antivirus posts

Filed under: Security, Utilities, Windows, Microsoft, Freeware, Windows x64

Microsoft Security Essentials rated best free antivirus for Windows

by Lee Mathews Oct 31st 2009

Thousands of downloads. Countless positive reviews on software blogs around the Internet. It's been quite a ride so far for Microsoft Security Essentials.

In AV Comparative's most recent report on malware removal, MSE was the only free antivirus rated Advanced+. That ranking placed it alongside big names like Norton, Kaspersky, and F-Secure. Security Essentials also beat out technician favorite ESET, which managed only an Advanced rating.

It's also worth noting that only three antivirus apps - Norton 2010, eScan, and Security Essentials - scored marks of good or better in removal of malware and removal of leftovers. So not only has MSE beaten free competitors like AVG (version 8.5 tested, not 9.0), Avira, and Avast, it also posted test scores equal to or better than a dozen antivirus programs you'd have to pay for.

Well done, Microsoft!

[via Ars Technica]

Tags: antivirus, malware, Microsoft Security Essentials, MicrosoftSecurityEssentials, morro, mse, trojan, virus

Filed under: Security, Windows, Freeware

Six free antivirus programs made for your Windows 7 system

by Lee Mathews Oct 24th 2009

Yesterday, I showed you a pain-free way to get rid of excess software that comes bundled on new systems and replace it with high-quality free programs. Those of you who want a bit more choice than what Ninite offers will probably do your installs manually -- so let's take a look at some antivirus options for your Windows 7 system.

There are plenty of pay-for programs you probably already about, like Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky and Trend Micro. I'm going to focus on the free options -- of which there are many!

Hey, you just paid for an OS or a whole new computer -- why not save a few bucks if you can?

Tags: antivirus, avast, avg, avira, comodo, free, malware, MSE, security essentials, SecurityEssentials, trojan, virus

Filed under: Security, Windows, Microsoft, Freeware, Windows x64

Update Microsoft Security Essentials definitions manually - no Windows Update required

by Lee Mathews Oct 20th 2009

While Microsoft Security Essentials has gotten mostly glowing reviews so far, some users are still hesitant to install it. One thing holding up some users is Windows Update.

You can't update your Security Essentials definitions automatically if the Windows Update service is disabled. And while keeping your system fully patched is a necessity, not everyone wants to allow Windows to do it for them - they prefer the going manual route.

Fortunately, Microsoft knows this. After all, Security Essentials is based on Forefront - their enterprise antivirus product. And in the enterprise it's common practice to install updates manually.

To that end, Security Essentials definitions can be downloaded as a standalone executable from Microsoft. They're available from the Malware Protection Center where you'll also find the current defs for Forefront and Defender.

Download the .exe yourself, run it, and your Security Essentials is up-to-date! Better yet, set up an app like Ketarin to handle scheduled downloads for you and save yourself a step.

Tags: antivirus, definitions, morro, security-essentials, update, windows-update

Filed under: Security, Windows, Microsoft, Freeware, Windows x64

Microsoft Security Essentials enjoys warm reception in first week

by Lee Mathews Oct 18th 2009

I'm a huge fan of Security Essentials (and Windows 7, and a number of other MS products, but I digress). It's quickly become my recommended free antivirus app of choice and protects all three of the laptops in my house. And I've got plenty of company.

The Microsoft Malware Protection Center blog has posted some interesting numbers. After its first week, Security Essentials has already been installed more than 1.5 million times. From the approximately 535,000 machines reporting statistics, MSE has logged over 4 million detections.

44% of MSE users are already running Windows 7 with XP following at 33% and the remaining 23% on Vista. The number of detections per OS is also interesting. 52% of the 4 million reported were found on Windows XP systems compared to only 32% on Vista.

Windows 7 users fared even better. Though they represent the largest group of MSE users, only 16% of detections came from systems running Microsoft's latest OS. The post also reports 1/3 of these machines are using the 64-bit version, which "is even more resistant to malware than 32-bit due to PatchGuard," states Microsoft's Joe Faulhaber.

Security Essentials is a free download, and is available directly from Microsoft.

