Protect USB Flash Drives & Other Portable Media From Viruses With USB Security Utilities

If you use a USB flash drive or a portable hard drive, you are likely to have come across viruses that spread via such media. I’ve had many experiences with these pests - no matter how good your anti virus software is, some of these just manage to penetrate all shields to bite you in the ass. And when one of them does, all your portable media are at risk of getting infected– it could be your flash drive, portable hard drive, your phone’s memory card, your digital camera’s memory stick, etc. If you are annoyed by viruses that spread via USB based removable media, here’s a security solution you can try. USB Security Utilities is a free set of tools that can safeguard your portable storage media from viruses, trojans and other malware (and it can be used with your resident anti virus scanner as well).

USB Security Utilities uses several layers of protection to ensure maximum security for your media. First and foremost it uses good old virus signature based scans to look for most common viruses that spread via USB devices – these scans have to be run manually – this software does not have a memory resident scanning module. Additionally, it scans for techniques commonly used by most viruses such as an exploited autorun.inf file or executables placed inside every folder and subfolder of the drive. USU can also protect your data by immunizing the portable device using it’s ‘Vaccine’ tool (this will prevent suspicious files from being copied to your USB).

All of this functionality is integrated into a single, easy to use interface. Note that the program may switch to Spanish on first launch – to change interface language to English, switch to the rightmost tab and hit the ‘English’ button. Also, I noticed that it does not place a desktop or a start menu shortcut – you have to run the exe from the install location to run in.

Download

You can download USB Security Utilities from the official download page. The tool is free and does not include any form of adware.

[Click Here] to download the latest version of USU. The page is in Spanish, but the download link should easily be identifiable.

Kaspersky Anti Virus 2010 Final Direct Download (v9.0.0.459)

Kaspersky Labs released 2010 versions (v9.0) of their Anti Virus (KAV) and Internet Security (KIS) products just a few days ago. Since I’ve never used KIS, I’d rather not comment about the product here. KAV on the other hand has been watching my back for the past year or so and has done an excellent job at defending my computer against all sorts of malware on and off the net. Kaspersky Anti Virus 2010 comes with major new features such as an IM Anti-Virus, a revamped user interface, privacy cleaner and lots of enhancements to existing features. And if you were a pirate who used to activate Kaspersky using .KEY files found on warez sites, you’ll be in for a little shock as well.

I’m not really sure but it seems the developers managed to seriously optimize the memory resident scanner module of KAV (avp.exe). It used to take around 24MB of physical memory with KAV 8.0 (version 2009) and now it takes only around 12MB most of the time ( sometimes the memory consumptions goes as low as 5MB ). Anyways I might be wrong as this claim is not based on any long term observations - I’ve only used this app for around 15 mins by the time this post is being written.

What about pirates?

It is no secret that Kaspersky, being one of the most popular security product in the world, is heavily pirated (after the trial period expires the application continues to function – however new definition updates are not received). There are no cracks or cracked versions of the product itself but pirated serial keys can be found almost anywhere on the net. Hell, there are even automated key finders as well as sites with daily updated keys. Up until now, the primary method pirates used to activate this product is to open the license section of the app, choose ‘activate using the .key file option’ and then point to the pirated key file downloaded from the internet.

Here is a shocker – version 2010 does not have the ‘Activate Using Key File’ option. When you launch the License Manager in KAV 2010, you will either be asked to ‘purchase new license’ or ‘activate new license' – both of which will NOT prompt for a key file. So is this truly the end for ‘key file pirates’? Not really. If you disconnect from the internet, delete the trial license and then try to use the ‘activate trial license’ option again the program will try to connect to internet and fail. Upon failure, it’ll give the good old ‘activate using key file’ option where pirates can use even a KAV 8 key to illegally activate the application.

Download

We’ve provided direct download links below for the TRIAL version of Kaspersky Anti Virus 2010 Final build – no E-mail registration is required.

[Click Here] to download Kaspersky Anti Virus 2010 version 9.0.0.459 Final from official server

If you are one of our readers from Sri Lanka, you can actually purchase a genuine version of KIS with a one year subscription for as low as LKR 1800 (that’s around $16). You don’t even have to go to the dealer to make the purchase as it’s available in most IT related shops in the country. This way there would be no messing about with blacklisted keys for at least an year :) (Thanks to ‘leyland’ for the info)

Note: Do not post links to key files, key finders or anything of that sort here. This post is purely for informational purposes.

Kaspersky Anti Virus 2010 and Internet Security 2010 beta builds released

When it comes to PC security software, Kaspersky Lab’s products usually kick ass both in terms of usability and effectiveness. Heads up if you are interested in new Kaspersky product releases – new beta builds of both Kaspersky Anti Virus 2010 and Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 have been released. These new builds however are still in early beta testing stages and are nowhere near the final release. In case you are willing to install and try these new versions out, we have included direct download links at the end of this article since they are still not available via the official web site.

