Warning on AVG 7.5 Anti Virus

[SUBMAN1]

It failed the June 2007 XP protection test (again). Not sure I'd trust an AV product that had more failures than successes (39 tests with 17 successes and 22 failures), but some people here like it so I figured I'd post the warning.

-S

PS. The June 2007 tests can be found here (You need to register though):
http://www.virusbtn.com/vb100/archive/2007/06

PPS. Avast32 is a better alternative if you are looking for free. It passed fine (again).

[fatty]

I like Kaspersky.

[bradclark1]

PPS. Avast32 is a better alternative if you are looking for free. It passed fine (again).
Does this have script blocking etc? I not AV savvy.

[SUBMAN1]

PPS. Avast32 is a better alternative if you are looking for free. It passed fine (again). Does this have script blocking etc? I not AV savvy.

I'd use a proxy for that personally. Avast will block spyware as well however if that is what you are looking for, and any script that could possibly harm you.

-S

[tycho102]

Bloody hell. Well, I guess I'll have to hunt down another antivirus. Symantec is out for the remainder of my life, so I'll take a look at Avast.

[Syxx_Killer]

Doesn't surprise me at all about AVG. I don't like it and never really have. The first time I used it, it let a nasty virus slip through and I ended up reinstalling Windows (ME at the time). Then, when my Norton AV expired (2004 ed.) I got AVG again. It messed with my computer so I ditched it and went with Avast. Hearing about this result makes me feel better about my choice. I have always looked at AVG's name and just pictured it meaning "Average." Could you give Avast's results? I know you said passed, but I'm curious what the exact results were.

[JSLTIGER]

I've been using avast ever since my last subscription to Norton expired, and I love it. I even convinced my dad to ditch Norton on all the systems in the house and we've replaced it with avast on all of them. It's an excellent product that is available for free and is constantly being updated.

[Konovalov]

Having read this thread I will switch our small business machines from AVG to Avast. :yep:

[SUBMAN1]

Having read this thread I will switch our small business machines from AVG to Avast. :yep:

Its not free for Biz. THat is how they make their money - They give it to you for free for home use in that you will become comfortable with it and also use it for your biz, for which you will be charged for it.

-S

[GakunGak]

I use Kaspersky Internet Security 2007 [Official beta but it works with no bugs to me!] and I am more than pleased to have it.
As an alternative to security suites, I recommend ZoneLabs Security Suite.
Stay out of "free" software as they do not protect you as pro's!:rock:

[SUBMAN1]

I use Kaspersky Internet Security 2007 [Official beta but it works with no bugs to me!] and I am more than pleased to have it.
As an alternative to security suites, I recommend ZoneLabs Security Suite.
Stay out of "free" software as they do not protect you as pro's!:rock:
Hahahaha! You are running a Beta program and you think it is going to protect you like a mature program would? THat is funny!

Incase you care, Kaspersky Anti-Virus (The non-beta version) also 'FAILED' along with AVG 7.5. :D

Avast is a professional program that is for free by the way. Go read up on Virus Bulletin and see for yourself how it scores. It scored 100% and caught every virus in the wild that was thrown at it. That is the benchmark of how good your AV program is. If you can't pass the Virus Bulletin test, then you should not feel protected period. Kaspersky and AVG are both on the failed list.

-S

[GakunGak]

You mean this test:
http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse_2007_02.php
:hmm: :hmm: :hmm:
I dunno....
As for the failure you mentioned, kaspersky missed only one known virus as his signature was removed for short time because that signature required some fixing. At the time of testing, the fix was not available in the update and failed for that particular virus [was fixed soon]. And yes, KIS 7.0.0.119 really protects me and I have tested it against major infections and he was able to clean them all, no problems. How come millions of users could be wrong over the best internet security known to man?:stare:

[GakunGak]

Update:
Read whole thread...
http://forum.kaspersky.com/index.php?showtopic=39859

[fatty]

I use Kaspersky Internet Security 2007 [Official beta but it works with no bugs to me!] and I am more than pleased to have it.
As an alternative to security suites, I recommend ZoneLabs Security Suite.
Stay out of "free" software as they do not protect you as pro's!:rock:
Hahahaha! You are running a Beta program and you think it is going to protect you like a mature program would? THat is funny!

Incase you care, Kaspersky Anti-Virus (The non-beta version) also 'FAILED' along with AVG 7.5. :D

Avast is a professional program that is for free by the way. Go read up on Virus Bulletin and see for yourself how it scores. It scored 100% and caught every virus in the wild that was thrown at it. That is the benchmark of how good your AV program is. If you can't pass the Virus Bulletin test, then you should not feel protected period. Kaspersky and AVG are both on the failed list.

