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#31
Matousec has not tested since Norton 2011 has been released. I've attached the Matousec Proactive Security Challenge results from 1 year ago and as can be seen Norton 2009 had a 66% pass rate with the 48 part test and then and then dropped off to a 40% pass rate when Norton 2010 was tested using the new 148 part test so we'll just have to wait and see how Norton 2011 does.
~Maxx~
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Perhaps Im missing something here, but isn't Nortons SONAR basically a form of HIPS?
I know its purpose is to identify and block new or unknown threats.
Im also curious about that test result. Was that with Nortons FW set at "Auto" and what Auto settings?
I've used Comodo before, and it is a quite effective FW. So Im not bashing it.
But I tend to think, and Firewall which is set to always notify, unless you have created a rule for that specific app, will be equally effective.
I mean, if you set the Firewall to block all incoming and outgoing activity unless specifically allowed, seems they will all perform the same.
The only difference is COMODO is set that way by default, where as many others are not. What if they are all tested setup the same?
AFAIK Dave Matousec tests all security programs in default mode so that there is no favoritism as far as setup goes.
Personally speaking I don't use Comodo because it tests better than any other computer security suite but rather because when I was using Norton it allowed my computer to become infected so I replaced it with and continue to use the Comodo Firewall and Proactive Defense+ HIPS and browse the internet within the virtual space of Sandboxie because they have kept both of my computers completely clean without the detection of so much as a single tracking cookie according to several on demand scanners and as far as I am concerned maintaining a clean machine is the bottom line when it comes to computer security.
~Maxx~
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[QUOTE=Victek;954890]I was speaking of a particular article in PC Magazine that was published last year in which they set out to prove that freeware was inferior to shareware when it came to computer security and it was a freeware bashfest.
If you are a fan of freeware which uses both a cloud Antivirus and a cloud Behavior Blocker as a bonus you might check the Comodo Forum starting 9-14-2010 because CIS 2011 v5 is scheduled to be released that day.
~Maxx
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[QUOTE=Maxxwire;954919]My point is you appeared to make a blanket statement about PCmag.com implying it's reviews are biased because they are "ad supported" and they bash freeware security software. Generally I feel it's better to look at reviews on an individual basis. Is there something in PCmag's NIS 2011 review that you disagree with? The reviews of security software from pcmag tend to be quite detailed and even when I don't completely agree with the methodology or conclusions I feel there's a lot to be learned. I've used many freeware apps in the past including CIS. CIS in particular is not for the faint of heart and I would only recommend it to people who are already quite knowledgeable about security software - in other words the people who don't need my recommendations
Hi there
These ratings carry about as much weight as a Stock Exchange "Whisper Number".
People do so many different things on their computers that any "standard" measurement is going to be fraught with errors.
IMO the only AV software that's worth ANYTHING AT ALL is that which is capable of detecting "malware" etc in REAL TIME.
Scanning AFTER the event is fine but all this will tell you that your Computer has been infected at some indeterminate previous time --what its done or what data etc has been compromised in the meantime is impossible to say.
I certainly would NEVER trust a computer that's been infected even if the "Best most sophisticated" product on the planet informs the user that the Virus has been "Quarantined" and / or the relevant files have been deleted.
Only a restore from a Clean image or a fresh install would convince me that the computer was OK to use again.
Slightly OT -- Why should Freeware or Open Source be inferior -- I can think of some GREAT freeware applications which can more than hold their own with commercial paid for products.
To name just a few :
LINUX (most distros)
Open Office
The GIMP
VLC dvd / media player
MySQL
Apache Web server (especially in conjuction with WAMP / LAMP
(Windows/Linux, Apache, MySQL,Php for those a bit mystified).
etc etc.
Don't discount freeware or Open Source products as always being inferior. In some cases they can be BETTER for home users since any defects can often be fixed quicker and you don't have to go through the whole rigmarole that a commercial organisation has to do when releasing a new version of a paid for product.
Cheers
jimbo
jimbo- "I certainly would NEVER trust a computer that's been infected"... Right on!
I had an epiphany the day I went to the Tom's Hardware site and the Antivirus program I was running at the time informed me that I had been hit with a driveby Trojan and it wanted to know if I wanted to quarantine it. Not wanting the Malware in my computer I simply shut the browser and overwrote the virtual sandbox it had been running in with 7 passes of Schneier's Algorithm and it was Malware no more!
Since that day I have never run an Antivirus program because as you said "the only AV software that's worth ANYTHING AT ALL is that which is capable of of detecting "malware" etc in REAL TIME". So far Sandboxie has been very good to my computers allowing no infections and no detections for almost 2 years. Now days nothing gets in to my computer unless Virus Total and/or my on-demand scanners sign off on it before it leaves the virtual sandbox...
~Maxx~
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