PC Tools: Powered by Symantec

[Firecat]

Not sure whether this is significant news, but all PC Tools products will now adopt Symantec's logo and check mark.

http://www.pctools.com/company/brand/

Personally, I still say "meh" because I've had far from the best support experience from PC Tools or Symantec. But YMMV

[Brocke]

now only if they could improve the free version that would be great.

[gery]

and revive threatfire again

[PaulBB]

PC Tools AntiVirus Free 9.0.0.2298 has been released yesterday. Wondering if they share the same virus definitions/engine with Symantec? Any idea ?

[kjdemuth]

I guess that its worth trying out. I'm waiting till they revive threatfire. I think that with some interest and work, it could be great once again.

[andyman35]

Originally Posted by PaulBB

PC Tools AntiVirus Free 9.0.0.2298 has been released yesterday. Wondering if they share the same virus definitions/engine with Symantec? Any idea ?

That's an interesting question.

I'd guess that they don't,since they haven't previously and there'd be no point keeping the same basic product under 2 different names.Conversely not sharing information between the 2 entities makes little sense also.

[Firecat]

Originally Posted by PaulBB

PC Tools AntiVirus Free 9.0.0.2298 has been released yesterday. Wondering if they share the same virus definitions/engine with Symantec? Any idea ?

PC Tools paid versions use their own engine as well as Symantec's engine + definitions (however, it seems Symantec's pulse updates are not there).

I believe PC Tools AV Free uses only the Symantec engine + definitions and updates once a day.

[Noob]

I think they should just kill PC Tools lineup entirely.
It does not seem like they are really interested in investing and improving PC Tools software like their main lineup.

[toxinon12345]

Apparently, PC Tools does use of ThreatFire rather than SONAR

[kjdemuth]

Uggh. The PCtools free AV is a total slug. I don't know if it was just because it was running in VM but it took 1 1/2 hours and it was only at 37%. That was a full scan on a clean VM. It also wasn't the best at catching things. It seemed like it missed all the ITW malware. The free version doesn't have threatfire and the web shield. Maybe that's why it didn't do to well.

[Mirin]

After an update, AV Free turned into Spyware Doctor with AV Trial here.

[Firecat]

Originally Posted by toxinon12345

Apparently, PC Tools does use of ThreatFire rather than SONAR

Yes, uses ThreatFire and analysis from ThreatExpert. SONAR and Norton Insight are not used in any PC Tools product. The cloud is also different from Symantec's cloud but there seems to be sharing of data between clouds based on recent cloud detections I've been having. However, Symantec's scan engine and malware definitions are still used.

PC Tools relies on the cloud to reduce FPs so scans without an Internet connection will yield considerably more FPs. They will probably never make it comparable to Norton because PC Tools operates as Symantec's "budget brand" and is intended to compete with cheaper vendors like Avast, AVG, Avira, BitDefender etc. (that being said, it is still a very decent product at least as far as protection goes).

PC Tools is a generally buggy product and you actually feel it as you start using it. To be frank I couldn't understand how a product without polish has Symantec's tag on it.

@kjdemuth: The engine is slow at first scan. Later scans are usually faster. There are also a few bugs related to detection and maybe you have run into one of them.

[Ranget]

well Hope they revive ThreatFire and Make all Pctool lineup Free

[toxinon12345]

Originally Posted by kjdemuth

The free version doesn't have threatfire and the web shield. Maybe that's why it didn't do to well.

protection components are unrelated to on-demand scans

[Ibrad]

Yes I free Spyware Doctor is something I have been waiting for since they killed Spyware Doctor Starter.

[kjdemuth]

Originally Posted by toxinon12345

protection components are unrelated to on-demand scans

Yeah I know that. Thanks.

[drhu22]

For all you who are interested in TF I thought I would repost this thread by Kees1958. There may be more recent ones but this will get you on the right track. Its about setting up custom rules in Threatfire. I would love to see some testing on this...anyone keen? Oh and thanks again to kees1958 for this awesome post.

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=183020

[zfactor]

runs like a dog on my system... no thank you..i have a i7 overclocked on water and still made the system drag pretty badly..

[Yanick]

Didnt have eny kind of drag with Threatfire, i liked it. Except for some reason Sandboxie didnt like TF. Gave me memory error whenever i opened sandboxed program, so i had to move away :/

As far as I know the free version has no rootkit protection and no behaviour blocker ...

[kupo]

Originally Posted by tpro

As far as I know the free version has no rootkit protection and no behaviour blocker ...

Are you talking about Threatfire? You do know that Threatfire is a free behavior blocker right?

Sorry, PC Tools Free AV

Edit: Where can I find the free AV?

[ViVek]

PC Tools AntiVirus 9.0.0.2286 Free Edition
http://www.pctools.com/free-antivirus/
download http://www.pctools.com/mirror/avinstall.exe

[Tele2k]

I installed the free AV on my Lenovo Win 7 laptop, and it is very light. It works well with the free PC Tools Firewall.

Not sure about rootkit, etc...

VW

[Technical]

Originally Posted by Firecat

PC Tools paid versions use their own engine as well as Symantec's engine + definitions (however, it seems Symantec's pulse updates are not there).

I believe PC Tools AV Free uses only the Symantec engine + definitions and updates once a day.

Seems that they're getting a way close to freemium model and will release a free antivirus side-by-side with Norton. Of course, just rumors