-S

"Hahahaha" yourself. These AV benchmarks are a dime a dozen. Clementi's exhaustive comparison from February (http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse/report13.pdf) notes that Avast struggles with scripts and malware, and also bombs polymorphic virus detection (worse than Microsoft's OneCare). It's still a nice little program, but hardly far and above the rest.

[SUBMAN1]

"Hahahaha" yourself. These AV benchmarks are a dime a dozen. Clementi's exhaustive comparison from February (http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse/report13.pdf) notes that Avast struggles with scripts and malware, and also bombs polymorphic virus detection (worse than Microsoft's OneCare). It's still a nice little program, but hardly far and above the rest.
WHo is this reviewer? I've never seen him mentioned in any business mag before. Virus Bulletin is the industry standard, so that is why I am asking. And the programs that failed for Virus Bulletin show as scored high here. Kind of contradictory.

I'll read up on this guy though.

-S

[GakunGak]

АV Comparatives is as legitimate as VB. Whatever the case, THERE IS NO REAL AV TEST as yourelf, and if you are confortable with it, keep it. Regullary update & scan, and you are OK.

[SUBMAN1]

Update:
Read whole thread...
http://forum.kaspersky.com/index.php?showtopic=39859

Not to pick on your software too much, but I have to disagree with some of the comments on that board. Most sound like simple one system users. I have a company to protect so I take it seriously and read these updates religiously. It is not viruses that have sigs attached that scare me, it is in the wild viruses that scare me. The reason being is that those are the type to come out of no where and blind side you across the cheek. Companies that rely on programs that protect against known threats are the very ones that are on the infection list of the unknown viruses later on.

This is why Virus Bulletin came into being. It is not the threat you know about that should scare you - it is the unknown one that you should be most worried about. Threats that are known are typically already under control.

Just my 2 cents. It might help you understand my logic a bit.

-S

[GakunGak]

Top security softwares that PROTECT from any-type threats are:
1. Kaspersky Internet Security
2. ZoneAlarm Security Suite
3. NOD32 solutions
4. Symantec Norton Internet Security [not sure about sys hog on 2007]
5. Bitdefender
6. Trend Micro
------------------------
Others are mid-to-low products, but as I said, a good security product is the one that makes you confortable to use, price is good to invest, round-the-clock protection and good help-&-support. Take your pick...

[SUBMAN1]

Top security softwares that PROTECT from any-type threats are:
1. Kaspersky Internet Security
2. ZoneAlarm Security Suite
3. NOD32 solutions
4. Symantec Norton Internet Security [not sure about sys hog on 2007]
5. Bitdefender
6. Trend Micro
------------------------
Others are mid-to-low products, but as I said, a good security product is the one that makes you confortable to use, price is good to invest, round-the-clock protection and good help-&-support. Take your pick...

Not according to this site either:
http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse_2007_05.php
Kaspersky doesn't detect a whole lot without a signature it seems! Avast32 is quite a bit better.

-S

[GakunGak]

I am unable to find what you pointed out....
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/6492/clipboard01gj3.jpg

[SUBMAN1]

I am unable to find what you pointed out....

Yeah - same thing happened with your link above. Looks like these guys go through great pains to stop off site linking.

Anyway, lets see if I can capture it.

-S

Here it is:

http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/1620/avry2.jpg

[GakunGak]

Still that is not on-demand scan, take a look at the february test...:know:

[Ramius]

And the program version of AVG was released on 9th Feb 2007. Being that the test was in May they should have at least been running 7.5.467 (27th April 2007).

ps. like the way you cropped the image :)
"It is forbidden to provide the tables or results in full or in parts on other sites! Please just refer a link to www.av-comparatives.org (http://www.av-comparatives.org)" lol

[SUBMAN1]

Still that is not on-demand scan, take a look at the february test...:know:

The Proactive Retroactive test holds much more weight since it shows what your AV product is going to do against the future. The on-demand test, not so much.

Here are the results by the way - or ranking as you like to put it:

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/3707/av2pd8.jpg

[SUBMAN1]

And the program version of AVG was released on 9th Feb 2007. Being that the test was in May they should have at least been running 7.5.467 (27th April 2007).

ps. like the way you cropped the image :)
"It is forbidden to provide the tables or results in full or in parts on other sites! Please just refer a link to www.av-comparatives.org (http://www.av-comparatives.org)" lol

Yeah, I had to use my special little program to capture that, and I only captured what was relevant to the conversation, so yeah, it is likely I missed all the notes.

