Prevx 3.0: PC Magazine Review

Discussion in 'other anti-malware software' started by TheKid7, May 13, 2009.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. elapsed

    elapsed Registered Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2004
    Posts:
    7,076
    The week after that is reserved for something else. :rolleyes:
     
  2. trjam

    trjam Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2006
    Posts:
    9,102
    Location:
    North Carolina USA
    A wise man told me once, you can only half control a week ahead in life. After that your odds diminish.;)
     
  3. PrevxHelp

    PrevxHelp Former Prevx Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2008
    Posts:
    8,242
    Location:
    USA/UK
    We will be releasing all of the new functionality at once and it will still be some weeks until its all completed :) Sadly, we can't just press a button to make it write itself... that's later on in the roadmap :D
     
  4. Triple Helix

    Triple Helix Specialist

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2004
    Posts:
    13,269
    Location:
    Ontario, Canada
    Hi Joe,

    Can you tell us anything? That could possible affect any decisions on getting any other security software that we might be looking at?

    TIA,

    TH
     
  5. Anth-Unit

    Anth-Unit Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2006
    Posts:
    108
    If you don't mind me asking, how does the scanning work? From what I understand, it needs to be connected to an online database to scan the file and new files are added to the prevx database as more prevx users come into contact with them. I'm wondering what exactly is scanned here. For example, if I have a series of photos, word documents, pdf files etc. on my computer are those uploaded to the prevex database? Or does it only scan the program that is used to open them? Lets say in a dental office, would a patients confidential information located in a word file or in some of the imaging software used be uploaded to the prevx servers? How does this work?
     
  6. Page42

    Page42 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2007
    Posts:
    6,941
    Location:
    USA
    I'm giving it a shot. I ran the initial scan with all heuristic settings on default LOW. Then MEDIUM, then HIGH, then MAXIMUM... System Status Clean each time. So my question for you, trjam, or for other users, is what level do you like to set the heuristics at?

    Another question I have concerns real-time protection. I thought after reading the product comparison chart that the paid version was the only one offering real-time protection, but I see "Realtime Infection Monitoring" listed (with a green checkmark next to it) on the Status window of the free version.
     
  7. PrevxHelp

    PrevxHelp Former Prevx Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2008
    Posts:
    8,242
    Location:
    USA/UK
    You are correct - the free version contains monitoring which doesn't block threats but will identify them as they enter, essentially a realtime on-demand scanner and therefore, the free version also has identical system impact to the full version.
     
  8. egghead

    egghead Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2005
    Posts:
    443
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    PrevxHelp

    What is the answer to the question of Anth-Unit ?

    I have confidential information located in a word file. Is this file uploaded to the prevx servers?
     
  9. PrevxHelp

    PrevxHelp Former Prevx Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2008
    Posts:
    8,242
    Location:
    USA/UK
    Hello,
    The centralized scanning focuses ONLY on programs and completely ignores documents or anything which can contain private information (those are analyzed locally). You may notice filenames of non-executable files being scanned because we still read the files to ensure they are clean and not an executable file masqueraded as a legitimate file. We only rarely upload executables and primarily are only looking at behavior of the files on the system (as uploading takes up a large amount of resources on both the client PCs and the server).
     
  10. PrevxHelp

    PrevxHelp Former Prevx Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2008
    Posts:
    8,242
    Location:
    USA/UK
    Never :) (I've responded to the post now as well with a more thorough explanation).
     
  11. Someone

    Someone Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2008
    Posts:
    1,106
    If you don't mind me asking would Prevx consider it ethically wrong to recommend the free version on websites?
     
  12. Page42

    Page42 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2007
    Posts:
    6,941
    Location:
    USA
    I have another Prevx question, this one involving updating.

    Basic Configuration has a box to be checked (or not) that says, "Automatically download and apply updates". Being a user who prefers manually updating over auto-updating, I unchecked that box and saved changes.

    Then I went to the Settings main page and clicked on "Check for Updates". The resulting pop up dialog states, "Prevx 3.0 detection is constantly kept up to date by using the Online Prevx Community Database and it is not necessary to download new definition updates".

    So my question is, if it is not necessary to download new definition updates, what is happening when a user selects the option that says, "automatically download and apply updates"?
     
  13. PrevxHelp

    PrevxHelp Former Prevx Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2008
    Posts:
    8,242
    Location:
    USA/UK
    This box applies to software updates (bug fixes, new engine technology, etc.) - you can uncheck it to prevent new software updates from being installed but this is generally not recommended. Prevx fundamentally doesn't require non-software updates to be downloaded as they are always up-to-date via the centralized database.
     
