Avira 2013

[doolhof]

ProActive is currently supported on 32-bit systems only.

[Legendkiller]

Well as per Download.Com, if you install their toolbar there won't be any nag screens...Download.com

The toolbar has become a major focus for Avira, and the company is using it to provide multiple in-browser security features. The company has partnered with Abine to bolt their Do Not Track Plus tracking and ad blocker to the toolbar.

So we have the choice between Avira nag screens or Avira toolbar bundled with Abine Do Not Track Plus.

[gery]

the toolbar is also an option at the premium version too

[RejZoR]

Originally Posted by carat

So we have the choice between Avira nag screens or Avira toolbar bundled with Abine Do Not Track Plus.

Well, there are alternatives that don't feed you with crap. Or at least they don't make it mandatory to gain some functionality...

[Trooper]

Interesting. Thought this was going away with 2013?

[Joxx]

Originally Posted by doolhof

ProActive is currently supported on 32-bit systems only.

That's disappointing; and makes this 2013 line look somewhat half-baked.

At least the free version kept its simplicity.

[Coccinelle]

Originally Posted by doolhof

ProActive is currently supported on 32-bit systems only.

....and still 2 years

[Fly]

Since I have an image of the Avira security suite (promo) I decided to give it a spin. I uninstalled the old product, then installed the 2013 version using a custom install.

It was a bit paranoid about competing software. ?

I don't fully understand the privacy implications of pro-activ and the cloud feature. It seems to be safe, but if I ever studied that technical stuff it was a long time ago and I'm not truly certain if it's 100 % 'safe'.

The odd thing is, I declined to install either in the very beginning of the installation. A bit later, it was offered again and included by default when I could select and deselect the various components.

Of course I always go to expert mode. Why, why does Avira not select many of the threat categories by default ? I could understand not selecting 'games' for private computers, but the rest ?

The rather prominent 'red alert' in the GUI for 'Safe Browsing' is annoying and just doesn't make sense if you don't have kids.

Does disabling the firewall during the installation make sense ? It does not seem safe.

And my major gripe, the Ask toolbar ! That's just plain wrong. I was under the impression Avira had seen the light. But to include it not only with the free version but the regular as well ?

Other than these issues it runs fine.

A beta released prematurely ?

[Trooper]

Anyone using Internet Security version? Curious if the firewall changed at all.

[Joxx]

Originally Posted by Fly

A beta released prematurely ?

Maybe Euro Crisis Contagion i.e. schemozzle and loss of long term view.

[SeeTheTruth]

Is this all marketing ~ Snipped as per TOS ~ or what is the point of version 2013?

When you look at the facebook ad at http://www.facebook.com/avira?sk=app_137541772984354 the following topics are listed:

A) Website Safety Advisor
This isn't from Avira but from CallingID - a company from Israel that isn't even compliant with EU Data Protection Directive (95/46/EC). See http://www.callingid.com/privacy.aspx. Since customer aren't informed that their privacy isn't handeld in accordance with European laws Avira at least should warn their users. I don't see this as a saftey feature, but a risk! It'll be interessting to learn what Germanys State Commissioner for Data Protection thinks about this....

B) Browser Tracking Blocker
This is also not from Avira but from Abine. When installed the DoNotTrack-Service starts an executable that is excluded within the Avira firewall. It is communicating over the internet all the time. I couldn't find any information within their privacy policy what data is transfered. So again perhaps more risk than saftey...

C) Enhanced Child Protection
Where are the advantages compared to the previous version? I don't see any change...

D) Protection Cloud
By default this is used once a week (within Quick Scan according to the online help). So in the best case it tells me that I got infected instead of protecting me against getting infected. Why is there no check on execute?

E) Security for Android
Where is the point to offer this within the GUI of a Windows product -all the time. Maybe they should offer a link to http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Teens-Unce...rds=safety+sex also? - it is said to be related to saftey also...

F) Social Network Protection
No time to check this so far - I've no FB account so far....

G) Experts Market
Looks somehow like an early alpha. Just try to register as an expert or try to get help. Didn't they advertise something different (http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/none/...-you-get-help).

No 64Bit ProActiv, no support for Windows 8, no real new (useful) features that are from Avira and finished. My conclusion: marketing ~ Snipped as per TOS ~

[trjam]

Originally Posted by SeeTheTruth

Is this all marketing ~ Snipped as per TOS ~ or what is the point of version 2013?

When you look at the facebook ad at http://www.facebook.com/avira?sk=app_137541772984354 the following topics are listed:

A) Website Safety Advisor
This isn't from Avira but from CallingID - a company from Israel that isn't even compliant with EU Data Protection Directive (95/46/EC). See http://www.callingid.com/privacy.aspx. Since customer aren't informed that their privacy isn't handeld in accordance with European laws Avira at least should warn their users. I don't see this as a saftey feature, but a risk! It'll be interessting to learn what Germanys State Commissioner for Data Protection thinks about this....

