Deep Freeze 7.5 Released to public

A new version of Deep Freeze has been release today.
Faronics claims that their new version can protect Master Boot Record (MBR)!

http://support.faronics.com/

Somebody can test this new feature against all various rootkits that modify the MBR ?

 

Thank you for posting the above.

Best regards,

 

Just installed it and thanks for post. Also, hope someone with experience can give MBR protection a good test.

Gary

 

+1

About two days ago, I just purchased Appguard with has MBR, now two of them has it.

Best regards,

 

Excellent !

I've been using Faronics Deep Freeze Standard on my main PC and laptop at home and I'm very pleased with it.

The MBR protection is a nice addition which should make more difficult for rootkits such as TDSS to modify Windows MBR.
I'm running this application in tandem with Faronics Anti-Executable on Windows 7 Pro and, so far nothing out there [malware] has been able to bypass these protection layers.

I plan to renew my licenses of both Faronics products as soon they are up for renewal in December.

Previous to using Deep Freeze, I was using Shadow Defender but the lack of updates, the product apparently no longer being developed beyond version 1.0.331 put me away.
Today, malware landscape has evolved so quickly and so complex that I don't think that a product which is no longer being developed would be able to catch up with the newer threats out there.
I think Faronics is doing a good job in that regard, by keeping Deep Freeze updated.


Carlos

 

Aladdin [formerly KOR], I think that in order to avoid conflicts, your should choose disable one of the two MBR protections. Either AppGuard or Deep Freeze.
It would be up to you which one you would choose to leave ON.
That way, you would be avoiding BSOD.

My personal opinion, since AppGuard MBR protection has been around quite some time and it's known how it works, whereas Deep Freeze MBR protection is just new, out of the oven, so to speak, if it was me, I would leave AppGuard ON, and would try to test Deep Freeze protection on a spare PC [a PC with no data on it] and see how it stands against TDSS, ZeroAccess and other rootkits.

But, again...that's me. Everyone's mileage may vary.


Carlos

 

Dearest Carlos,

I am having trouble with Appguard, please see my post #1235 and 1236 in the following thread:

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?p=2089425#post2089425

Best regards,

 

Does Deep Freeze require an annual renewal?

Also, does it work similarly to Returnil, Shadow Defender, Time Freeze, etc.?

 

No it doesn't.

The first time you buy it you get one year free updates like most of the software.

After one year you can continue using but if you want further updates then you can buy another year of subscription.

For some software the free updates are available for 30 days only like Acronis or Paragon, for others the update are available with the same version number, for example v3.xx

Best regards,

 

Yes, it is virtualization software like the above mentioned, but much, much better!

Best regards,

 

Well, if you want to keep receiving updates whenever Faronics releases fixes, patches, etc., yes, you need to renew annually.
You are entitled to receive updates for free during one year period of your subscription, but if you want to keep updating, after a year, you need to renew your subscription, just like Aladdin stated above.

My subscriptions [Deep Freeze & Anti-Executable] are up for renewal in December, so I'm not s o worried, just yet...


Carlos

 

Is Deep Freeze really a superior product? If so, in what ways? Is it fairly simple and user friendly?

One last question . . . is it always a total reboot/discard, or is it also possible to commit a sessions activity to your live disk should that be desired?

 

Hi aladdin,

In what way (other than SSD compatibility) do you find it better? When I tried it about a year ago, I found it very cumbersome to use compared to Shadow Defender and even Wondershare Time Freeze!

TS

 

Like some may say, "I agree to disagree".
I've been using Faronics, Deep Freeze since this January, and I haven't found it neither cumbersome nor complicated.
It's just to hold down Shift key and double click on its icon on the systray and it will open giving you three choices : [1] Boot Frozen, [2] Boot Thawed or [3] Boot Frozen after xx computer re-starts, just that simple.

Where it might be complicated and, I would agree with you on that is how difficult is to learn to use its companion software called "Data Igloo" to commit changes to the system that you don't want to disappear after a reboot, but frankly, that's something I don't worry about that much because I have imaged all my PCs and laptops using Acronis True Image Home 2012.

On that regard, committing changes to the system, Shadow Defender is easier and very straightforward to us, but I don't want to turn this Faronics Deep Freeze thread into an A vs. B thread.

At least, the newly implemented MBR protection on this version of Deep Freeze [7.5], is a plus for me when it comes to security.


