BitDefender Antivirus
October 2nd, 2008
Reviews for BitDefender have been largely positive, and the home version of the suite was given the PC Answers editor's choice award in a comparative review in May 2007. As of June 2007, BitDefender has passed Virus Bulletin's VB100 independent tests 14 times out of 18 since first tested in 2002. It has also achieved an advanced certification from AV Comparatives for on-demand scanning, and standard level certification for catching unknown viruses, though was criticised for its slower scanning speed and higher instances of false positives. It is also the least expensive option from the top three antivirus solutions, as ranked by PC World.
Older versions of BitDefender are made available for free download when newer versions are released. The first version which was made freely available was version 8. As of November 2007, version 10 of BitDefender is freely available for download. Unlike the commercial version, the free version only offers an on-demand virus scan, and doesn't provide real time scanning, and may therefore, be less suitable for machines with continuous connection to the internet.
Bitdefender has been installed on many computers with Windows Vista and currenlty is getting it's popularity. SOFTWIN proved, that they can compete on the same level as many other giants of antivirus software on the market.
AVG Antivirus
May 5th, 2008
The brand name for AVG Technologies' Security Software is AVG, which comes from their first product, Anti-Virus Guard. AVG Technologies is a privately held Czech company formed in 1991 by Jan Gritzbach and Tomas Hofer. In early September 2005, a large stake in the company was bought by Intel Corporation. On April 19, 2006, ewido Networks became a part of the AVG Technologies group.
On November 6, 2006, Microsoft announced that AVG Security products would be available directly from the Windows Security Center in Windows Vista. Since June 7, 2006, the AVG software has also been used as an optional component of GFI Mail Security, produced by GFI Software. On December 5, 2007, AVG Technologies announced the acquisition of Exploit Prevention Labs, developer of the LinkScanner safe surfing technology. On February 8, 2008, Grisoft announced that they would change the company name from Grisoft to AVG Technologies. This change was made to increase the effectiveness of their marketing activities.
AVG Technologies provides a number of products from the AVG range, suitable for Windows 2000 onwards. In addition to this, AVG Technologies also provides Linux and FreeBSD versions of the software. AVG Anti-Virus is available in both a free and commercial editions. As of AVG 8.0, the commercial edition AVG Anti-Virus 8.0 product includes the AVG Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, LinkScanner, Anti-Rootkit, Web Shield and Security Toolbar protection technologies. AVG Anti-Virus plus Firewall 8.0 adds integrated firewall protection.
AVG Internet Security 8.0 is a full suite solution which brings together the AVG Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, LinkScanner, Anti-Rootkit, Web Shield, Security Toolbar, Firewall, Anti-Spam and System Tools protection technologies.
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.0 includes the AVG Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware protection, plus the AVG Search-Shield component of the patent pending LinkScanner technology.
All versions of the AVG products are compatible with the 64-bit edition of Windows.
All editions run on Windows Vista. All commercial versions of the AVG software are available on a trial basis. Each trial allows all users (including businesses and institutions) a 30-day trial period. After this time a fee is required, which yields a key that unlocks the program for continued use.
AVG Technologies also sells AVG antivirus and Internet security solutions for web/file servers or email servers running either Linux, FreeBSD or Windows.
AVG Internet Security Network Edition 8.0 provides centrally controlled comprehensive protection for workstations and file servers. AVG Internet Security SBS Edition 8.0 adds e-mail server and Microsoft SharePoint server protection.
AVG Anti-Virus Network Edition 8.0 provides centrally controlled Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware protection for workstations and file servers. AVG Anti-Virus SBS Edition 8.0 adds e-mail server and Microsoft SharePoint server protection.
AVG File Server Edition 8.0 provides Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware protection for file servers.
AVG E-mail Server Edition provides Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware protection for most popular e-mail servers.
AVG features most of the common functions available in modern antivirus and Internet security programs, including periodic scans, scans of sent and received emails (including adding footers to the emails indicating this), the ability to "heal" some virus-infected files, and a "virus vault" in which infected files are held.
The patent pending LinkScanner technology built into all AVG 8.0 products provides real-time protection against exploits and drive-by downloads. LinkScanner includes: Search-Shield - a safe search component that scans Google, Yahoo! and MSN search results in real-time and places safety ratings next to each link; plus Active Surf-Shield - a safe surf component that scans the contents of web site in real-time to ensure it's safe being opened.