I have not yet had the time to test KAV 2010 or KIS 2010 betas extensively. Some of the differences over v2009 that were noticeable included a new revamped user interface as well as improvements in manual scanning time. More information about v2010 beta releases can be found on KIS/KAV2010 beta testing thread on Kaspersky Labs forums.

Download

Kaspersky 2010 series beta products are still not available for download via the official web site (I could not find them there). We have however included direct download links for both KIS and KAV 2010 products below.

[Click Here] to download Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2010 V9.0.0.313 Beta

[Click Here] to download Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 V9.0.0.313 Beta

Note that these builds are still in beta and you might run into undiscovered bugs or glitches while using them. Proceed at your own risk.

Pirates crack ESET NOD32 4.0 and Smart Security 4.0 series security products

There is no doubt that security products from ESET such as NOD32 Anti Virus and ESET Smart Security are extremely popular nowadays. ESET recently released version 4 series security software to the market which contained loads of new features and enhancements over the previous v3 series. ESET v4 products have been relatively safe from piracy as most of the hacks and cracks for v3 ceased to work with new product versions. Pirates are slowly overcoming this problem – working cracks and workarounds are slowly appearing for ESET NOD32 4.0 and ESET Smart Security 4.0.

Initial cracks for NOD32 4.0 were limited to extended/unlimited trial workarounds. When applied, the crack extends the 30 day trial period of the product usually indefinitely (or say 10 years). With this method pirates are able to enjoy full benefits of the software including automatic updates over the web, even though the product is technically a trial. A well known unlimited trial for NOD32 and ESS v4.0 seem to be Mara-fix 1.0 and Mara-fix 1.1.

Apart from the trial workarounds, I have seen another new crack for NOD32 and ESS being swapped on file sharing networks and warez forums lately (cracked by SHAHED and uploaded by MAMBO04). This is a little more advanced than a simple unlimited trial hack – it’s actually a pre cracked version of the full software. With this release there is not much the user needs to do – the MSI installer package is modified to make the software pre-cracked.

With version 3.0 ESET gave pirates quite a hard time by blocking pirated copies from their update servers, blacklisting 3rd party update servers and blacklisting widely circulated serials, usernames and passwords. With new cracks emerging for version 4.0 of NOD32 and ESET Smart Security, it will be interesting to see ESET’s response this time around.

Note: Do not post download or torrent links to cracks, key generators, serials or other hacks here. This is merely a news site – not a warez blog.

ESET NOD32 Anti-Virus 4.0.314 Final Released

Although I don’t use it anymore, there was a time when NOD32 was used as my primary security software. My overall experience with this product is good – it caught most of the viruses and other baddies that came its way and most importantly, it never was a resource hog like many other modern AV software. ESET have silently released the first final build of  NOD32 v4.0, the next major upgrade in NOD32 AV product series.

 

It looks like ESET have made improvements to the scan engine (SSL scanning, etc), enhanced the e-mail scanning (added support for more mail clients) and most importantly included a new feature called the ‘Removable Media Security’. This is aimed at stopping viruses that spread via removable drives such as USB flash drives (i really hate these type of autorun worms and Trojans) and should be welcome news for many readers who are plagued by such viruses. 

It’s only been a about a day since the release of the final build and I have not managed to find any cracks for this software yet. Expect many someone to crack NOD32 v4.0 entirely or release update workarounds, unlimited trial hacks, 3rd party update server hacks, etc soon, given the product’s huge popularity even among pirates.

Download

Currently, a 30 day trial version can be downloaded directly from ESET’s official servers (and I bet that by the end of those 30 days, a working crack or some other workaround will be out). All are direct download links.

[Click Here] to download NOD32 Anti-Virus 4.0.314 for 32-bit Windows OS

[Click Here] to download NOD32 Anti-Virus 4.0.314 for 64-bit Windows OS

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 8.0.0.1015 Beta for Windows 7 – Direct Download

Kaspersky have released a new build of their popular security software Kaspersky Anti Virus 2009 (version 8.0 build 1015). This is a beta build (according to Kaspersky Labs a ‘technical prototype’) which is specifically designed to run on the recently released Windows 7. I’ve just installed this version on my Windows 7 installation and the results so far are good – installed without errors, no crashes and no noticeable performance drop after memory resident scanner was enabled.

As opposed to previous builds of KAV 2009 such as 8.0.0.454 and 8.0.0.506, build 8.0.0.1015 comes complete with a firewall and an anti spam filter. Earlier, these features were only available in the Kaspersky Internet Security (KIS) suite.

The prototype includes not only an antivirus component but an effective and fully functional firewall and anti-spam filter. At the heart of the new technical prototype is Kaspersky Lab’s new antivirus engine which is even more effective at detecting malicious programs than its predecessor. The new engine dramatically increases system scanning speed thanks to improved processing of objects and optimized use of system resources, particularly on dual- and quad-core processor platforms. The unique product architecture ensures high productivity and one of the lowest uses of system resources in the industry.

