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Antivirus, Security Software

Consistently at or near the top of independent efficacy testers, Avira’s AntiVir remains one of the best freeware security solutions around. Its scans are flexible, allowing the user to fully scan both internal and external hard drives, run a preloaded scan–for rootkits, for example–or customize a scan. The latest version introduces antispyware protections, scanning tech that can crack open “locked” files, improved internal security to prevent AntiVir’s files from being maliciously altered, and one-click threat removal–no more baby-sitting.
There are few interface changes in version 9, and older users are not likely notice anything different in the interface besides a refreshed banner logo. The main window offers a left side navigation with drop-down menus and a central pane for more detailed information. AntiVir opens to the Status menu, informing you of your last scan, your last definition file update, whether the real-time guard is active, and premium upgrade link. Events logs changes to the program and the Reports tab keeps a history of threats. Both are exportable.
The Local Protection and Administration navigation options reveal the Scanner, Guard, Quarantine, and Scheduler features. Combined with the Configuration button located at the top of the central pane, users can customize their scans as necessary. Quarantined file information is on display, with options to scan it again, restore, delete, and e-mail the file to Avira. The rebuilt heuristic engine retains the same choices from the previous version’s, and can be turned on or off in part or in full and offers three intensity levels. The scheduler offers much that other free antivirus programs don’t, and the help features are excellent, with mouse-over information on each feature.
Savvy users will notice the removal of the on-demand e-mail scan, and AntiVir is still challenging to fully uninstall. Despite these hang-ups and the nag screen that follows definition file updates, AntiVir offers such effective protection and a well-rounded set of features that as long as the updates keep coming, it’ll be our first line of defense.

Publisher’s description

Antivirus, Security Software

AVG’s most popular product is its free antivirus, but the company also makes two enhanced security suites that are geared for users who don’t mind paying for additional protection–as long as it’s worthwhile. AVG Anti-Virus 9 introduces a few new features, claiming faster scan times, faster boot times, and other under-the-hood improvements.
Users who’ve used AVG 8 will find the interface nearly identical, and generally it’s easy to use. From the main window, though, you must double-click to get further information on any feature, whether virus scanning, firewall protection, or updating. We’d like to see this streamlined, since there’s no reason to click on any of them without wanting more details; it is a spare interface, otherwise. You’ll find a full-blown scheduling utility for automating tasks and checking for new definitions as often as you’d like. Other perks include technical support and the ability to run on multiple operating systems. Should a virus create serious system problems, AVG creates a rescue disk to scan your computer in MS-DOS mode. The program doesn’t obviously tax your system when scanning or when running in the background. There’s also a new identity-theft assistance service, available for free and provided by a third party.
AVG Anti-Virus lacks the firewall, identity protection, antispam, and system tools that come in AVG Internet Security, although it’s definitely more robust than AVG Free. In empirical testing, scan times were slower than expected, and the new firewall database proved to have autoapproval problems with some well-known programs. It also detected some image files as threats, when two other scans decided they weren’t–we decided these were false positives. AVG might not be the fastest or the most effective available security option, but it still gets the job done and you’re better off with it.

Publisher’s description

Antivirus, Security Software

AVG’s most popular product is its free antivirus, but the company also makes two enhanced security suites that are geared for users who don’t mind paying for additional protection–as long as it’s worthwhile. AVG Anti-Virus 9 introduces a few new features, claiming faster scan times, faster boot times, and other under-the-hood improvements.
Users who’ve used AVG 8 will find the interface nearly identical, and generally it’s easy to use. From the main window, though, you must double-click to get further information on any feature, whether virus scanning, firewall protection, or updating. We’d like to see this streamlined, since there’s no reason to click on any of them without wanting more details; it is a spare interface, otherwise. You’ll find a full-blown scheduling utility for automating tasks and checking for new definitions as often as you’d like. Other perks include technical support and the ability to run on multiple operating systems. Should a virus create serious system problems, AVG creates a rescue disk to scan your computer in MS-DOS mode. The program doesn’t obviously tax your system when scanning or when running in the background. There’s also a new identity-theft assistance service, available for free and provided by a third party.
In empirical testing, scan times were slower than expected, and the new firewall database proved to have autoapproval problems with some well-known programs. It also detected some image files as threats, when two other scans decided they weren’t–we decided these were false positives. AVG might not be the fastest or the most effective available security option, but it still gets the job done and you’re better off with it.
AVG Internet Security 9.0 is faster, safer and easier to use. This is a complete solution for all the things you do online. Multiple layers of protection mean you don’t have to worry about identity theft, spam or viruses. AVG Internet Security 9.0 gives you two vital extra layers of protection:
With AVG LinkScanner whenever you’re on the web, the moment you go to click on a link, LinkScanner analyzes the page behind that link to tell you whether there’s something nasty hiding there. For added peace of mind, you also get safety ratings for your Google, Yahoo! and Bing/MSN search results.
Identity Protection makes sure your passwords, credit card information, bank account details, and other valuable data are safe from even the newest and most sophisticated threats. It’s constantly on guard, watching to make sure no program on your PC is doing something it shouldn’t.
CNET Editor’s Note: The Download Now link will download a small installer file to your desktop. Remain online and double-click the installer to proceed with the actual download.
To learn more about AVG products and to ask questions and receive answers from AVG company representatives, please visit CNET’s dedicated AVG Forum.
What’s new in this version:

