PC Tools antivirus

PCT's free antivirus began as a VirusBuster clone, but (per PCT) had been revised/upgraded by them. PCT AV's VirusBuster heritage led most folks to disdain its use because the Buster has done poorly in tests by AV-C, AV-Test.org, et alia.

HOWEVER, the Buster has been doing quite well in the recent tests by ShadowServer.

Further, PCT claims additional improvements have recently been made to its AV -- newly upgraded to version 4.0.0.25 -- including but not necessarily limited to the following...

 

It's not the best but it's certanly doing pretty well. And can be used on corporate computers too. So if you want free AV for lets say company laptop, it's pretty much a no brainer... And if there wasn't avast! i'd probably be using it. It's pretty ok. Nice interface, install and forget default mode and not that bad detection. At least if you look at VB100% and other certifications (they don't mean world but AV certanly has to meet a certain degree of quality to pass them regardless).

 

It would be my GUESS that the PCT antivirus probably does NOT cover spyware, inasmuch as PCT sells Spyware Doctor.

Does anyone know the FACTS about this matter?

 

no
No, not definately, but what would be the point of another product?

 

I used it on a Virtual Machine for a fewdays. It worked fine. I don't think its the worst AV but it is free & seemed to be reasonably decent.

 

Seems that it is included in Threatfire Pro version. Then with Threatfire's assistance seems like you would have sound protection.

Based on PCT statements regarding Spyware Doctor complimenting Threatfire's spyware et al. that the Anitvirus has little to no spyware protection.

Just assumptions on my part however.

 

Seems correct.

http://www.pctools.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50669

Not a warm feeling.

 

not very friendly

 

Most free Anti-viruses don't offer Spyware protection.... Now if this AV didn't pick up the Trojan downloader(s) at all ever then I would state my issue, by not using it! But it is a simple missed sample **it happens all the time.

 

Your guess is correct, but there's always PCT Internet Security!

 

Good to see at least someone has a sense of perspective.

Just head over to AV-C and read the reports - even the best scorers regularly miss thousands of samples. Making all this hulabaloo over ONE missed sample seems rather unnecessary to me.

 

Point is not one missed sample. Point is that they replied in a way that this detection is not supposed to be the job of their AV.

 

If by "they" you mean post number two in that thread, do note that the poster is more of a volunteer not necessarily armed with any real insight regarding the matter.

 

"They" didn't say that. A forums "helper" or "Expert Volunteer Guru" did.

 

I did not notice that.

 

Has anyone here tried it/comment on how light it may run?

 

So does it cover spyware or not?

 

When I had it installed it ran very light at I believe around 5500K for two processes in Task Manager. It had over 364,000 Intelli-Signatures, but doesn't really cover spyware. It is a very nice free AV and the new engine is much better than that of Virusbusters. From what I can remember it updated ok and the GUI was typical PC Tools. Brightly colored blue's and whites and easy to understand.