McAfee VirusScan
April 8th, 2008
The 2007 edition of VirusScan Plus integrates antivirus, firewall and anti-spyware capabilities.
It includes, amongst other things;
On-access file scanning
Inbound and outbound firewall protection
Spyware protection
Daily definition updates (except the weekend)
Daily pop-up reminders, appearing at random intervals, even over full screen applications and video games. This feature cannot be disabled.
McAfee X-Ray rootkit detection
McAfee SiteAdvisor - displays a safety rating for websites based on tests for evidence of spam, malware and phishing
McAfee SystemGuards - monitors the computer for activity that may be caused by virus infection or hacker activity
VirusScan Plus 2007 is compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista only.
McAfee also produces an enterprise-level product named VirusScan Enterprise which is designed for use on larger networks. It contains features designed to make management of antivirus software on multiple computers easier. Unlike the home-user edition, it consists of a client application which is loaded on all networked computers and a server application, through which signature and application updates are installed and settings for all client programs are configured. Clients can be controlled with the ePolicy Orchestrator (EPO) or with ProtectionPilot (PRP). ProtectionPilot is easier to configure and use but only control VirusScan. EPO is a unified console (it can control VirusScan and other McAfee products).
In tests by Virus Bulletin and other independent consumer organizations, McAfee virus scan has not fared well, frequently failing to detect some common viruses.
A review of VirusScan 2006 by CNET criticised the product due to "pronounced performance hits in two of our three real-world performance tests" and some users reviewing the same product reported encountering technical problems.
Some versions of the VirusScan engine use all available CPU cycles. The company was founded in 1987 as McAfee Associates, named for its founder John McAfee. Network Associates was formed in 1997 as a merger of McAfee Associates and Network General. In 2004, a major restructuring occurred. In the spring, the company sold its Magic Solutions business to Remedy, a subsidiary of BMC Software. In the summer of 2004, the company sold the Sniffer Technologies business to a venture capital backed firm named 'Network General' - the same name as the original owner of Sniffer Technologies. Also, the company changed its name back to McAfee to reflect its focus on security-related technologies.
Among other companies bought and sold by McAfee (formerly known as Network Associates) is Trusted Information Systems, which developed the Firewall Toolkit, which was the free software foundation for the commercial Gauntlet Firewall, which was later sold by McAfee to Secure Computing Corporation. Network Associates, as a result of brief ownership of TIS Labs/NAI Labs/Network Associates Laboratories/McAfee Research, was highly influential in the world of Open Source software, as that organization produced portions of the Linux, FreeBSD, and Darwin operating systems, and developed portions of the BIND name server software and SNMP version 3.
Leading up to the TIS Labs acquisition, McAfee had acquired Calgary, Canada-based FSA Corporation, which helped the company diversify its security offerings away from just client-based antivirus software by bringing on board its own network and desktop encryption technologies. The FSA team also oversaw the creation of a number of other technologies that were leading edge at the time, including firewall, file encryption, and public key infrastructure product lines. While those product lines had their own individual successes including PowerBroker, written by Dean Huxley and Dan Freedman and now sold by Symark Software), the growth of antivirus always outpaced the growth of the other security product lines. It is fair to say that the company remains best known for its antivirus and antispam product lines.
On June 9, 1998 Network Associates agreed to acquire Dr Solomon's Group P.L.C, the leading European manufacturer of Antivirus software, for $642 million in stock.
On April 2, 2003, McAfee acquired IntruVert Networks for $100 million. According to Network World, "IntruVert's technology focus is on intrusion-prevention, which entails not just detecting attacks, but blocking them. The IntruVert product line can be used as a passive intrusion-detection system, just watching and reporting, or it can be used in the intrusion-prevention mode of blocking a perceived attack."
On April 5, 2006, McAfee bought out SiteAdvisor for a reputed $70 million in competition with Symantec, a service that warns users if downloading software or filling out forms on a site may obtain malware or spam. In January 2006, McAfee agreed to pay a fine of US$50 million to the SEC for a practice known as channel stuffing that served to inflate their revenue to their investors.