• In this new edition, the combined anti-virus/anti-spyware scanner in AVG Internet Security 9.0 runs up to 50% faster than earlier versions.
• New in AVG Internet Security 9.0 is the integration between the Resident Shield, firewall, and identity protection modules. This enables the modules to share malware information with each other providing better real time protection.
• AVG Internet Security 9.0 also delivers new anti-phishing detection techniques, which can quickly an… see all new features

Antivirus, Security Software

Comodo has merged its antivirus program with Firewall Pro, creating a free security program that aims to be more to more people. Although this may frustrate some users who want only one program or the other, the installer does let you opt out of either of the components. Users are also asked to install the Comodo SafeSearch and Ask.com toolbars, so be careful if you tend to install on autopilot. CIS requires a reboot.
Resource management is better than before, with hogging all but eliminated. It provides a smorgasbord of information and options for advanced users, but it’s simple enough for beginners, and runs smoothly and silently in the background. The version 3 interface utilizes a plain white color scheme and replaces old terminology with more intuitive terms such as Summary, Firewall, Defense, and Miscellaneous. In each, there are links to relevant security issues so users can drill down to learn more about how the firewall is performing. The firewall rears its head most often when Security Alerts ask about new Internet connections as the program “learns” your computer’s behavior.
Shield-shaped buttons at the top facilitate switching between the antivirus and firewall modules, as well as a summary tab that provides a general overview. Users can toggle automatic scans of archives or downloads, scans on start-up, manage the quarantine, and schedule scans and definition file updates through a clean and comprehensible list of links. The definition file update crashed during its first use, but was stable thereafter. Scans completed at a reasonable speed, but were not blazingly fast.
A third pane, Defense+, provides more-advanced security options including locking down specific files from modification, perusing an active processes list, and protecting specific Registry keys. Comodo Internet Security’s wide range of free services are generally good, but the firewall is clearly the strongest of the bunch.

Publisher’s description

Antivirus, Security Software

The successor to Microsoft Live OneCare, Security Essentials (full review here) takes a different approach to securing your computer. The program is free with core security features intact, but abandons the additional heft of a firewall, performance tuning, and backup and restore options. Under a clean and uncluttered interface, Security Essentials wraps antivirus and antispyware engines, rootkit protection, and real-time detection courtesy of Microsoft SpyNet, the unfortunately named cloud-based service that compares file behavior across computers.
There are four tabs, each with a concise, understandable label: Home, Update, History, and Settings. From Home you can run a Quick Scan, Full Scan, or Custom Scan, and a link at the bottom of the pane lets you change the scheduled scan. In the Settings window you can schedule scans, toggle default actions, adjust real-time protection settings, and create whitelists. An Advanced option here is still fairly basic, allowing you to set Security Essentials to scan archives, removable drives, create a system restore point, or allow all users to view the History tab. Security Essentials uses labels imported from OneCare: green for all good, yellow for warning, and red for an at-risk situation.
Independent test numbers for Security Essentials weren’t available at the time of writing, although OneCare scored high detection rates. On a real-world machine, the Quick Scan completed in less than 30 seconds. Benchmarking tests from CNET Labs reveal that Security Essentials actually makes starting up and shutting down faster, but the Full Scan is much slower than many competitors. RAM usage was not insignificant, with 85 to 90MB used during a full scan, but it felt lighter. Security Essentials is basically a good set-it-and-forget-it security program, but if you want more options, you should look elsewhere.

Publisher’s description