Tags: antivirus, live-onecare, malware, morro, mse, security essentials, SecurityEssentials, trojan, virus, windows-defender

Filed under: Security, Utilities, Windows

AVG releases version 9 - Free version to drop on October 15th

by Lee Mathews Oct 5th 2009

AVG 9 is finally here -- and like other 2009/2010 antivirus suites the emphasis in the new version is on speed, performance, and minimizing the impact on system resources.

Even the install process has been streamlined, with developers reducing the number of tedious, finger-numbing mouse clicks from 22 to 11. Thank you, AVG, for doing this. It's a little thing, but no techy enjoys tapping "next" nearly two dozen times.

Grisoft says scanning speeds have been increased by as much as 50% and that version 9 also reduces Windows boot lag by 10 to 15%. The firewall is more intuitive and has been made less intrusive -- another small but welcome change.

The paid versions are available now through the AVG web site, and we've been told that the much-loved free version will be good to go in ten days.

If you're a believer in free antivirus, your preferred version will be up for grabs on October 15th. Keep your browser tuned to free.avg.com -- that's where the download will appear when it goes live. Of course, you'll also be able to read about the release here at Download Squad.

Tags: antimalware, antivirus, avg, protection, secutiry, trojan

Filed under: Security, Utilities, Windows, Microsoft, Freeware, Windows x64

Microsoft Security Essentials leaves beta, available for download 9/29/2009

by Lee Mathews Sep 28th 2009

We knew it was coming soon, and now we know when: tomorrow, or - depending on whether you read this post before midnight - today.

Yes, Microsoft Security Essentials is set to shed the beta tag and will be available for public download starting September 29, 2009.

Many of our readers have been using the successor to Live OneCare since it first appeared as a leaked (and then official) beta build back in June of this year. Reviews have generally been very favorable. MSE has been praised for its good detection rates, infrequent false positives, scanning performance, and minimal resource utilization.

Once the download is live, you'll be able get Security Essentials right from Microsoft's web site. Chances are good that you will also be able to get your hands on the final version from Softpedia - just in case you need a backup plan.

MSE will be offered to users in 19 countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

If you've used the MSE beta, share your experience in the comments!

Tags: antimalware, antivirus, microsoft, morro, mse, security-essentials

Filed under: Security, Windows, Commercial

Sunbelt offering a lifetime of Vipre antivirus for $99

by Lee Mathews Sep 25th 2009

Sunbelt's Vipre might not be as well known as Norton or McAfee, but it's definitely a solid choice in desktop malware and virus protection.

Now, thanks to the fine people at HSN who also bring you products like Tony Little fitness gear and Carol Alt's line of cosmetics you can score Vipre's protection until you're stone dead for a mere $99.90. Plus $6.95 shipping and handling, of course.

For added craziness, you can even cover the tab in three equal installments of $33.30.

Let's put this into perspective: a three-year sub for Norton Internet Security will run you $164.99. At that price, you'd be able to buy Vipre for this entire lifetime and 65% of any additional existence you luck into afterward. That's pretty sweet. A little new age, perhaps, but still an excellent deal.

[via Sunbelt Blog]

Tags: antimalware, antivirus, AV, budget, deal, lifetime, malware, norton, sunbelt, trojan, vipre

Filed under: Security, Symbian, Mobile Minute

Mobile Minute: ESET to release security app for Symbian smartphones

by Lee Mathews Aug 23rd 2009

ESET is one of the most respected antivirus providers around, and they're not new to the mobile world. They've been selling a WinMo product for some time.

Now, they're making a push for another segment of the smartphone ecosystem -- those running Symbian OS.

The new product will not only provide protection against malicious software targetting Symbian phones, but ESET also plans to include a remote wipe feature. For the $24.95 annual price tag it's likely to carry (or just north of $37 for two years), that's not a bad deal at all.

There will also be a built-in firewall for added protection. The SMS spam filter which ships with the Windows Mobile version will not, however, be included.

