NIS 64Bit

Is there a special NIS 2010 64bit version or is it just the normal download from their site?

 

There is only the normal download. They didn't make a 64bit version (yet?).

 

I tested Norton AntiVirus 2011 and it is a really nice program.
But this is exactly my problem: it doesn't really support 64-bit (yet).
It runs in full compatibility mode (Program Files (x86), process.exe*32 + process2.exe*32).
Like all other antiviruses it won't mean any difference in pure protection. But I just want a fully 64-bit (Program Files + process.exe + process2.exe) or partially (Program Files + process.exe + process2.exe*32) 64-bit programs.

I think all security companies really should move to native 64-bit now. It is the most important OS now. If you look at the sold new pc's mostly Windows 7's but also Vista, probably around 75% is 64-bit. All pc's with the price of €500 or more are now 4GB, 64-bit. In the future this will only be more.
There were rumours Windows 7 would have a 32-bit version, eventually it had.
Windows 8 won't have a 32-bit versions and there are rumours about a 128-bit version!
Also Office 2010 will have a native 64-bit version. Now it is the time.

Full 64-bit security programs: MSE.
Partially: ESET, PrevX, Comodo, ClamAV/Immunet, Outpost, Online Armor, Avast, Emsisoft and maybe Dr.Web?.
All others are full 32 I think. WTF even Kaspersky is 32 bit .

 

Bit Defender has a 64 bit version too, no?. At least there was a lot of noise about it a couple of weeks ago.

 

Ehm, to be honest I don't know, could be.
I checked their website but it only gives you ~Snipped~ download managers. Not links to the real installers.

 

The download manager downloads and installs either based on your architecture. Yes, Bitdefender has a 64 bit version.

 

Alright, cool. Didnt know that. Think I will give BitDefender a try soon .

 

Its all in the one single installer. All drivers are native 64-bit ofcourse (else they wont load). Most user-mode binaries are 32-bit but that has no material impact on the functionality of the product. So NIS is fully compatible with 64-bit.

 

I really don't know where you get your info from, Zombini. All instances in Processes running are 32 bit.

 

process != driver

 

Are there any meaningful studies indicating that there's any difference in effectiveness between 32 bit and 64 bit AV and AS software on 64 bit operating systems?

 

64bit processes have natural immunity from being shutdown by virtualized (32bit) processes which nearly all malware is. 64bit AV's like MSE have this natural "self defense" with no extra coding.

 

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Well that sounds interesting, but has anyone really tested it? Has it been demonstrated that 32 bit anti-malware (AM) applications installed on 64 bit Windows can be more easily compromised compared with native 64 bit AM apps? Some 32 bit AM processes employ a lot more self-protection then others. And is this "natural immunity" the only advantage?

 

It doesn't need to be tested, it's pretty much a fact. If you imagine, Windows runs a sort of virtual machine on your computer where all your 32bit programs are run, anything 64bit is completely invisible to the 32 bit processes, they cannot access them and have no idea they are there, just like running any VM software. The only catch is they can obviously write to your hard drive, but not over files in use by a 64bit app, which most AV critical files always are.

If the AV was running as 32bit though, it would be virtualized, and therefore open to abuse by the 32bit malware.