Note that this program is still in beta. You may run into undiscovered bugs, glitches or compatibility issues – proceed at your own risk.

Download

We have included the direct download link so that you may get the setup file directly from Kaspersky FTP server.

[Click Here] to download Kaspersky Anti Virus 8.0.0.1015 Beta

Related Articles

• Get offline updates for Kaspersky Anti Virus and Internet Security 2009 (v8.0) with Kaspersky Updater 3.1.0.7
• How to update Kaspersky, Mcafee, Norton and other anti-virus software offline
• NodLogin, NodEnabler & Kaspersky Key Finder : What are they and how do they work?

How to update Kaspersky, Mcafee, Norton and other anti-virus software offline

It’s a well known fact that you need to have your Anti Virus software up to date in order to be protected from latest viruses and other malware. Most security software vendors tend to provide updates over the internet. But what if you have a computer that is not connected to the internet or is having limited internet connectivity (low bandwidth, data cap, etc)? This article describes how you can update your Anti Virus software manually using offline definition updates.

Although most Anti Virus software have a built in automatic updates feature, vendors tend to release standalone update installers usually through their official website. Once you download one of these offline installers, you can use it to update virus definition files even on Anti Virus software installed on computers without internet access (Ex- Download offline installer from work computer which has internet access and then use the installer to update home computer which is not connected to the internet). Below is a list of locations where you can find and download offline definition update installers for several popular Anti Virus software.

1. Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Anti Virus

Offline updates for Kaspersky version 5, 6 and version 7 products can be downloaded from this page. If you are using the new Kaspersky Anti Virus 2009 or Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 products, there is a separate procedure you need to follow. A complete tutorial on how to update Kaspersky 2009 (version 8.0) products offline can be found here.

2. AVG
 
These offline definition updates are for the free version of AVG. AVG 7.5 offline updates can be downloaded from this page while AVG 8.0 definition updates can be found here.

3. Mcafee
 
Note that not all of Mcafee’s Anti Virus products support offline updating. I’m not sure if products such as Mcafee Total Protection 2009 can be updated offline. However, updating some versions such as VirusScan Enterprise 8.5i/8.7i is possible. You can download the latest virus definition .DAT files from this page.
Note: DAT files are definition updates, SUPERDAT files are definition + scan engine updates

4. BitDefender
 
Although many people don’t know, BitDefender releases offline updates for almost all of its security products including BitDefender Internet Security 2009. All of these updates can be downloaded from this page.

5. Symantec/Norton security products
 
Most Norton Anti Virus products and Symantec Anti Virus products including corporate versions can be updated offline. Visit this page and choose your product under ‘Download Definitions by Product’ option.

6. Trend Micro
 
Trend Micro offers pattern files to update a number of security products offline including Trend Micro Internet Security. Latest pattern files and installers can be obtained form this page.

7. Sophos
 
Sophos definition files are called Virus Identity Files (IDE) - self extracting zip files with latest IDE files are released regularly. You can download them from here. Note that Sophos products older than 3 months cannot be updated offline.

8. F-Secure
 
F-Secure regularly releases a file named latest.zip which includes the newest virus definition files. You can download and use this file to update your F-Secure security product manually. The most current version of latest.zip and a tutorial on how to manually update can be found on this page. 

9. Avast
 
Only 4.X versions of Avast! can be updated offline. You can download the iAVS utility which will update your Avast! product automatically. Latest iAVS can be freely downloaded from this page. 

10. Avira
 
A number of Avira products such as Avira Antivir Windows Professional, Avira AntiVir Premium and Avira Premium Security Suite can be updated offline using the VDF update. You can download latest offline definition files for Avira from here.

If your favorite anti virus software is not listed above, please let us know via a comment. We will try to find an offline updates source for it and update the article if we manage to find one.

AVG Internet Security 8.0 + Updates for 10 Years

AVG Internet Security 8.0 is an integrated set of security products developed by AVG Technologies (formerly Grisoft). It provides all around protection for your PC with an Anti-Virus scanner, Anti Spyware/Anti-Rootkit software, Antispam application, a software firewall, and an online security component (webshield). I personally have not used this product but judging by online reviews and forum posts, there are quite a lot of AVG fans. Version 8.0 is the latest version of AVG Internet Security. Check it out.

  

Developer Description

Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, Anti-Spam, Web Protection & Firewall; Comprehensive protection for Windows against all online threats from the world's most trusted security company. Use the Internet with confidence in your home or small office.

Main Features

• Easy to download, install and use
• Protection against all Internet threats
• Real-time security while you surf and chat online
• Top-quality protection that does not slow your system down
• Free support and service around the clock and across the globe
• Compatible with Windows Vista and Windows XP

NodLogin, NodEnabler & Kaspersky Key Finder : What are they and how do they work?