In October 2006 McAfee fired their President Kevin Weiss and their CEO George Samaneuk resigned under the cloud of a recent SEC investigation which also caused the departure of Kent Roberts, the General Counsel, earlier in the year. In late December 2006 both Weiss and Samaneuk had share option grant prices revised upwards by McAfee's board.
In January 2007 under pressure from ex-employees worldwide, several of which backed a class action in the US, McAfee agreed to honor share options granted but which are unable to be exercised due to the self-imposed blackout on employee options dealing.
On March 5, 2007 McAfee named Dave DeWalt chief executive officer and president. He has replaced interim CEO Dale Fuller. Fuller will remain on McAfee's Board. DeWalt is expected to be named to the board of McAfee.
McAfee has developed a number of product packages for their customers, the most recent ones being for consumer McAfee Total Protection and for business McAfee Total Protection - SMB, McAfee Total Protection - SMB, Advanced, McAfee Total Protection - Enterprise and McAfee Total Protection - Enterprise - Advanced. McAfee Total Protection - Consumer combines a number of security tools and is meant to compete with bundled solutions such as Symantec's Norton 360 and Microsoft's Windows Live OneCare.
Kaspersky Antivirus
April 8th, 2008
Kaspersky Anti-Virus has numerous features, including real-time protection, detection and removal of viruses, trojans, worms, spyware, adware and keyloggers, as well as detection and removal of rootkits. It also includes automatic updates and a tool for creating rescue disks. In addition, KAV prevents itself from being disabled without user permission.
The program is well known for its high detection rates. According to AV-Comparatives, Kaspersky Anti-Virus rates highly amongst virus scanners in terms of detection rates. Since 2003, the program has also passed all Virus Bulletin tests. In addition, PC World recently awarded Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6 the Editor's Choice in its 2007 anti-virus comparative.
Kaspersky Anti Virus 7.0 was "A-listed" by the prestigious UK PC journal PC Pro in late 2007, where it scored very highly for detection and removal of malware. PC Pro attribute this to “a combination of the software’s heuristic scanning and uncompromising approach to database updates. While many packages check for new virus signatures on a daily basis, Kaspersky runs to an hourly schedule, improving your PC’s chances of being immunized before an infection reaches it.”
Kaspersky Anti-Virus generally has a fast response rate, being able to provide signatures for new viruses in zero to two hours after outbreak on average.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus lacks certain features found in Kaspersky Internet Security. These missing features include a personal firewall, a parental control tool and an anti-spam application.
In addition, Kaspersky Anti-Virus, like the majority of its competitors, is incompatible with numerous other security applications. Examples of such incompatible software include Norton Antivirus and McAfee VirusScan.
A edition of Kaspersky's anti-virus solution for Linux workstations is available to business consumers. It offers much of the features included in the mainstream version for Windows, including on-access and on-demand scanners.
In addition, specialized editions of Kaspersky Anti-Virus is available for different varieties of Linux servers and offers protection from most forms of malware.
This is one of the most recognized and used antivirus programms in the world. And those people, who choose it, know what they pay for!
Norton Antivirus
February 18th, 2008
Norton AntiVirus is sold as a standalone product and is also included as part of Norton Internet Security and Norton SystemWorks. There is also a standalone corporate version called Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition. It is aimed at centrally managed corporate environments and has features not present in the retail version of the software.
Norton AntiVirus 2006 introduced spyware and adware detection in full system scans as well as the auto-protect feature. Norton AntiVirus 2006 also introduced the Norton Protection Center, a one stop interface that aggregates all the security data a user needs to know about their PC and displays it on an easy to understand screen. Also introduced in Norton AntiVirus 2006 was home page hijacking protection and new product features throughout the year.
Faulty Update to Norton AntiVirus 2006 Users On July 25, 2006, Symantec released a faulty Norton AntiVirus update affecting Norton AntiVirus 2006. Many users of Symantec Norton AntiVirus 2006 and any product that contained Norton AntiVirus 2006, such as Norton Internet Security 2006 and Norton SystemWorks 2006, experienced difficulties due to the faulty update sent via LiveUpdate. Users reported getting an onscreen message stating that "Norton AntiVirus 2006 does not support the repair feature" and asking that they uninstall and reinstall Norton AntiVirus.
