now. JT's knowledge here will be greater than mine, but just thought I'd mention it.

I have the same doubt too about Norton Security Scan. The product page, does not at all makes it clear, whether it is a standalone downloadable utility, or does it run online itself. The size listed on download page is just over 1 MB.. whats that supposed to mean?

Anupam Shriwatri, India

You can use Avast Antivirus, that one is very popular in Europe.

Norman Malware Cleaner
is a very effective Malware Removal Tool.

JonathanT,
if you try it,
you will include it in your List.

The suite has some interesting features and it's general AV/Spyware capabilities are about on a par with Avast! although script malware detection is no where near as good as Avast! or Avira. The firewall component is very poor. You could provide third party protection with Script Defender although the firewall strength is still an issue.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Security-Related/AnalogX-Script-De...

I think I get the confusion now. There are two services Norton Security Scan and Symantec Security Check (online with no pre-download). It's the online version that's needs IE and ActiveX for full functionality.

Maybe someone can explain for me what differences between antivirus and antispyware? Do antispyware can detect and remove virus?

AVZ antiviral toolkit is a great and fast on demand scanner with database update.

I've attempted to cleanup this thread by removing the childish and unwanted comments. I apologize to those legitimate posters whose posts have also been removed because of the way in which these threads are layed-out.
More detailed and more informative debate continues on our Forum, which I would urge ALL of you to join.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/freeware-forum/forumdisplay.php?f=13

-spyware is *also* stuff coming in.

-virus can *also* be stuff going out
(= think of the case of a virus that
multiplies itself by expanding into/infecting new PCs).

Finally removed Dr.Web. Thank you J.T.

There are of course many cross-overs and variables which is why the whole lot is now collectively referred to as malware. Thank you for pointing out though that my original post was maybe a bit too specific when in reality such a definition is not possible.

You are dreaming... Good luck on hoping the operator is going to avoid this giant minefield... it simply does nto work that way!

That is like expecting a flock of babies from knowing what to put in their mouth or not.

Moreover, the protection you boast for yourself as an educated and savvy user is more false than you want to think. Spend some time on your system and you will see that more than you think lurks in its belly.
you will have to spend some serious time doing that, or your assessment is of little value.

I have been on systems that bragged about the same configuration you bring up, and they were but bags of wormy rot, just that the software did not report it... thus the false sense of security.
Try it ... you will see.

I do not mean to have bursted your security bubble and for you to tremble from this point on... just don't want your words sending others on the cloud you seem to be on, and then have them cry once it's too late.
.

Agreed 100%. In my inevitable fashion I would even go even further and suggest that the first analysis should be that of self. Again I repeat that most of the infected machines I get to see are installed with Dud32, Najinsky and other assorted commercial 'wonderware'. User interaction remains one of the greatest threats, especially regarding internet security. Free or paid anything won't install into some sort of magic 'net angel' without help, but with a little knowledge and a bit of thought FREE is more than enough. Links to all you need are here on this site, and so is the help.

I'm behind a custom-rule configured NAT/SPI router.
I use
-Virtualization (Sandboxing)
-Instant System Recovery software.
-Proxomintron.

No resident AV; no software Firewall; no HIPS!
The last two (2) years, I've visited the nastiest sites.

Dr. Web CureIt,
Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool,
and Norman Malware Cleaner
have found Nothing.

I have downloaded the Trial Versions
of all known AVs.
In the worst case, the found just cookies...

I would definitely continue to use Avira, but I've noticed two problems that I can't stand:

1) Avira seems to affect how the computer is restarted. Basically, it somehow causes Windows to kill off all processes without waiting for the process to close naturally. This can cause data loss.

2) Perhaps as a precautionary measure, Avira won't allow alternate Windows shell blackbox/bblean/bbmien (see boxshots.org) to run. Instead of presenting a dialog, however, the process just hangs. Killing off Avira allows blackbox.exe to function normally.

This has been tested on two fresh installs of Windows XP. I do not know if anyone else is affected. I've since switched to the clunkier Avast.