There is no doubt that ESET’s NOD32/Smart Security and Kaspersky Lab’s Kaspersky Anti Virus (KAV)/Kaspersky Internet Security (KIS) are some of the most popular security products currently available on the market. Due to their high popularity, these products are among the list of most pirated security products. In addition to usual workarounds and trial extensions, ‘fans’ have made utilities that crawl the web and automatically retrieve valid usernames and keys for these products. The aim of this post is to shed some light on several such utilities that are currently around (and seem to be the most popular); NodEnabler, NodLogin and Kaspersky Key Finder.

Tools for ESET NOD32 and ESET Smart Security (ESS)

Licensing mechanism of ESET’s security products, namely NOD32 and ESET Smart Security (ESS), is based purely on usernames and passwords (there is no product activation or validation required). The only major difference between trial version and commercial versions of NOD32 and ESS is that you cannot update the trial versions once the 30 day tryout period is over. There have been many hacks and cracks (including 3rd party update servers) to extend the trial period of NOD32 and ESS but ESET has made life difficult for pirates by blocking extended trials and blacklisting 3rd party servers at regular intervals. This is where NodEnabler and NodLogin come in. Instead of merely trying to extend the trial period, these software automatically download daily updated commercial licenses (usernames and passwords that is) from various web sources.

NodEnabler

NodEnabler works with most version 3 (v3) products of ESET Smart Security and NOD32 Anti Virus. What NodEnabler does is that it acquires usernames and passwords for ESET products from the web and inserts them to the program automatically through the system registry. User interaction is not required for the most part; even when a key is expired or blacklisted, NodEnabler would search for a new one and install it automatically. It’s primary source of commercial licenses seem to be www.nod321.com, a Chinese site with daily updated NOD32 and ESS keys which has been around for some time. This means that as long as the site is up, NodEnabler will continue to work fine. If the site goes down, the program will be useless.
Latest version (as of 28/11/2008) – NodEnabler 2.81

NodLogin

NodLogin is another tool similar to NodEnabler; it downloads ESET Smart Security and NOD32 Anti Virus commercial keys from web sources and injects them to the product through the system registry. Unlike NodEnabler, Nodlogin can autodetect the ESET product version installed on your system. This program too has a weakness; it depends on a single, central server to download commercial keys. If this server (which happens to be run by the developer of NodLogin) goes down, so will the effectiveness of NodLogin.
Latest version (as of 28/11/2008) – NodLogin 9.7

Tools for Kaspersky Anti Virus (KAV) and Kaspersky Internet Security (KIS)

Kaspersky security products too need either a working trial (non expired) or a commercial license for definition updates to be downloaded. Products can be activated online using the activation key obtained during purchase or they can be activated using a .key file. The second method (.key file) is the one most commonly exploited by software pirates.

Kaspersky Key Finder 

Kaspersky Key Finder is a utility that downloads .key files for Kaspersky Internet Security (KIS) and Kaspersky Anti Virus (KAV) from a web based database of daily updated keys. It’s able to find and download keys for Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Anti Virus v6, v7 and v8 products. Kaspersky KeyFinder shares the same weakness of NodLogin and NodEnable; it relies on a set of web based servers that contain daily updated keys. These central servers were located on Freewebs (free web hosting provider) and they have all recently been taken down by the host, citing abuse. As of 28/11/2008, the servers remain offline and Kaspersky Keyfinder returns “unable to access database” error.
Latest version (as of 28/11/2008) – Kaspersky KeyFinder 1.5.2d

Other Notes

Most of these tools are detected by Anti virus software as viruses and malware (HackTool, Generic Malware, etc). If you download from their original sources (sorry, download links will not be provided here), these tools do not actually contain any viruses or malware; most of the detections are false positives. Anyway, if you download from untrusted 3rd party sites, there is no guarantee of the files being clean.

Related Articles

• How to get offline definition updates for popular antivirus software

Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 v8.0.0.506 + Goodies

About 3 months ago, we featured Kaspersky Anti-Virus v8.0.0.454 and Kaspersky Internet Security v8.0.0.454 on FILEnetworks Blog. Just recently Kaspersky have released a new build (8.0.0.506) of the security suite with several enhancements to detection technology and a number of other bugfixes. As always, upgrading to the latest version is recommended. I’ve been using this app for the last 3 months (after parting ways with ESET’s NOD32) and so far it hasn’t let me down. Kaspersky has killed every single piece of malware that has come my way. If you have noticed, some security products such as AVG have a lot of false positives specially when it comes to clean key generators and cracks. I’ve experienced a lot less number of false positives with Kaspersky.

Anyway if you have noticed, the title of this post says KIS 2009 v8.0.0.506 + Goodies. In addition to the KIS 2009 installer, it has some nice tools such as KeyViewer, KeyFinder and also a list of sites where you can find keys for Kaspersky products. If you have a machine that does not have an internet connection and rely on offline updates, you’d have to stick with v7.0 (To know where to get offline updates for other Anti Virus software, read this article). Version 2009 (8.0) of Kaspersky security apps do not support offline updating (yet).

