Steganos Antivirus

[analyzer]

I found this Steganos AV while searching for encryption software.This AV use KAV scanning engine which interest me and cost only Euro $25 slighty cheaper than others.

http://www.steganos.com/en/sav/index.htm

[wizard]

Steganos AV is the German AVK (properly without the second RAV engine) as it looks to me.

wizard

[Blackcat]

A much more 'pretty' interface than KAV, a characteristic of all the KAV clones and easier for newbies to use.

Would obviously have the excellent virus/detection abilities of KAV but would be of interest as to whether it is as demanding on system resources as Kaspersky.

The ease of use and the appearance of the main GUI is something that Kaspersky have taken note of and the screen shots of the new KAV 5 seem very promising in this respect. One comment I have seen is that the new version 'looks a little like NAV'. And Norton does have an easy to use interface.

At the present time, Steganos AV could be considered a slightly cheaper, easier to use and understand KAV clone.

[Madsen DK]

Looks nice.
Being a KAV clone, i asume its a very good AV.
Anyone tried or testet it.??
Theres no trail version as far as i can see. :'(

[Smokey]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Madsen DK link=board=24;threadid=13118;start=0#msg84161 date=1062355113]

Theres no trail version as far as i can see. :'(

" }-

Is correct, original Steganos statement about a trial-version:

"For now we don´t offer an evaluation copy of Steganos Anti Virus, sorry."

I'm sorry too! :'(

Ciao,

Smokey

[PikeDude]

Hi, I've used this anti-virus for a little while now and it's pretty stable on my system with Nod being the resident scanner and BoClean being the AT. I mainly use it to scan my system every week or so and to scan downloaded files from the net.

As far as load on the system, I have found that using Nod as resident and Steganos as backup is lighter than the other way around, but not by very much though.

I've thrown a few virus and trojans that I've managed to download and Steganos caught them all, so I would not be hesitant to recommend it as either a backup anti-virus or as full time resident.

Hope you all don't mind, I've posted a few screenshots.

[PikeDude]

Here's another one.

[PikeDude]

I promise, last one. ;D

[Madsen DK]

THX for the screenies PikeDude. :)
Regards Ole

[wizard]

-{ Quote: " quoting: PikeDude link=board=24;threadid=13118;start=0#msg84491 date=1062447834]
Here's another one.
" }-

That's strange: Compared to the original AVK the update button for Software updates is missing. Looks like with Steganos you can't update the software. :(

wizard

[PikeDude]

Hi wizard, you can manually update it, all you have to do is click on the Virus Update (second image) under the Internet Update section and then click on Start at the bottom right. It will then verify if an update is available or you have the latest updates. :)

[the Tester]

Thanks for showing us what Steganos looks like Pikedude.

How often are updates available?

[PikeDude]

Hi the Tester, on program installation, the updater is set to check for updates by default, once a week, but I changed it to daily. I usually see updates available every couple of days. There have been more updates in the last few weeks though, almost daily.

[wizard]

-{ Quote: " quoting: PikeDude link=board=24;threadid=13118;start=0#msg84513 date=1062451364]
Hi wizard, you can manually update it, all you have to do is click on the Virus Update (second image) under the Internet Update section and then click on Start at the bottom right." }-

I am not talking about signature updates here. I am talking about product updates. Please have a look at the attached screenshot of the original AVK and you will find out what I mean.

wizard

[the Tester]

Hmm.

Extendia AVK(the non-pro version)doesn't have the software update button either.

I didn't know that other versions of AVK had that button.

Maybe that's why the version I bought was so cheap?

[PikeDude]

Hey wizard, thanks for the info, after reading your post and seeing your screenshot, I wrote to the support at Steganos and am currently waiting for a reply. Hopefully their updater verifies for both the virus definitions and for program updates. I will post there reply here once I get it.

[PikeDude]

Hi All,

Well, I received my response from Steganos and they said that the updates are for the virus definitions only. I guess when there's a program update, they probably send an email seeing that you have to be registered to have the program anyways. I still believe that this is a good program either as a backup or on-access scanner since the scanner is that of Kav and the program seems very stable. I'm running WinXP Home SP1.

[Paul Wilders]

PikeDude,


-{ Quote: "...I guess when there's a program update, they probably send an email seeing that you have to be registered to have the program anyways." }-

For those interested (and yourself ;) ) - why not asking a confirmation about from the software developper?

regards.

paul

[PikeDude]

Hi Paul, curiosity got the better of me, I sent another email regarding the program updates/upgrades. I'll post here when I get a response.

[Paul Wilders]

-{ Quote: " quoting: PikeDude link=board=24;threadid=13118;start=15#msg85848 date=1062914264]
Hi Paul, curiosity got the better of me, I sent another email regarding the program updates/upgrades. I'll post here when I get a response.
" }-

Good move - looking forward to your follow up ;)

regards.

paul

[PikeDude]

Hi All, well I received my response from Steganos:

Dear madam, dear sir,

thank you for using Steganos software.

No, the updates are not available as "stand-alone-files". Possible available program updates will be downloaded automatically during the virus-database update.

For further question please feel free to send me an E-mail.

Steganos Customer Service

That is good enough for me :)

[wizard]

I still don't believe what the support is telling there. I find it hard to imagine that Steganos has rewritten AVK just to use one button instead of two like in the original AVK. But we will see...

wizard

[Technodrome]

The same stands for eXtendia AVK.


tECHNODROME

[Firefighter]

To everyone from Firefighter!

How is that update/upgrade issue with VisNetic Antivirus and PowerAntiVirus XP?

KAV may have at least 10 clones!


Best Regards,
Firefighter!

[Technodrome]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Firefighter link=board=24;threadid=13118;start=15#msg87270 date=1063390295]
KAV may have at least 10 clones
" }-

Yes, many.... 8)



tECHNODROME

[bigc73542]

extendia avk updates the program and virus defs with the same button at least that is what my owners manual for extendia avk pro says.

[wizard]

-{ Quote: " quoting: bigc73542 link=board=24;threadid=13118;start=15#msg89712 date=1064446237]
extendia avk updates the program and virus defs with the same button at least that is what my owners manual for extendia avk pro says.
" }-

Pretty strange. Again hard for me to imagine that the original version of AVK from GDATA has two buttons while all the copies (extendia, steganos) have only one. Anyhow, just wondering what is the actual version number extendia avk?

wizard

[Technodrome]

I don't think that program updates are available for eXtendia (via update button).

Version number is 11.0.4 and it hasn’t chance for months.

I tested AVK 12 Pro and I must say that is flawless in terms of performance. Doesn’t hit system at all. Comparing to version 11, AVK 12 is better tuned.
I don’t know why they didn’t offer version 12 instead 11.



tECHNODROME

[wizard]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Technodrome link=board=24;threadid=13118;start=15#msg89815 date=1064492773]
I don’t know why they didn’t offer version 12 instead 11." }-

That explains why the price is so low. They just sell old program versions. :(

wizard

[Firefighter]

To everyone from Firefighter!

Because I'm a bit of simpleminded I can't understand the importance of the latest program version! My eXtendia AVK Pro has exactly the same 12 version scanning engine as the latest AntiVirenKit 12 Pro antivirus.

The difference between those programs were in their Lay-Out and AntiVirenKit 12 Pro has some plus functions that the eXtendia hasn't.

Is it possible in this case to update the scanning engine via that one update button in my eXtendia AVK Pro too?

Best Regards,
Firefighter!

[Technodrome]

You'll get engine updates but not program updates. Such as bug fix if there is one.


tECHNODROME