Symantec said the faulty update was downloaded to customers between 1PM and 7PM on that day. The security vendor recommended the affected users either download a workaround tool or follow steps posted on their site. Symantec said in a statement that they expected to "deliver a repair patch to affected users by the end of day, Monday, July 31, 2006." Symantec never did issue a repair patch for the problem.
Version 2007 (14.0) After many years of customer complaints regarding the speed and system resource utilization of the product, Symantec responded in 2007 with a much needed rewrite of the code in an attempt to make the product lighter and faster. Installer size in Norton AntiVirus 2007 was reduced by utilizing 7-Zip technology.
Norton AntiVirus 2007 automatically detects and blocks viruses, spyware, rootkits and worms. Several of its key features are Rootkit Protection which finds and removes hidden threats in the operating system, Internet Worm Protection that blocks viruses, spyware and worms without specific signatures, email and instant message scanning that detects, removes or blocks infected attachments and Full System Scan which performs a deep scan to remove existing viruses, spyware and other threats. Norton Protection Center provides a central place to easily check overall security settings. Its Live Update™ Notice alerts you to new features, product updates and threat advisories as available throughout the renewable service period.
Version 2008 (15.0) Norton AntiVirus 2008 was released on August 28, 2007. It includes new features such as SONAR (Symantec Online Network for Advanced Response) technology, which detects potentially malicious code before traditional virus definitions are available. SONAR works by monitoring programs behavior rather than looking for signatures. Norton AntiVirus 2008 also includes Browser Defender, which protects Internet Explorer from drive by downloads and unpatched exploits. Norton AntiVirus 2008 also includes One-Click Support, Home Network Security Status (displays status of Norton AntiVirus on all PC's in your network), and improved performance (about 60% faster than Norton AntiVirus 2007.
According to an article by the Washington Post, Norton Antivirus had one of the worst average response times for providing virus definition updates based on the worst virus outbreaks of 2005, lagging behind every major competitor, including NOD32, Kaspersky, Quick Heal, F-Secure, Sophos, Avira, Trend Micro, F-Prot, Panda, Protector Plus, AVG, avast!, ClamWin, and McAfee.
For everyday viruses, according to an article by Eweek titled Why Is Symantec So Slow with Updates?, Symantec was the only vendor that provided virus definition updates on a weekly basis, as opposed to competitors such as McAfee that provides them on a daily basis or Eset, Sophos, Kaspersky or Panda that provide them several times a day.
Symantec did provide frequent beta and "Intelligent Updater" definitions in the form of manually downloadable 8-10 MB packages (although impractical for daily use for even highly technical users) as well as daily updates for LiveUpdate Platinum customers such as large corporations and businesses.
Daily LiveUpdate definitions are, however, available for users of later versions of Norton AntiVirus (version 2006 or higher).
Norton AntiVirus 2007 advises during installation that it is incompatible with popular programs ZoneAlarm and Spy Sweeper. During installation, the purchaser receives warnings that these programs are incompatible, and should be uninstalled from the system before continuing. Since the purchaser is also advised to uninstall other antivirus programs, this would leave very little security indeed for anyone connected directly to the internet during installation.
The incompatibility warnings have caused annoyance for Norton customers who purchased Norton AntiVirus 2007 with no warning or notice of the incompatibility. However, the warning as to ZoneAlarm firewall only (without ZoneAlarm antivirus or spyware installed) has been ignored during installation of Norton Antivirus 2007 without calamity.
Norton AntiVirus has on occasion identified other software incorrectly as "viruses" or "trojans" and deleted them; for instance, on 2007-05-17, Pegasus Mail was added to the NAV virus definitions list and removed from the systems of users. This restriction was quickly corrected in a subsequent virus definition update. In July 2007, many Steam users reported that Norton AntiVirus would not allow Steam to run Counter-Strike or other games due to related files being mislabelled as trojans.
The 20 Reasons The World Despises Norton Antivirus is a sarcastic article that addresses most of the major issues with Norton Antivirus. It was quickly swept into mainstream acceptance despite its authors objection that he was simply joking. The article was noted by the University of Rhode Island and also became the second highest link on a Google search for "Norton Antivirus".