Developer Description

Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 – the all-in-one security solution that offers a worry-free computing environment for you and your family. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 has everything you need for a safe and secure Internet experience.

Essential Protection

• Protects from all types of malware and spyware
• Scans files, email messages and Internet traffic
• Protects instant messengers (ICQ, MSN)
• Updates automatically

Extended Protection

• Two-way personal firewall
• Safe Wi-Fi and VPN connections. New!
• Intrusion prevention system

Preventive Protection

• Intelligent application management and control. New!
• Proactive protection from unknown threats
• Scans OS and applications for vulnerabilities. New!
• Disables links to malware sites. New!

Identity Theft Protection

• Disables links to phishing websites
• Virtual keyboard for safe entry of logins and passwords. New!
• Prevents theft of data via secure connections (HTTPS / SSL). New!
• Blocks unauthorized dial-up connections

Content Filtering

• Parental control
• Antispam protection

PC Tools ThreatFire Pro 4.0.0.8 – Block known and unknown malware threats

PC-Tools is best known for their registry optimization software Registry Mechanic. Their latest software release titled ThreatFire, is not a system optimizer of any kind but an anti malware application. Why I thought of posting about ThreatFire is because it uses a rather nontraditional way of malware blocking. As you may know, most anti virus and anti spyware applications rely on virus definition files to match virus like code in files and detect threats. This is good but if you fail to update your Anti-Virus software regularly or if your anti virus software vendor does not provide regular updates, you could be risking yourself to zero day attacks and new virus outbreaks.

This is where ThreatFire comes in. It does not rely entirely on virus definitions to block malware. It monitors your system for virus like behavior to detect and block virus like or suspicious activity (aka behavioral blocking). I have not actually used this software extensively so I can’t really speak of the effectiveness. But there is a good review of it on PC MAgazine.

Developer Description

Consumers spend over a billion dollars a year on security software to keep their PCs safe. Every month they spend countless hours configuring and updating their software. And yet every week millions of users are infected by new threats that their traditional antivirus does not stop.

Why? Traditional antivirus solutions cannot protect you until after they've discovered a new threat and produced a signature to counter it.

ThreatFire is different. It does not rely on signatures, but instead constantly analyzes your computer's behavior to detect and block any malicious activity. ThreatFire protects immediately so you know your PC and your valuable data is always secure.

Features

• Persistent zero-day threat protection made easy for everyone - even novice users!
• Runs in background without impacting system performance.
• Automatic updates run silently in the background so ThreatFire is always up-to-date.
• NEW! System Activity Monitor displays detailed data on all running processes and allows you to terminate any process on demand.
  Highest level of out-of-the-box accuracy. No need to configure baffling, technical security settings: just turn ThreatFire on and start blocking malware.
• Includes PC Tools AntiVirus's on-demand AV scanner, giving you added peace of mind so you can quickly and easily scan your PC for known threats.
• Malware quarantine and removal, rootkit and antivirus scanner, advanced custom rules settings and more!
• Perpetually ready for the next malware outbreak - detects malware by watching for malicious behaviors.
• Protects against both known and zero-day viruses, worms, trojans, buffer overflows, rootkits and even some spyware.
• Patent-pending ActiveDefense technology intelligently scans and analyzes computer processes to detect and block any malicious activity - without false positives!
• NEW! Enhanced user interface elements provide more technical details on alerts and interactive reports in ThreatFire's main control panel.
• Works alongside most other security programs - there is no need to uninstall your antivirus, anti-spyware, firewall or other security program before installing ThreatFire.

Read comments for more information.

ESET NOD32 Anti Virus Business Edition v3.0.672 + Updates

Here is a new build of NOD32 after quite some time. NOD32 is an excellent Anti Virus software in the same league as Kaspersky Anti Virus and  Bitdefender. It has great detection rates and a very small memory footprint. In fact, NOD32 is one of the least resource consuming anti virus apps I've ever seen.

If you already have a NOD32  (v3) anti virus that regularly updates, there is no need to separately download and install the new build v3.0.672. NOD32 will update the software components to the latest build as well as the virus signature database. Those who use pirated versions of NOD32 have always had trouble updating this app, but still there are a countless workarounds and fixes available all over the internet.

Developer Description

Antivirus protection is spelled "NOD32." Built on the award-winning ThreatSense® engine, ESET NOD32 Antivirus software proactively detects and eliminates more viruses, trojans, worms, adware, spyware, phishing, rootkits and other Internet threats than any program available. It's the ideal antivirus for Windows XP/Vista, and also runs smoothly on Windows legacy systems, MS-DOS, file servers, mail servers, and more.

