Av-Comparatives February '08

Yet again, microsoft tries to lead.

 

Well, in this case, isn't it a good thing?

 

Pure sentimentalist bashing. A good product is a good product, regardless of who made it.

 

Correct.

 

I don't understand how Avira gets such high scores. It missed many web based malware spreading sites. Content from the very same sites were picked up without fault by NOD32. So just be careful. Also check the 'Retrospective/ProActive Test' tests in AV-Comparatives. And see how many false positives it scores.

 

Anecdotal evidence for the win. I just hope that enough people here know how to think for themselves.

Avira is one of the most vicious single-engine scanners period, short only of Ikarus, and perhaps Sophos. I know nothing about the intimate technical details, but I personally suspect this is because they don't pursue the "mainstream" scanning technologies that so many other products employ and the malware writers aim to bypass. For instance, they do more packer-based detection than any other product I know of, and often detect obfuscation techniques instead of actual malicious code. Their heuristics are also based on static analysis instead of dynamic emulation - ostensibly much more work for the people maintaining the algorithms, but it makes them immune to the many anti-emulation tricks used by malware today.

 

Guys, let's say you are correct.

However, many Avira users will claim:
Apart from the av-comparatives.org,
Avira has -also- been among the top performers at:
- av-test.org
- shadowserver.org
- virusinfo.info
- antivirus.ru
- anti-malware-test.com
Can all these sites be so wrong, too?
I'm just wondering...

At the same time, I don't know what/whom to believe.
I like Avira and Dr.Web, but I've stopped using any AV/AS
scanner as my -Primary- means of protection;
just some on-Demand scannings here and there (i.e. placebo effect )
HIPS and Virtualization is what I've chosen for my security setup.

 

there are always pros and cons, but in all honesty, all well known or av's that get the mention, are usually all good enough for a home user.

but as a forum, nitpicking and disagreements happen

 

yes all of the test sites say that avira antivir premium excellent

 

As a very happy TrustPort customer,
(certainly after being best at the last 2 on-demand tests) ,
i must admit that Avira is the best SINGLE ENGINE antivirus in detecting unwanted software (malware) out there.

Avira also proofed the have the Best Heurstics in the last Retrospective test.
or is tested best if the antivirus updates are not done for a long time. (TrustPort ended 3rd).

There are a lot of other tests that confirm this.
In our testlab we have simular results, and it is nice to see that mosts test have almost the same results.

It is pure logic that an antivirus has to be very flexible.
Because malware is changing very quicky, from viruses to rootkits etc.
And again and again new ways of finding new categories of malware
have to be developed.
So for me it is also pure logic, that from time to time you have to look at
the independent antivirus tests to see which antivirus is performing best.
And be flexible yourself to switch when needed.
Over the years, i have used several antivirus products, and brands that where best in the early days, are middle class products now.
and what happend with Dr Solomon antivirus that worked great in the early 90s?

 

Sorry Joe but have to say it ain't so. To many FP for both Avira and Trustport.

 

No FPs here with avira installed.

 

It was bought by McAfee.

 

To me it is a moot issue. Avira worked hard and has accomplished this in my view. Just a damn good product.

 

And you probably won't get any either in normal use,but Joe's quoting from a test such as it is.

 

well joe, there isnt a "Best". Just a " What works best for you." And that is really all that matters.

 

how do you know that there isnt a best
"joke"

 

It may just be experience and the "School of Hard Knocks."
Glad to see our tester post.
Regards,
Jerry

 

If anyone should get a FP with Avira, it should be me. I have a damn 320GB external full of stuff that is zipped, rarred and sitting there in exe form. I have actually had 1 FP with Avira in a year, and that was on my OS drive. That is remarkable. I loved NOD32 before I jumped ship and it still tugs at my heart, but Avira is my choice. The reason I bought a license thru 2010. 'nuff said

 

Yes, just as light.

 

I have used Avira for two years with millions of files that change often, and I never had a FP with Avira.

 

FWIW, I have just had a scary experience with Avira. link

 

I guess it all depends on your setup.Avira is way lighter than any other av I have trialed so far.

 

I guess you don't have Quicken 2008 then. It was the only FP.

 

Ive been using avira for the past 2 years now and with config at max it did give me plenty of fp's in the beginning but that's far in the past and i might add that it has been the lightest for me.