Free security apps are useless

According to someone at Europol, an 'expert'.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Europol-Expert-Says-Free-Anti-Malware-Apps-Are-Useless-443597.shtml

 

That is one uncoherent writing. First I think it is about AVs, so the heading is misleading.
I tried to read it but conclusion was that it was this way and that and nothing of real meaning in it. "someone in such a high-profile position" LMAO.

 

I guess this guy doesn't know that Qihoo 360 is also a freebie, with score 17,5 out of 18 !

 

I'd like to hear him explain how come some of those free products score as well, if not better, in malware detection and removal than some of the paid for solutions.

 

OK, so the article has a sensationalist headline about the head of the European Cybercrime Centre and his views on security software, then goes on to say that independent tests shows that he's incorrect. A better title might be "High ranking official has no ~ Snipped as per TOS ~ clue what he's talking about". Great. So... A worthless read.

Edit: I actually read the source article, from here:

http://www.information-age.com/tech...ee-years-says-head-european-cybercrime-centre

The guy doesn't even SAY what the originally linked article claims. The text from the Softpedia article:

"The head of the European Cybercrime Centre, a European Union body that belongs to the Europol, said in an interview withInformation Age that freeware anti-malware solutions do no good to your computer and those who’d like to remain completely secure and block any threat that might appear are strongly recommended to get a paid product."

Is such a fabrication and stretch of the actual quote, it's almost fiction. What an awful, awful article.

 

Did he just describe himself?

 

another example of our Euro-elites
we're screwed

 

He does have a point, I bet that a lot of small companies are relying on free AV´s, while that´s not secure enough nowadays. You also need HIPS, sandboxing and anti-exploit for example.

 

I disagree completely, Rasheed. Small businesses have workstations that are locked down so nothing can install, along with (hopefully) an enterprise level firewall with some sort of intrusion protection built in. The only concern at that point is that not many free solutions are available (legally) to small businesses.

 

@ entropism

Perhaps you´re right, but these are his own words, I suppose he knows what he´s talking about?

“We see too often that people are using cheap and easy security solutions. There are no free lunches. If you are getting something for free then you are the product.”

 

Apples to oranges, Rasheed, and I was disagreeing with you, not him (in this particular case). Small businesses don't need anything near what you listed, as the workstations are completely lock down to the point where you can't even explore the drive fully. Sandboxing especially would be a complete and total ~ Snipped as per TOS ~ for businesses to use.

 

All free security apps are crap. What kind of sweeping statment is that ? That would then include sandboxing,HIPS and system wide light virtualisation programs as they are "free security apps."

So it should have been titled "free antivirus programs for small businesses are rubbish". But thats not quite correct if you consider testing results of Panda and Forticlient which actually did as good if not better than the paid.(Of course being the head of Euro Cyber Crime he would know that).

So maybe the report should be titled some but not all free antivirus programs used by small businesses are`nt quite as good as the paid ones.

Does`nt sound so good now but thats what I read from it. I need his home phone number to give him a piece of my mind.

 

Well, apparently they are doing something wrong. So I wouldn´t be surprised if a sandboxing solution like Invincea´s FreeSpace will become more popular in the future. Anti exploit is also important, because most companies still use browsers who are targeted by hackers. At my work they are using Kaspersky and EMET.

 

Enough information for me to disregard the article. EU is a great business for a lot of companies which know how to pump out the European budget. They pose like specialists, experts etc. but in fact they are doing rubbish but for the high remuneration. This "expert" guy is a shining example.

 

At least if you want to disregard the article, you should do it for the right reasons (the fact that contains a lot of baseless affirmations) and not for some personal ones (your EU skepticism).

 

Yes, that's true. I and millions of EU citizens have own reasons to be eurosceptics. Look at the last EU polling results. My apologies to moderators for off-topic.

And obviously that I read the article, it is a ~ Snipped as per TOS ~ that confirmed me what I thought.

~ Possibly Offensive Word Removed - JRViejo ~