ESET NOD32 Antivirus provides:

• Proactive Protection: The award winning ThreatSense technology combines multiple layers of detection protecting you from Internet threats before it is too late.
• Precise Detection: ESET accurately identifies known and unknown threats. It consistently wins top awards from testing labs and is recognized for having zero false positives.
• Lightweight Design: Requires less memory and CPU power, allowing your computer to run fast, making more room for games, web browsing, and emailing.
• Fast Scanning Speeds: Highly efficient program ensuring fast file scanning and product updates. It runs quietly in the background.

Read comments for more information.

McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.7i

If I ever liked a McAfee product, that was their VirusScan Enterprise (VSE) series of Anti Virus software. Although the Enterprise series is designed with large corporate and networks in mind, I used VSE 8.5i for over an year on my desktop PC at home. First thing I liked about VSE is it’s bloat free interface and the fact that it did not come with crapware such as McAfee Security center (which got installed by default with other fancy McAfee home edition products). Second, VSE’s memory resident scanner (called activeshield) did not consume half my RAM in real time protection. Finally, VSE updated like a charm; I did not need to bother with keys getting blacklisted, update servers going offline or update servers blocking client access (nod32 anyone?).

That being said, McAfee’s detection engine seemed to miss a few viruses here and there as of late. For example it did seem to miss that pesky amvo.exe virus which finally forced me to switch to Kaspersky Anti-Virus. Apart from several rare misses McAfee VirusScan Enterprise is still a good AV product. If you are a fan of McAfee products, this is definitely one software that’s worth checking out.

Developer Description

McAfee VirusScan Enterprise is an innovative technology for PCs and servers. It proactively stops and removes malicious software, extends coverage against new security risks, and reduces the cost of responding to outbreaks. Enterprises cannot afford to wait for every threat to be identified and a signature file to be released. The time between attack and subsequent identification is critical, and the shorter, the better. It's better yet if your protection technology identifies new, unknown threats.

Features:

• Cover all the bases
  Block a broad range of viruses and malicious code—even those hidden in compressed files; find new, unknown viruses with advanced heuristics and generic detection
• Defend against threats that target Microsoft
  Protect against exploits targeted at Microsoft applications and services—especially for Microsoft Windows OS services, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Outlook, and SQL server
• Curb outbreak damage
  Limit outbreak damage, even before DAT files are issued; close ports, monitor applications and email engines, block files and directories, and trace and block infection sources
• Scans memory for malicious code
  Detect threats that write to memory rather than disk, such as CodeRed and SQLSlammer 
• Protect email programs
  Detect and scour viruses in Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes—including HTML text and attachments
• Keep script-type threats at bay
  Prevent threats that exploit JavaScript or Visual Basic from executing
• Optimize updating for remote systems
  Tailor field updates to physical locations and connection speeds: resume updating after a broken connection is re-established
• Lock down files
  Keep VirusScan Enterprise files from being altered with enhanced access protection rules
• Advanced rootkit detection
  Scan system memory for installed rootkits, hidden processes, and other concealed malicious code

Read comments for more information.

Trojan Remover 6.7.3

Here is another update for Trojan Remover, an extremely popular malware detection/removal app. As the name suggests people who are having trouble with Trojan and malware infections should give this a go. I recommend running this app (and Superantispyware too) even after your standard Anti-Virus app claims to have cleaned a virus infection as sometimes it may not remove all the components such as registry keys. The latest version of Trojan Remover incorporates a new heuristics detection method for modified rootkits, enhancements for the removal techniques along with several other updates.

Developer Description

Trojan Remover aids in the removal of Malware - Trojan Horses, Worms, Adware, Spyware - when standard anti-virus software ither fails to detect them or fails to effectively eliminate them. Standard antivirus programs are good at detecting this Malware, but not always good at effectively removing it.

Features:

• You can scan the whole drive, or any directories on the drive, by selecting Scan a Drive/Directory from the main Trojan Remover menu.
• ou can scan individual files and directories from within Windows Explorer. (right click>scan)
• rojan Remover incorporates an integral Updater allowing for quick and easy Database updates. You can use the Windows Task
• Scheduler to schedule automatic updates.

Changelog:

• Added new heuristic detection routine for modified rootkits.
• Improved removal techniques for embedded malware.
• Improved removal of malicious registry keys/values.
• Added scan timing information to the logfile and the active scan screen. When a scan is completed (and no alerts are shown) the total scan time taken will be displayed.

Read comments for more information.

P.S. - Stay tuned for the Random Demonoid Invitation code giveaway 10. This time around we will be giving away 12 Demonoid invites for free.