Carlos

 

Before I forget, another thing that some users of Deep Freeze might have problem with is uninstalling the program since, by design, Faronics has avoided DF from showing up on the Add/Remove Programs applet in the Windows Control Panel to avoid people from uninstalling the program on public computers if they are not authorized to do so.

Instead, you MUST save the .exe file you used to install Deep Freeze for first time because, by double-clicking on that file [with DF installed on the PC], is the ONLY way to remove it from your PC.
Other than that, and committing data, I find DF very easy to use.


Carlos

 

Carlos, I certainly agree wih that (and that wasn't my intent). But since aladdin 'opened the door' with his comment, I just wanted to learn in what ways it is much better.

TS

 

The only reaons I returned to use Deep Freeze, having used it years ago, is because I don't trust using Shadow Defender on SSD. Although lacking some of the great features of SD, I am glad MBR protection was added and hope it is effective.

Gary

 

Hi all

Does Deep Freeze support a persistent virtual desktop? if not, can somebody please tell me of any software product that does.

Like StoreageCraft's old ShadowUser Pro used to do.

Take Care
TheQuest

 

@TomAZ and TH,

Sorry, due to time difference I couldn't reply any earlier. In my absence, I see both Carlos and Gary have posted excellent answers and I couldn't do any better. However, here is my take on Deep Freeze.

1. Deep Freeze (DF) is mostly sold to large organizations, such as Universities, Colleges, Schools, large business and so forth, and their market concentration is for them.
2. SD was mostly sold to individuals and was geared as such. Since, there is no development for the last two years, it has fallen behind especially in the area of newer hardware such as SSDs. This is pointed out by Gary.
3. Like SD, DF is very light on resources and a joy to use. Due to its marketing to large organizations it comes as overbearing to the individuals but it is not.
4. There are more one version sold of DF. For average users, the Standard version is sold, and for large organizations they sell Enterprise and Server versions.
5. As Carlos pointed out that it is not easier in DF to commit changes like SD does. He is right as it is much harder in the Standard version to commit changes than it is in the Enterprise or Server versions.
6. The future belongs to DF and not to SD (no longer developed), and especially DF commitment to large organizations, therefore more and more SD users will be looking somewhere else.
7. DF is very light, low on resources, quick and easier to use as pointed out by Carlos.
8. And, as pointed out by Gary he moved to DF due to his SSD and he is very happy that DF development keeps on continuing.

Best regards,

 

Dear TheQuest,

When I read up on persistent vs non-persistent virtual desktops, it appears that Deep Freeze is a non-persistent virtual desktop. However, Rollback Rx will be like a persistent virtual desktop, like ShadowUser Pro.

Best regards,

 

Mohamed, if you have not already done so, or already solved your problems, I would urge you to contact AppGuard support directly. I phoned them and found support to be extremely responsive. The tech I spoke to asked me to try a few things and then to e-mail him a log file. He said he would get back to me. I asked him to call and 2 hours later the phone rang and there he was. He had a few suggestions which did not solve my problem (Opera was being blocked from opening). He asked me to send him the log file of what we had tried (by now it was 4:00 PM) and the next morning when I booted up my PC and checked my e-mail there he was again with the solution to my problem. Now that I have AppGuard up and running I love it. Also, I must say its very refreshing to find a company with such good support. I hope you get your issues with the program worked out quickly. Good luck with this.

 

Dear Barry,

Thanks for the above information and it is very reassuring. I am going to write them. Toll Free (800) numbers don't work outside the USA and Canada, unless one uses Skype and then the connection is very bad.

Also, I have posted this in the Appguard thread, and Barb_C (I believe she works for them) has promised that she will take up the matter with the developer and then come back to me.

Their support seems to be topnotch.

Best regards,

 

Hi aladdin

Many thanks for your reply.

Will give it a try after I have read the 44 pages Use Manual , I was hoping for something without such a mass of options.

Simple to use like Shadow Defender, but could be used to test software that needed a Reboot to be able to use fully.

With best Regards
Take Care
TheQuest

PS. Just unzipped Rollback Rx and found another five PDF's with the larger of them having 81 pages.

 

I am happy to see Deep freeze protecting the MBR now, this is great news indeed.If shadow Defender No longer works Deep Freeze will be what I turn to.I have used it a few times in the past and has always performed well and simple enough to use.

 

Dear TheQuest,

Yes, the reason DF has mass of options as it is targeted toward large organizations, rather than individuals. It is good that you have read the 44 page User Manual and now you can share your experience with us.

It would be nice if you could share with us how to do the above? Meaning, "Could be used to test software that needed a Reboot to be able to use fully"?

Best regards,