[via ComputerActive]

Tags: antivirus, cellular-phone, eset, firewall, nod32, remote-wipe, smartphone

Filed under: Security, News, Windows, Beta

Trend Micro provides better web-based virus cleanup with Housecall v7

by Lee Mathews Aug 20th 2009

It's already been a big week for Windows antivirus, with the rollout of Immunet's new cloud based product and the first beta release of Avast! 5.0. Trend Micro also has an update for us -- a new version of their popular web-based scanner, Housecall.

Housecall v7 adds several new features and enhancements, including improved scanning speed and scanning history and restore functionality. On my test system, the full scan took just under three minutes. Not bad at all for a web-based tool.

Perhaps the most important change is that Housecall is now browser-independent, a change that is sure to be welcomed by non-IE users.

Remember, Housecall does not provide realtime detection. It's designed to complement your existing security software or to give you a fast, easy way to scan and clean infected machines that didn't have antivirus software installed.

It's also totally free to use, which is (almost always) a good thing when it comes to virus detection and removal.

Tags: antivirus, housecall, malware, security, trend-micro, trojan, virus, web-based

First beta download of Avast 5.0 free antivirus released [gallery]

by Lee Mathews Aug 19th 2009

It's a little bit behind schedule (it was slated for the end of July/early August), but the first Avast 5.0 beta has been released for testing.

The most noticeable change for most users will be the restyled interface - gone is the overstylized media player look. There are, of course, a number of other improvements and new features which I mentioned back in July.

Bear in mind that this is a full-on beta. The forum post lists numerous features that are not yet implemented including rootkit detection. Definitions are also not fully up to date and the behavior shield is not fully active either. On top of that, Windows 7's action center doesn't recognize Avast 5 as an antivirus program yet.

Casual users looking for protection should steer clear for now. Experienced users who understand the risks and want to see what Avast.next will look like? Go nuts. Download it from the post and try it out!

Otherwise, check the gallery after the break! The final product is due in October, and we'll keep you up to date on its progress.

Tags: antivirus, avast, malware, security, spyware

Filed under: Security, News

Satan gets frostbite, security providers form coalition to fight malware

by Lee Mathews Aug 17th 2009

Remember the other day when I said I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the security providers join forces for the greater good?

Sophos' Graham Cluely has this morning announced the formation of the Industry Connections Security Group under the umbrella of the IEEE Standards Association's Industry Connections program. Initially the group includes Sophos, Microsoft, Symantec, McAfee, AVG, and Trend Micro.

While Cluely states that the security providers shared information in the past, he adds that it's been in a mostly "Here's a truckload of new malware samples, enjoy!" kind of way. One of the primary objectives of the ICSG is to standardize how information is shared and to develop "an electronic delivery mechanism that not only shares the malware samples, but can also include useful information such as the website where the samples were found."

The IEEE's ICSG website notes that while the bad guys have been doing this for ages - sharing toolkits and other code freely - the security providers have mostly been operating in isolation.

Now that they're organizing, here's hoping the collaboration can make a difference in the battle against malware.

Tags: antivirus, collaboration, coppoeration, IEEE, malware, mcafee, microsoft, security-providers, sophos, spyware, standards, symantec, trend

Filed under: Security, Windows, Commercial, Freeware, Beta, Windows x64

Avast 5 coming in October, beta testing in two weeks

by Lee Mathews Jul 21st 2009

It's been quite a while since the crew at Avast released a major version, so this news should be very welcome to its 80 million + users. Version 5 is slated for release this October, and beta testing will begin in just a couple weeks.

What's new? For starters, the interface has received some obvious TLC - gone is the option of switching between the simple and enhanced UIs. Under the hood, Avast 5 now supports heuristics and will feature an improved and optimized detection engine. From the official blog post, "It may sound like a cliché, but it's a fact: the new engine can detect more viruses, while actually consuming less resources."

Version 5 also boasts detection of PUPs (potentially unwanted programs) and a new code emulator that is better able to detect unknown malware packers. Avast has also tuned the program to minimize impact on startup and shutdown times.

Paid versions include a virtualization component as well, likely similar to the one used by Sunbelt in Vipre. As you can see in the screenshot, the new version of the Internet Security suite will also include a firewall and anti-spam module.

Here's some great news for current Avast users: the upgrade to version 5 will be free to anyone with a valid license. When was the last time you saw the big guys (Norton, McAfee) offering that?