McAfee Total Protection 2009

Mcafee Total Protection 2009 is a PC security suite which protects you from many different threat types. This is a major upgrade from last year’s Total Protection 2008 and includes many new and enhanced features. From an Anti-Virus engine to a web safety advisor, total protection has many different components that ensure continuous protection against both offline and online threats. I only have experience with McAfee’s anti virus products (mostly with VirusScan Enterprise) so I honestly cant say anything about the effectiveness of Total Protection 2009. As for Mcafee’s Anti Virus engine, it’s one of the better ones out there but definitely not the best. Having said that, Total Protection 2009 is much more than an Anti Virus (see below for more details) you may actually find it useful.

Developer Description

Protect yourself, your computer, your identity and your family with McAfee Total Protection 2009. With the daily emergence of new and more sophisticated Internet threats that could disrupt your digital life, you need more than a simple anti-virus program. You need McAfee Total Protection 2009 - all-you-need, feature-rich, and simple-to-use security software.

Anti-phishing?Alerts you to web sites that may try to steal your identity Identity Protection 2-way Firewall Protection SiteAdvisor?Warns about unsafe web sites SecurityCenter?A security status screen with fully customizable options SystemGuards?Warns when your computer shows specific behaviors that may signal virus, spyware, or hacker activity Stealth Mode?Makes your computer invisible to intruders online Shredder?Removes any trace of confidential files from your computer Parental Controls Data Backup Protection without Interference?Watch movies or play games uninterrupted as McAfee security service intelligently defers tasks, updates, and alerts when you're in full-screen mode

New Features in 2009

• New--Simplified Set-up
  Installation is now easier and faster with improved detection and removal of malware that tries to halt the set-up
• New--Enterprise-class Anti-spam
  Powerful industry-grade spam protection helps keep your inbox free from unwanted, fraudulent, offensive, and phishing emails.
• New--QuickScan
  Checks for threats in the areas of your computer that are most often attacked
• New--Network Monitoring
  Alerts you when intruders connect to your home network
• New--Age Appropriate Searching
  Automatically sets the proper content filtering levels of popular search engines
• New--Friendly Alerts
  Provides you with easy to understand alerts regarding your protection
• Key Product Highlights
• Anti-virus/Anti-spyware
  Detects, blocks, and removes viruses, spyware, and adware
• Anti-phishing
  Alerts you to web sites that may try to steal your identity
• Identity Protection
  Helps you to shop, bank, and trade online safely
• Two-way Firewall Protection
  Confidently use the Internet 24/7 knowing hackers can't get access to your PCs
• Web Site Safety Advisor
  A powerful web site guide and shield, McAfee SiteAdvisor Plus technology helps you to safely search and transact online by providing you with color-coded ratings to warn you about and actually prevent you from visiting risky web sites that can compromise your identity and your PC

Other Product Features

• McAfee SecurityCenter
  Provides an easy-to-read security status screen and puts you in control with fully customizable options
• McAfee SystemGuards
  Warns you when your computer shows specific behaviors that may signal virus, spyware, or hacker activity
• Stealth Mode
  Makes your computer invisible to intruders from the Internet
• Shredder
  Allows you to effectively remove any and all traces of confidential files from your computer
• Parental Controls
  Allows your children to go online safely
• Data Backup
  Automatically saves copies of your most valuable files on a CD/DVD, USB, external, or network drive
• Protection without Interference
  You can watch movies or play games uninterrupted as McAfee security service intelligently defers tasks, updates, and alerts when you're in full-screen mode

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AVG Internet Security 8.0.169 Build 1359

Here is a newer build of AVG Internet Security. Unlike the Anti-Virus, Internet Security suite comes with several components not only to detect viruses but to prevent hacking attempts, privacy protection, spam blocker and to detect rootkits. From my little experience with this product, Internet Security seemed to consume a moderate amount of system resources. As for detection rates, it’s nothing bad but I prefer the superior detection rate of Kaspersky Anti-Virus over this. But that is not to say AVG is a bad product. Give it a try.

Developer Description

Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, Anti-Spam, Web Protection & Firewall; Comprehensive protection for Windows against all online threats from the world's most trusted security company. Use the Internet with confidence in your home or small office.

Components

• Anti-Virus: protection against viruses, worms and trojans
• Anti-Spyware: protection against spyware, adware and identity-theft
• Anti-Rootkit: protection against hidden threats (rootkits)
• Anti-Spam: filters out unwanted and fraudulent e-mails (anti-phishing)
• Web Shield  & LinkScanner: protection against malicious websites
• Firewall: protection against hackers
• System Tools: for easy system management

Main Features

• Easy to download, install and use
• Protection against all Internet threats
• Real-time security while you surf and chat online
• Top-quality protection that does not slow your system down
• Free support and service around the clock and across the globe
• Compatible with Windows Vista and Windows XP

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BitDefender Internet Security 2009 v12.0.10 32-bit

BitDefender Internet Security 2009 keeps your Internet-connected family safe, without slowing down their PCs. It locks out viruses, hackers & spam, while providing parental control and firewall protection.