Let me share this wonderful little app:

http://www.mirekw.com/winfreeware/mwsnap.html

That little app will also ignore windows settings that block you from copying certain things by the way. It will copy it anyway! :D Just hit the red button and draw a box around what it is you want to take a picture of.

-S

[GakunGak]

Kaspersky with the same level as Microsoft??????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And NOD32 as the only advanced?
This stinks as propaganda!:damn: :damn: :damn: :damn:

[GakunGak]

And the program version of AVG was released on 9th Feb 2007. Being that the test was in May they should have at least been running 7.5.467 (27th April 2007).

ps. like the way you cropped the image :)
"It is forbidden to provide the tables or results in full or in parts on other sites! Please just refer a link to www.av-comparatives.org (http://www.av-comparatives.org)" lol

Yeah, I had to use my special little program to capture that, and I only captured what was relevant to the conversation, so yeah, it is likely I missed all the notes.

Let me share this wonderful little app:

http://www.mirekw.com/winfreeware/mwsnap.html

That little app will also ignore windows settings that block you from copying certain things by the way. It will copy it anyway! :D Just hit the red button and draw a box around what it is you want to take a picture of.

-S
Thanks for the share!!!!!!!:rock:

[d@rk51d3]

Worth noting that Zonealarm now uses Kaspersky as its AV plugin.

[GakunGak]

Worth noting that Zonealarm now uses Kaspersky as its AV plugin.
Тrue 100%, but still is does not have same features as the kaspersky itself...
But I still recommend him for those "security maniacs" such as myself, on top with KIS.:|\\

[bigboywooly]

:hmm: NOD32 eh

[GakunGak]

No wonder why NOD32 is #1 in the AV comparatives...
http://www.eset.com/download/whitepapers/AV-Comparatives-2006-Summary.pdf
Check out the link...:lol:

[SUBMAN1]

No wonder why NOD32 is #1 in the AV comparatives...
http://www.eset.com/download/whitepapers/AV-Comparatives-2006-Summary.pdf
Check out the link...:lol:

Yeah, but they are also #1 on Virus Bulletin too. This is just like any company in that they collect positive data about their product. I like NOD32, and use it at work, but at home I don't want to pay so I use Avast32. I do have 5 extra licenses of NOD at work, so i guess i could run it at home (Bought a a volume license which was cheaper than buying per seat license) but Avast always worked for me which is why I run it. Other subsideraries in my corp run McAffee and when they are rushing all over to stamp out viruses that have broken free of McAffee, NOD has always stopped them when they hit my doorstep. That is one reason I really like NOD - it has saved me countless times! :D

Now the real scoop:
If you want to be techincal, the only reason I run an AV product at home is to get rid of MS's little red annoying flag it brings up in the taskbar! Otherwise i would not run an AV product on this machine. I'm not stupid enough to get hit with a Virus and ran my home systems for almost 20 years without infection. If you are worried about something, don't run it without scanning it! i used to use online scanners for this if something was in question. Now I'm practically forced to run an AV product to get rid of the annoying MS banners! :p

-S

[fatty]

If you want to be techincal, the only reason I run an AV product at home is to get rid of MS's little red annoying flag it brings up in the taskbar! Otherwise i would not run an AV product on this machine.

You realize you can disable that warning with a few clicks, right?

[GakunGak]

The war NOD32 vs Kapsersky is as old as a roman empire itself...
I wouldn't worry much about these "tests"...:know:

[Ramius]

If you want to be techincal, the only reason I run an AV product at home is to get rid of MS's little red annoying flag it brings up in the taskbar! Otherwise i would not run an AV product on this machine.

You realize you can disable that warning with a few clicks, right?

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1493/capturevq5.jpg

[fatty]

Damn outstanding work, Ramius! :rock: :rock: :rock:

[Ramius]

np lol, use it quite often myself. I rarely have an AV installed on my desktop (not on the net that much) and on my laptop - well not much use for an AV when its underwater :|\\ :arrgh!:

[Syxx_Killer]

If you want to be techincal, the only reason I run an AV product at home is to get rid of MS's little red annoying flag it brings up in the taskbar! Otherwise i would not run an AV product on this machine.
You realize you can disable that warning with a few clicks, right?

I was thinking the same thing. I disabled it because it got too annoying everytime I disabled Avast when I wanted to run a game.

Anyway, to disable it open Control Panel - Security Center. Then, under Virus Protection click Recommendations. Check the box by "I have an antivirus program that I'll monitor myself."