  14. PrevxHelp

    PrevxHelp Former Prevx Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2008
    Posts:
    8,242
    Location:
    USA/UK
    No we wouldn't :)
     
  15. Page42

    Page42 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2007
    Posts:
    6,941
    Location:
    USA
    Then what is the purpose of the "Check for Updates" link in the lower right area of the main GUI?
     
  16. PrevxHelp

    PrevxHelp Former Prevx Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2008
    Posts:
    8,242
    Location:
    USA/UK
    If the user disables automatic updates it would be impossible to get a new update without the link. And additionally, automatic updates are only checked once per day so anxious users can click the button :)
     
  17. Page42

    Page42 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2007
    Posts:
    6,941
    Location:
    USA
    In my opinion, the two are a bit contradictory. When I click on "Check updates" and see, "Prevx 3.0 detection is constantly kept up to date by using the Online Prevx Community Database and it is not necessary to download new definition updates", I'm confused. Maybe it's just me... certainly it wouldn't be the first time! :)

    So if I'm hearing you right, the manual updating message I am seeing is only appearing because there are no updates to be had? If I leave auto updating disabled and keep checking manually, eventually I'll receive updates?

    If that is the case, I would recommend a message that says no updates are available.
     
  18. PrevxHelp

    PrevxHelp Former Prevx Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2008
    Posts:
    8,242
    Location:
    USA/UK
    Yes, this is true... and we do have this message :)

    "You are currently using the newest Prevx 3.0 software.

    Prevx 3.0 detection is constantly kept up to date by using the Online Prevx Community Database and it is not necessary to download new definition updates"
     
  19. Page42

    Page42 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2007
    Posts:
    6,941
    Location:
    USA
    Okay, I understand now. I was focusing too much on the second part of the message and disregarding the first part. Thanks for the assistance with that. ;)
     
  20. raven211

    raven211 Registered Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2005
    Posts:
    2,567
    Actually... it's very probable that because COMODO DID release versions packed with all new features at once, it became a bugging ***. I'm just not sure this is the smartest move to make. :eek: We all know how different security software and maybe also regular software works on different systems. :doubt:
     
  21. PrevxHelp

    PrevxHelp Former Prevx Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2008
    Posts:
    8,242
    Location:
    USA/UK
    The difference between the features we're adding and the features other vendors have added in bulk is that all of ours are interrelated - i.e. the secure browser functionality is built directly on top of the new behavior monitoring engine which is built on top of the current protection engine. There won't be any additional system impact (most likely less impact actually) but stability and ease of use are always our top concern :)
     
  22. PrevxHelp

    PrevxHelp Former Prevx Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2008
    Posts:
    8,242
    Location:
    USA/UK
    Not necessarily a conventional behavior blocker but a new way of analyzing and collecting behaviors which allows us to see more data without more overhead :)
     
  23. tigerfish0303

    tigerfish0303 Registered Member

    Joined:
    May 28, 2009
    Posts:
    6
    Good day,

    I just started using the free scanner. I have several questions:
    1) If prevx 3.0 does detect a malware during on-demand scan and also during real time scanning, do I have to be present every second during the scan(since it takes over 10mins to scan in my PC) to know it detected a malware or will it let you know of this after the scan(would be better if it did)-like having a pop-up stay their until you close it since you can't be in front of the PC all the time.

    2) Also many say that the scan is from 1-2 mins only but in my PC it takes 10+mins- is this speed dependent on the speed of the Processor?(mine is a slow and old Duron 750)

    3) If offline, will the real time scanner detect malware? or is it still operating in the background, and if it is, is it still useful?
     
  24. PrevxHelp

    PrevxHelp Former Prevx Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2008
    Posts:
    8,242
    Location:
    USA/UK
    The scan results will show up at the end with the warning and detections so you don't have to be sitting there to answer the responses.

    It can be dependent on the processor or on the harddisk. I've sent you a PM with my email address to send a scan log to so that I can see if there is anything we can do to optimize the connection as 10 minutes is indeed extremely slow relative to the rest of our users (the system I'm writing this on takes 9 seconds to scan :doubt: )

    It is still useful - it will protect you against any threats you have encountered in the past and will continue monitoring and collecting behaviors to analyze when the system re-connects. We are going to be adding more offline protection as well, but currently all of the new protection exists in the "cloud".
     
  25. egghead

    egghead Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2005
    Posts:
    443
    Location:
    The Netherlands


    My rig takes 44 seconds to scan, but I can live with that ;) :D

    This is an "automatic scan" or scan by pushing the button "scan my pc now" on the status screen.

    However, when I do a manual scan: advanced scan > custom scan and select my 3 partitions, it takes about 20 minutes to scan my rig.

    What is the difference between these 2 scans ? Both are scanning "my pc".
     
    Last edited: May 29, 2009
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.