BitDefender was launched in November 2001, and is currently in its twelfth version. BitDefender replaced SOFTWIN's earlier AVX (AntiVirus eXpert) product range. The BitDefender group spins off from SOFTWIN in 2007. The BitDefender range includes antivirus products for home users, businesses, enterprise users and Internet service providers. Home editions support Microsoft Windows, Symbian OS and Windows Mobile; business and enterprise editions support Microsoft Windows, Linux and FreeBSD. The current version of the Home/Home Office security suite includes antivirus, anti-spyware, firewall, e-mail spam filtering, backup, tune-up and parental control components. A free basic online scan is offered via the BitDefender website.

Features

Family network protection

Manage the security of your home network from a single location. BitDefender software from other computers in the network can be remotely configured, while tasks such as scans, backups tune-ups and updates can be run on-demand or scheduled to run during off-hours.

Hassle – Free Hourly Updates

Hourly updates ensure that you are protected against the latest threats without pushing a button. Lost program files are not a problem either. In the rare event of file damage due to PC problems, BitDefender automatically repairs and updates itself.

Confidently download, share and open files from friends, family, co-workers - and even total strangers!

• Improved: Scans all web, e-mail and instant messaging traffic for viruses and spyware, in real-time
• Proactively protects against new virus outbreaks using advanced heuristics

Protect your identity: shop, bank, listen, watch privately and securely

• Blocks attempted identity theft (phishing)
• Improved: Prevents personal information from leaking via e-mail, web or instant messaging

Guard your conversations with top-of-the line encryption

• ^NEWInstant Messaging Encryption
• ^NEWFile Vault securely stores personal information or sensitive files

Connect securely to any network at home, in the office or away

• Automatically modifies firewall protection settings to suit location
• Wi-Fi monitor helps prevent unauthorized access to your Wi-Fi network

Protect your family and their computers!

• Blocks access to inappropriate websites and e-mail
• Schedules and limits kids’ access to Internet and to applications

Play safe, play seamlessly!

• Improved: Reduces the system load and avoids requesting user interaction during games

Get fine-tuned performance from your computer !

• Uses few system resources
• ^NEWLaptop mode prolongs battery life

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Trojan Remover 6.7.2 build 2539

Trojan Remover 6.7.2 build 2539 is the latest build of Trojan Remover available on 22-08-08.

Trojan Remover aids in the removal of Malware - Trojan Horses, Worms, Adware, Spyware - when standard anti-virus software either fails to detect them or fails to effectively eliminate them. Standard antivirus programs are good at detecting this Malware, but not always good at effectively removing it. Trojan Remover is designed to work on Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista. The program is not compatible with any 64bit version of Windows. The majority of Virus and Trojan Scanners are well able to detect malicious software - Trojan Horses, Internet Worms, Adware/Spyware etc. - but are not always very efficient in removing them once they have been triggered.

Trojan Remover is designed specifically to disable/remove Malware without the user having to manually edit system files or the Registry. The program also removes the additional system modifications some Malware carries out which are ignored by standard antivirus and trojan scanners.Trojan Remover scans ALL the files loaded at boot time for Adware, Spyware, Remote Access Trojans, Internet Worms and other malware. Trojan Remover also checks to see if Windows loads Files/Services which are hidden by Rootkit techniques and warns you if it finds any.

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AVG Internet Security v8.0.164 : Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, Anti-Spam, Web Protection & Firewall

The only AVG product I have used in my lifetime was an older version of AVG Anti-Virus back in 2006. To be honest I didn't like the user interface that much and it used to give a lot of false positives on key generators and program patches. However judging by online reviews and user comments, AVG has improved a lot and is considered a good security product by many users.

Developer Description

Comprehensive protection for Windows against all online threats from the world's most trusted security company. Use the Internet with confidence in your home or small office.

Features

• Easy to download, install and use
• Protection against all Internet threats
• Real-time security while you surf and chat online
• Top-quality protection that does not slow your system down
• Free support and service around the clock and across the globe
• Compatible with Windows Vista and Windows XP

Components

• Anti-Virus: protection against viruses, worms and trojans
• Anti-Spyware: protection against spyware, adware and identity-theft
• Anti-Rootkit: protection against hidden threats (rootkits)
• Anti-Spam: filters out unwanted and fraudulent e-mails (anti-phishing)
• Web Shield & LinkScanner: protection against malicious websites
• Firewall: protection against hackers
• System Tools: for easy system management

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Avira Premium Security Suite v8.1.0.245 - 14.08.2008

Do you surf on the Internet, make online purchases, communicate by email, or make bank transactions on your PC? The Avira Security Suite reliably protects you and has an extra FireWall as well as an AntiSpam and a backup function in addition to the award-winning virus protection.

Features

• AntiVir
• AntiAd/Spyware
• AntiPhishing
• AntiRootkit
• AntiDrive-by
• AntiBot
• EmailScanner
• WebGuard
• RescueSystem
• BackupSystem
• AntiSpam
• FireWall
• GameMode

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