True 64-bit solution

I need to deploy an antivirus solution for someone who is using Windows 7 64-bit. I need to know that out of all free and paid apps, which ones have a true 64-bit version. I know MSE and HitMan Pro have them, but not aware of others. Please help.

P.S. - I know that 32-bit apps work fine on 64-bit machines by using a native 64-bit driver, but still if you can cater to my whim, I would be grateful.

 

Avast and Avira are x64, Avast installs in program files folder by default.

 

NOD32/ESS, PrevX and ClamAV/Immunet have native 64bit versions as well, among others. Certainly easier to check the vendor website and/or some specialized pages. In particular I recommend Start64! and their security section

 

Of the free antivirus programs only MSE and Avast got 64-bit programs I think, they both install in Program Files and not in Program Files (x86). Avira might be 64-bit but I am not sure. AVG and Panda Cloud are both totally x86.

But as far as I know most security apps are still just x86 programs, and run all processes in 32 bit.

Paid: ESET, PrevX are 64-bit.

 

alot of the vendors now have x64 versions,

Prevx is fully x64 compatible.

 

except MSE is truely native x64, the others are only x64 compatible, avast is 32bit processes and use VC++2008 32bit to run.

 

The x64 kernel can only run x64 code - not 32-bit. So what makes an antivirus solution "true 64-bit"? When the GUI is compiled against x64 version of the VC++ runtime? I really can't see why this would matter to any user.

 

My point exactly, so any others except MSE that run processes in x64 mode too?

 

No
MSE is the only one which uses 64-bit processes only.

ESET, Avast, PrevX and very few others install in Program Files and use a mix of 32 bit and 64 bit processes.
All the others install in Program Files x86 and run 32 bit processes.

 

I think that you can add Comodo also to the real 64bit list. No 32 bit processes when it runs. And of course if you installed the 64 bit version

 

To add to this, I think seeking a "true" 64bit solution is somewhat pointless excercise as long as the features are the same. Whether it installs to "%HOMEDRIVE%\Program Files" or "%HOMEDRIVE%\Program Files (x86)" or a mixture thereof is completely irrelevant.

 

Avasts BB doesnt work on 64bit yet i dont think or does it?

i think i maybe think of a different product.

 

Thanks for your response guys. It looks like as of now there is no true 64-bit solution except MSE. I guess I will go with a combination of HitMan Pro and MSE.
And to those who think it is a worthless endeavor, I mentioned in the beginning of the thread that its just a whim I needed to fulfill.

 

MSE is MS product, therefore they can easily bypass patchguard, thats the issue holding out most vendors from making a full x64 AV.

 

Again, what is this "full x64 AV"? In x64 builds of Windows the kernel mode drivers are x64 code - there is no middle ground. Furthermore, do you have some proof of MSE bypassing PatchGuard? As far as I can tell, it uses a file system minifilter and WFP filter for the active protection. And regarding Patchguard, it was put there to prevent development that was never officially supported or encouraged and I see no reason for MS to do things the "wrong way" in their AV solution.

 

Trend Micro has a native 64 bit version. I'm pretty sure Bitdefender does too. Same with Forticlient.

 

NIS is 64-bit system compatibile too.

 

Err.. compatible is not what I was looking for here, but thanks for the info.

 

Im using NIS 2010 on 64-bit Windows 7 and dont have any problem

 

MSE is a MS product, they are free to do whatever they wish to their OS and therefore there is no WoW processes in MSE unlike other AVs.

 

You make it sounds as if MS are being biased to their own products. The only advantage MSE has is that it takes full advantage of Windows API instead of relying on hooks all over the place, a much cleaner, and as results have shown, effective solution. You can usually tell how other products are doing things they really shouldn't, when a simple windows update suddenly breaks them, yet other products remain fine. Proper integration into the OS is quite important to me as you may have guessed

 

I still feel you rely on some misconception wrt "true 64bit". As an illustration, here's the official ESET point of view.

 

And still they have separate programs for 32 and 64 bit? Not able to understand this.
http://www.eset.com/download/home#
The link you have pointed to is from November 2009. Have they changed their stance on this?

 

Sure they have. Probably they don't exactly want to make people download much bigger installer when they don't need it. What's difficult to understand about this?

No, they haven't, why should they? There's an official ESET support forum here on Wilders, BTW. So better to move your questions there in case they are more specific.

 

No bias but being the developer of the Windows, its a particular advantage for them, MSE is free so here there is no financial gains to be made, just goodwill.