Any possibility of reviewing Comodo Free Anti Virus?

Are tou creasy???Like a Firewall is good but the AV make fals Alarm and work not too much

I personally would like to see the results of several more tests before recommending it.
Thanks

Hey Good article,Thanks for it.

Avira is the best in my opninion.
smooth running, excellent detention rates and doesn't slow down my PC.
Tried all the high end brand names like Kaspresky.
I'm sticking with Avira.
The version 9 is major winner in my book!

is PCPro independent?

I am using Avira & Sandboxie without any problem. And after hearing so many good things about Drive Sentry, I tried to install it. However, I got this message during installation that Drive Sentry might run into some conflicts with Avira & Sandboxie & so urged me to uninstall them. So, I did not proceed with the installation of Drive Sentry.

So, can any one advice me, if it is safe to go ahead with the installation of Drive Sentry without uninstalling Avira & Sandboxie? Did any one try these 3 programs together?

What works on one computer might not work on another, the only way to really see is to try it on your machine. Just make sure you've got an image backup handy in case something goes wrong.

Thanks killerreds. Just out of curiosity, did you get any prompts from drive sentry about possible conflicts with Sandboxie & Avira, when you installed it? I am asking this because,during installation, Drive Sentry warned me that I will be facing conflicts with not only Sandboxie, but also avira & urged me to uninstall both.

And thanks for telling me about Returnil. It sure looks pretty good.

Hey, thanks for posting that link. I know that reviews can be biased at different sites, but we never know! But, I am not really comfortable with fixing the computer if something goes wrong. I guess I will stick with Avira & Sandboxie for the time being, as everything seems to work fine & I am only a moderate user of the internet.

Of course problems on some people's computers are unavoidable but most users I've seen have no problems while running Returnil. And I don't understand the poster's statement of "And before turning on the "Virtual State" you must use all software installed to register it in the windows." because one can simply turn on Session Lock which is immediate.

Norton internet security scan is just a farce n fake. Each time I download it and run it will comment that it is unable to get definitions. Its really waste.

I had exactly the same problem! The program downloaded, unpacked and sat there. Every time I tried to run the program using the Norton icon, the program would say it could not download updates. Wonder if Kaspersky is any better?...

You can read about Geswall here:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-browser-protection-utility.htm

So, can you substantiate your claims?

Is this the cut-down version or the full package?

There are still some links to be found on the web for the full 2009 BitDefender Security Suite (not just the free on demand scanner). Users should be aware though that the firewall component in this package is very poor and the program consistently causes major problems on some systems when trying to remove it. They even produce a separate uninstall tool to help you get rid of it.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Uninstallers/Bitdefender-Uninstall-To...

In my opinion these types of licenses only appear when there is a problem in an attempt to increase user numbers, otherwise why give away commercial software for free? There are other totally free options from say PC Tools or Comodo which I feel would be a better choice and do a better job.

I recently tried to click on the kaspersky virus remover link and both of them are not working.

I suggest using AntiVir. The new version includes antispyware protection that was previously only available in the shareware version.

Can we still disable ADS on new AVIRA FREE as stated ? Read in AVIRA forum that blocking or removing notifier in 9.x free will require a REBOOT to install uptates.

I was just wondering for my own personal knowledge, would you recommend leaving avira settings as default or would you tune them up a bit to suit specific needs? I always try to get the best possible protection from a anti-virus so I have the scan level set to high. I just wish that anti-virus companies would have better help files to assist in deciding what would work better for certain computers or computer habits.

It's really you're own decision, if you're willing to accept the possibility of some more false positives and slightly higher resources usage then you can switch to heuristics to high.

http://lifehacker.com/5234347/panda-cloud-antivirus-is-a-lightweight-alw...

does anyone has any thoughts about this?

From their site:
'Once the Beta period has finished, the detection capacity of the antivirus will reduce considerably as it will no longer have access to our Collective Intelligence servers.

From then on, you can get the free version and benefit from special conditions when you buy the full service.'