[SUBMAN1]

If you want to be techincal, the only reason I run an AV product at home is to get rid of MS's little red annoying flag it brings up in the taskbar! Otherwise i would not run an AV product on this machine.
You realize you can disable that warning with a few clicks, right?

Maybe on Vista, but not on XP - unless I totally missed something. Please explain! :D

Come to think of it, I never researched it, so it may entirely be possible!

I run Media Center 2005 at home - which is basically XP Pro. Don't get me on the technicality that you needed to upgrade from an earlier version of MCE to get all the Pro capabilities because I manually modified the hive - so mine connects to a domain no problem.

-S

[SUBMAN1]

I was thinking the same thing. I disabled it because it got too annoying everytime I disabled Avast when I wanted to run a game.

Anyway, to disable it open Control Panel - Security Center. Then, under Virus Protection click Recommendations. Check the box by "I have an antivirus program that I'll monitor myself."

how funny! I have seen that a hundred times and never enabled it! OOps! Goes to show that you never know everything. ;)

-S

[Ramius]

If you want to be techincal, the only reason I run an AV product at home is to get rid of MS's little red annoying flag it brings up in the taskbar! Otherwise i would not run an AV product on this machine.
You realize you can disable that warning with a few clicks, right?

Maybe on Vista, but not on XP - unless I totally missed something. Please explain! :D

Come to think of it, I never researched it, so it may entirely be possible!

I run Media Center 2005 at home - which is basically XP Pro. Don't get me on the technicality that you needed to upgrade from an earlier version of MCE to get all the Pro capabilities because I manually modified the hive - so mine connects to a domain no problem.

-S

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/9731/xpdc5.jpg

[kiwi_2005]

firewall tests
Each firewall was tested twice against 26 leak tests - once with its default, out-of-the-box settings, and once with its highest security settings. Each firewall was then awarded an overall score derived from its pass/fail result against each test. The higher the score, the better the firewall performed against the range of leak tests. For every test the firewall passed on its default settings it gained 125 points. For those tests that the firewall failed on its default settings but passed on its highest security settings it gained 100 points. The number of tests per firewall settings is 77. Thus the maximum score is 77 * 125 = 9625 points. The tested firewalls were installed on Windows XP SP2, Internet Explorer 6.0 was set as the default browser and was running during the tests.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a390/Kiwi_Frank/leaktest.jpg

Im using Nortons 360 cause there are not many that work for vista yet. AVG7.5 security suite does, McAfee SS 2007 and Nod32 antivirus. I thought twice about trying a nortons product but i must say nortons 360 works and is not a system hogger like its previous versions. Also its built from the ground up. Only problem i have with it is its one of those set and forget, you have to dig to get to the advance settings.

[fatty]

firewall tests
Each firewall was tested twice against 26 leak tests - once with its default, out-of-the-box settings, and once with its highest security settings. Each firewall was then awarded an overall score derived from its pass/fail result against each test. The higher the score, the better the firewall performed against the range of leak tests. For every test the firewall passed on its default settings it gained 125 points. For those tests that the firewall failed on its default settings but passed on its highest security settings it gained 100 points. The number of tests per firewall settings is 77. Thus the maximum score is 77 * 125 = 9625 points. The tested firewalls were installed on Windows XP SP2, Internet Explorer 6.0 was set as the default browser and was running during the tests.


Im using Nortons 360 cause there are not many that work for vista yet. AVG7.5 security suite does, McAfee SS 2007 and Nod32 antivirus. I thought twice about trying a nortons product but i must say nortons 360 works and is not a system hogger like its previous versions. Also its built from the ground up. Only problem i have with it is its one of those set and forget, you have to dig to get to the advance settings.

That's hot, up until a few weeks ago I used nothing but Windows XP SP2 firewall. NOTHING BUT THAT. Now I have a hardware firewall in addition to KIS. I must have been :|\\

[GakunGak]

Comodo as #1 over ZA???!!!!!
I must go to sleep now!:doh:

[NefariousKoel]

Hardware Firewall FTW!

Besides.. Firewalls are very secondary compared to antivirus/antispyware for a home user.

[Lagger123987]

firewall tests
Each firewall was tested twice against 26 leak tests - once with its default, out-of-the-box settings, and once with its highest security settings. Each firewall was then awarded an overall score derived from its pass/fail result against each test. The higher the score, the better the firewall performed against the range of leak tests. For every test the firewall passed on its default settings it gained 125 points. For those tests that the firewall failed on its default settings but passed on its highest security settings it gained 100 points. The number of tests per firewall settings is 77. Thus the maximum score is 77 * 125 = 9625 points. The tested firewalls were installed on Windows XP SP2, Internet Explorer 6.0 was set as the default browser and was running during the tests.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a390/Kiwi_Frank/leaktest.jpg

Im using Nortons 360 cause there are not many that work for vista yet. AVG7.5 security suite does, McAfee SS 2007 and Nod32 antivirus. I thought twice about trying a nortons product but i must say nortons 360 works and is not a system hogger like its previous versions. Also its built from the ground up. Only problem i have with it is its one of those set and forget, you have to dig to get to the advance settings.