Tags: antivirus, avast, free, malware, rootkit, security, spyware, trojan

Filed under: Security, Windows, Troubleshooting, DLS 101

DLS 101 - How to spot a fake Windows antivirus program

by Lee Mathews Jul 20th 2009

One of the most common problems I tackle on Windows computers is the removal of rogue antivirus programs. Just what is a rogue antivirus? It's malware that disguises itself as a legitimate antivirus program.

Unlike Avast, AVG, Kaspersky, Norton, or any of the other real antivirus options out there, a rogue will do nothing to protect you. Rather, it's going to try to deceive you into paying for a full version or removal tool. It may even open a backdoor to your system and start downloading other annoying, nasty programs.

How do these programs get on people's computers in the first place? Usually through deceptive pop-ups on web. Often these "alerts" will try to trick you into thinking:

porn and illegal files have been found on your computer
a scan has found virus and malware infections on your system
your system is totally unprotected

They're all scare tactics designed to get you to clicking something that you really don't want to click. Some go to great lengths to deceive, copying actual Windows screens as closely as possible.

Tags: antivirus, dls-101, malware, rogue-antivirus, security, spyware, trojan, virus

Filed under: Security, Windows, Microsoft, Freeware, Beta, Windows x64

Microsoft Security Essentials tested, passes with flying colors

by Lee Mathews Jun 26th 2009

Regular Download Squad readers already know that I've been testing Microsoft's new Security Essentials since it first appeared in the wild last week and that I've been quite impressed with it so far. Some commenters weren't impressed, however, waving the NOD32 flag even though SE removed threats from my machine that NOD had missed.

AV-Test Labs has now put SE through a slightly more grueling test than scanning my piddly PC. They threw 3,200 different bots, trojans, and viruses along with a slew of items designed to trigger false positives and Security Essentials was up for the task.

In an email to Computerworld, Andreas Marx of AV-Test reported "All files were properly detected and treated by the product," said Marx in an e-mail. "That's good, as several other [antivirus] scanners are still not able to detect and kill all of these critters yet. None of the clean files were noted as malicious." The program was also able to tackle rootkits, though AV-Test will put it through more comprehensive testing before making a verdict on that particular ability.

Marx also addressed the concerns that SE was using Microsoft's own servers for cloud-based scanning. "The scanner works with the locally-installed anti-virus and anti-spyware databases -- it doesn't appear to use 'in-the-cloud scanning' methods," he stated.

If you missed out on the original download from Microsoft, don't fret. The nice folks at Softpedia have mirrored the SE files for you.

Tags: antivirus, malware, microsoft-security-essentials, morro, rootkit, virus

Filed under: Security, Windows, Microsoft, Freeware, Beta, Windows x64

Microsoft Security Essentials public beta now available to download

by Lee Mathews Jun 23rd 2009

It leaked last week, but it didn't take long for Microsoft to follow up with a legitimate download for interested testers: the download page for Microsoft Security Essentials (formerly Moro) is now live.

You'll need to sign in with your Connect account or register for a new one to gain access to the download - for now. There will no doubt be hundreds of happy seeders sharing the Beta on torrent trackers later today.

Microsoft had originally slated only 75,000 spots for beta testers, though they have since announced that the number will be increased to accomodate demand. Interest will likely be high considering the generally positive reviews SE has generated since we first got our hands on it.

We've got a big gallery of screenshots of SE in action, including it detecting the trojan that I *ahem* intentionally left on my machine so I could test the program fully. I've been very happy so far with SE's level of protection and low impact on system performance.

Tags: antivirus, free, microsoft-security-essentials, morro

Graveyard Shift - zombie-busting Time Waster

With Halloween fast approaching, it's a great time to get in some practice defending your territory against zombies. In Graveyard Shift, you take aim at zombies and other creepy-crawlies, blasting them into splatters of cartoony green guts. It's a casual first-person shooter, and it's very easy to get the hang of - use the mouse to aim, click to fire. Graveyard Shift has at least 15 levels, and it might even have some secret stages I haven't unlocked yet. They key to getting good at Graveyard Shift is learning to use ...

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