shadowdefender vs returnil

just wanted to know which is better or stable

is it shadowdefender or returnil lux ??

as i wanted to invest in a software which is stable and dont get crashed during the process.

 

I switched to Shadow Defender from RVS 2008 and like it better for its layout and ease of use even though it's $35. SD is great. I wouldn't be interested in Returnil 2010 at all.

 

I've tried both and ended up with Shadow Defender. I like its simplicity and its multidisk/multipartition abilities. I don't think you would go wrong with either one. They are both great. Check them out for yourself and see what fits you best.

SourMilk out

 

I have/use both. Both are very stable in my hands.

Returnil has a free version and a paid subscription version. There's no free version for ShadowDefender, but the paid one is a one time charge.

Returnil has more additional features (embedded AV if desired, wipe functionality for virtualized sessions, etc.). Check out the feature sets at both sites for direct comparison.

The current virtualization difference is as Pete notes - system partition only (Returnil) vs user selected partitions (ShadowDefender).

For the genre, both applications are solid choices.

Blue

 

actually i have used returnil free subscription for a month and i have very nasty experience as it get crashed on its own....
after read much about returnil lux i thought its paid subscription might be better than its free one so just want it know whether its better than the free one....bcoz i dont want to invest in a s/w which gets crashed on its own .....

 

I have Shadow Defender working in 32 & 64 bit. I have not had a problem with it ... so far - neither have the people I have recommended this software to.

I use Shadow Defender now and then on my computers - usually I am a nerd about what resources everything is using - and find it hard justifying their use to me ... if the application is being used sparingly - but Shadow Defender uses so little resources (it really is a miniscule amount: both shadow mode and when sitting idle doing nothing) ... so I don't ever bother myself contemplating removing SD. Definitely a must have tool!

 

Returnil 2008 Home because it's free and there is choice between Memory or disk caching.

 

I have never used returnil so I cannot really answer your question. But I can tell you that Shadow Defender is really the most stable software I have used these last 2 years. Really useful and easy to use.

 

I tend to like products that do one thing very well. Returnil offers more (AM detection/trust only files on the real disc, secure deletion etc) but having recently switched to Shadow Defender I'm extremely happy.

On one set up I've combined it with Defensewall and I run in shadow mode constantly. Any files I want to save are placed in an excluded shadow defender folder that is untrusted by Defensewall. No real time AV required. Very light and effective.

I tried this approach with Returnil first but found, on my set up at least, it to be sluggish. With Shadow Defender it is lighter, faster and consumes sunstantially less resources. No conflicts or crashes yet.

You have to consider it's early days for such an ambitious product as Returnil 2010. From past experience the guys there will get it right. It also has a free version. Shadow Defender now offeres a 30 rather than 15 day trial so give them both a go and see what fits.

Hope that helps.

Cheers

 

I vote for SD, my biggest complaint, is/was the long wait for x64. I tried RVS Lux 'paid' the only way to exclude items, this function never worked for me. SD imo is far superior!

Rico

 

Never used Returnil.
Currently running ShadowDefender 1.1.0.315 along with DefenseWall 3.00 and have no complaints.
ShadowDefender working as advertised

 

my vote goes for SD with no hesitation.
i try both products and SD is much more stable , user friendly and much much more things (some already mention above)

cheers

 

Hi,

Hi Pete,
Its coming at some point in the 3x generation and is being tested in the RVS Labs beta version which is still an on-going test bed. Keep an eye out for it as we are also working on other things like multi-state (change evaluation feature) and essential system file restore for damaged, corrupt, or infected files.

The testing so far is very positive and I think you will enjoy the options

@ johnottawa12

We are currently testing a new build that will address improper, incomplete, or damaged uninstalls/installs. The major issues we can relate to problems here are the following:

1. Use of 3rd party uninstallers such as Revo - These solutions do not properly uninstall RVS 2010 and can cause damage.

2. Interference by other security applications

We hope that you will try RVS again in the future...

@chris1341

The key here is the Virus Guard which is an antimalware feature. As such, it may be somewhat slower than RVS 2008 when it scans changes and incoming files as any other AV solution will have. The thing to remember here is the concept and how it should be used within an overall strategy.

SD is focused on ISR which is (in its pure form) a recovery, rather than security solution and as such is not meant to be a stand-alone product. RVS on the other hand is being developed from a security perspective and the goal is that it WILL BE a stand-alone security alternative. To achieve this however, there will certainly be trade-offs between what is absolutely required for security and where it can be optimized for performance.

@ Rico

Hi Rico,
Yes, the File Manager approach is less convenient than the exclusion approach, but it is this way for specific security reasons. This is why we are working to improve the automation in RVS as we go forward so the FM will no longer be required. The major issue we have to address is how to maintain strong security while realizing the convenience required by the average consumer/user. I hope you will keep an eye on our forum section and the website for more information as it becomes available...

Kind regards
Mike

 

Anyone know what av Returnil uses?

 

It is based on the F-Prot engine

Mike

 

thanks

 

I also have a very good experience with SD. It's even compatible with several imaging software while in shadow mode, whereas RV2008 caused a BSOD in the same (extreme) condition. It's very light, there is no performance degradation observed

 

anyway they offer RVS for 1 year free over this thread
https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=260277

enjoy

 

I use Shadow Defender - it runs faster then Returnil and I like the GUI better.

I have one question - I run LUA + SRP + ACL and I have installed SD on my LUA account with administrator privileges but when I start windows (LUA for a everyday use) I see SD icon on my tray but when I doubleclick it it says: "you have not enough privilege". I can run SD succsess only when I terminate SD in Task-Manager and run it from a shortcut on my desktop with admin rights - Any ideas how to run SD with "Shadow Mode" on with the windows start? I would be greatful.

 

I've never used SD, but Returnil is a killer product. The mention of User Interface and speed above perplexes me. I rarely even have to see a user interface as Returnil is nearly invisible in its simplest mode and Just.Works.

 

I know - safety and safety but don't forget they both virtualize and when I run Returnil my PC slows down so badley I can't work normaly and speed is for me in that case very important. GUI agree - barely used but is more user-friendly, cleaner. Returnil have AV and other things you don't need when your system partition is virtualized (after reboot is all gone). AV in that case is maybe more useful for noob-user (I won't mantion the detection quality of Retunil's AV).

Edit:

problem solved:
1. Run it with administrator rights (even if the deamon in task manager is running)
2. Enjoy it (the problem for me was if I will be able to set up the SD to run after start in "Shadow Mode" after restart - but there is no problem, after you set it up with admin rights don't have to bother becouse it windows is running shadow mode flawlessly.
3. If you want to disable shadow mode - you have to run this again as admin.

 

After having so much of positive answers related to shadow defender i made up my mind that i should go for it....


Thanks to all for there valuable decision.....

 

How do you use this combination since DW uses the registry to keep track of untrusted files and that info is wiped clean with each reboot?

 

A good solution as suggested by Creer, is to Have your folders where you save your downloads set as untrusted.
That way when you come out of shadow mode, anything that has been downloaded and saved from shadowdefenders excludes would automatically run as untrusted unless you change their status to trusted.