That sucks I thought Norton and Mcafee are very good anti virus programs

[lesrae]

I have to say I've never had any problems with AVG, I install it on any machines I work on and recommend it to others. I guess I'll stick with it until I have problems with it, comfort zone and all that.

[GakunGak]

I have to say I've never had any problems with AVG, I install it on any machines I work on and recommend it to others. I guess I'll stick with it until I have problems with it, comfort zone and all that.
That's because it does not protect you as it should have...
I recommend to you to make a switch to a better one, just for test...:yep:

[Jimbuna]

NOD32 is my favoured programme :up:

[GakunGak]

NOD32 is my favoured programme :up:
ALAAAAAAAAARM!!:lol:

[Jimbuna]

You may well laugh kaleun :yep: But some folk pay for programmes of a far inferior quality :nope:

[GakunGak]

You may well laugh kaleun :yep: But some folk pay for programmes of a far inferior quality :nope:
http://www.oemme.it/images/upload/box/NOD32.jpg
Big Brother is watching you....:arrgh!:

[SUBMAN1]

Firewalls are over rated I think. So what if it leaks since this is only an issue if you get some form a spyware or trojan or virus on your system - something the AV product should go after, and if your AV product doesn't get it, then you've probably got bigger problems than worrying about your FW leaking! :D

An example - You have no AV product and you happen to be unlucky enough to get a Trojan, it opens a port on your system and sets up shop waiting for an inbound connection. Windows Firewall alone will block this activity, so what exactly is the problem with it? To make matters even harder for Mr. Trojan, most people are probably behind a router so their machine is working off of NAT. Without a port routed to the specific machine through the router, Mr. Trojan is not going to go anywhere.

Some Trojans call home, but again, if your AV product is missing it, you've got much bigger issues than worrying about it calling home since it may be erasing your hard drive with its virus payload!

So the only real reason to worry about leak protection is to stop applications, not Trojans, etc., from calling home. Now if you application is calling home, why are you loading it in the first place? I don't load apps that call home.

So, the point of this whole thing is that leak protection on a firewall product is good for nothing other than 'identifying' apps that call home in my opinion, and then stopping them (possibly since some FW products obviously fail at this too). This is a useful feature I guess, but not worth the extra CPU cycles in my opinion, or the constant configuration you must do to keep on top of these things every time you add another app to your system.

Dunno. I used to run Outpost for years, but gave up screwing around with FW's at some point due to the headaches they cause. The simple inbound protection the Windows FW gives me right now is good enough - for now. Besides I have an SPI engine on my router.

-S

[GakunGak]

I took NOD32 latest and COMODO firewall for a litle test ride just to see how tough those two really are...:|\\
After a cruise ride, locking my PC with Kaspersky...:yep:

[SUBMAN1]

I took NOD32 latest and COMODO firewall for a litle test ride just to see how tough those two really are...:|\\
After a cruise ride, locking my PC with Kaspersky...:yep:

How can you test ride something in about 5 minutes? Run it for a week or two.

By the way, as in Stereo equipment as well as security apps, the golden rule is that the best stuff always comes as seperate components, not as a package. Packages try to be everything to everyone and rarely does any one specific thing well. Keep that in mind during your testing.

-S

[Jimbuna]

I took NOD32 latest and COMODO firewall for a litle test ride just to see how tough those two really are...:|\\
After a cruise ride, locking my PC with Kaspersky...:yep:

How can you test ride something in about 5 minutes? Run it for a week or two.

By the way, as in Stereo equipment as well as security apps, the golden rule is that the best stuff always comes as seperate components, not as a package. Packages try to be everything to everyone and rarely does any one specific thing well. Keep that in mind during your testing.

-S

:roll: :yep:

[HunterICX]

I use Norton Protection center,
no problems so far.

so dont need something different

[GakunGak]

:damn: :damn: Who said I am gonna test it for 5 mins?:damn: :damn:
Anyhow, both programs are compatible with each other with no conflicts...
Tonight I will test against trojans.
So far so good, only thing is that COMODO aplication analyser is driving me nuts, I must approve every single component, although it is customizable...
Kinda like this setup. 5/5!