B) Browser Tracking Blocker
This is also not from Avira but from Abine. When installed the DoNotTrack-Service starts an executable that is excluded within the Avira firewall. It is communicating over the internet all the time. I couldn't find any information within their privacy policy what data is transfered. So again perhaps more risk than saftey...

C) Enhanced Child Protection
Where are the advantages compared to the previous version? I don't see any change...

D) Protection Cloud
By default this is used once a week (within Quick Scan according to the online help). So in the best case it tells me that I got infected instead of protecting me against getting infected. Why is there no check on execute?

E) Security for Android
Where is the point to offer this within the GUI of a Windows product -all the time. Maybe they should offer a link to http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Teens-Unce...rds=safety+sex also? - it is said to be related to saftey also...

F) Social Network Protection
No time to check this so far - I've no FB account so far....

G) Experts Market
Looks somehow like an early alpha. Just try to register as an expert or try to get help. Didn't they advertise something different (http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/none/...-you-get-help).

No 64Bit ProActiv, no support for Windows 8, no real new (useful) features that are from Avira and finished. My conclusion: marketing ~ Snipped as per TOS ~

Hmm, cant disagree, and unfortunately seems to be the same pathetic approach by just about all vendors of late.

Did we not already, go through this, "Tom Sawyer" repainting job just 3 years ago.


Whitelist my friends, whitelist.

[trjam]

And not to hijack a Avira thread but there are sleepers out there yet to be discovered. And if you really clean my toe nails I will go so far as to say my sleeper product/products for 2013 are going to be," McAfee"

[Trooper]

Unfortunate. Maybe I will be sticking with 2012 then.

[silverfox99]

Originally Posted by trjam

And not to hijack a Avira thread but there are sleepers out there yet to be discovered. And if you really clean my toe nails I will go so far as to say my sleeper product/products for 2013 are going to be," McAfee"

Eyebrows raised at this as well McAfee coming 2nd in av-c anti-phishing test August 2012:
http://www.av-comparatives.org/compa...st-august-2012

Just a blip? or a taste of things to come......?

[Macstorm]

Wow beware, competition is attacking!!!

New Avira 2013 is out... understandable..

I didn't know Avira products were that bad Thanks guys, you just made me reinforce my confidence on them

[The Hammer]

Originally Posted by Macstorm

Wow beware, competition is attacking!!!

New Avira 2013 is out... understandable..

I didn't know Avira products were that bad Thanks guys, you just made me reinforce my confidence on them

I haven't seen any compelling reason to change.

[Trooper]

Originally Posted by The Hammer

I haven't seen any compelling reason to change.

Have you or will you install 2013?

[Osaban]

Originally Posted by Macstorm

I didn't know Avira products were that bad Thanks guys, you just made me reinforce my confidence on them

Some people are obviously and egregiously splitting hairs! As far as I'm concerned this is the first new release since version 9 (the most beloved one by hair splitters) which installs and performs flawlessly without a hitch. Versions 10 and 12 had from memory all sorts of problems. I'm specifically talking about Avira Premium 2013, I still have to download the free version for evaluation.

[Macstorm]

Originally Posted by The Hammer

I haven't seen any compelling reason to change.

Originally Posted by Osaban

Some people are obviously and egregiously splitting hairs! As far as I'm concerned this is the first new release since version 9 (the most beloved one by hair splitters) which installs and performs flawlessly without a hitch. Versions 10 and 12 had from memory all sorts of problems. I'm specifically talking about Avira Premium 2013, I still have to download the free version for evaluation.

It makes absolutely no sense on holding on to the old versions, imho. Malware is continuously evolving, so is the response from av vendors with new technologies to keep up with the bad guys, and by using old products you are just giving a huge handicap to those thieves.

Many people here in this forum use to think that everyone else (about the whole world) has their same level of expertise on dealing with malware.
And it is mainly to those (millions of) people for whom these new versions are being improved

[PJC]

Originally Posted by RejZoR

24 hour update cycles are idiotic for a year 2012, yet some still use it.

Absolutely agree with you!

[The Hammer]

Originally Posted by Trooper

Have you or will you install 2013?

I'll install it,but haven't yet. I expect I'll be notified about a product update via a pop up will I not?

[Djigi]

Originally Posted by The Hammer

I'll install it,but haven't yet. I expect I'll be notified about a product update via a pop up will I not?

Longtime Avira Free users no doubt will be delighted that the daily upgrade pop-up will go away permanently if you install the Avira toolbar.

[The Hammer]

Originally Posted by Djigi

Longtime Avira Free users no doubt will be delighted that the daily upgrade pop-up will go away permanently if you install the Avira toolbar.

I use Premium so I wouldn't know.