Is AV-Test a Legit Organization

Discussion in 'other anti-malware software' started by hawki, Jul 22, 2014.

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  1. hawki

    hawki Registered Member

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    For some reason I have it in my mind that AV-Comparatives is the Gold Standard as far as AV Testing Organizations is concerned

    I ask mainly because of a January Test they did on the new Zone Alarm IS Extreme 2015 in which in their standard real-world testing ZAISE 2015 was able to block 100% of zero-day attacks with only one FP.

    I have been having fits with both KIS 2015 and BDIS 2015 on my particular PC.

    On several installs The BDIS Firewall will not allow access to sites such as Google and other reputable sites saying that their certificates are bad. Some have reported on their forum that the firewall is preventing access to their Home Networks. There used to be a solution posted on the BD Forums of the recommended adapter settings, but they have been removed and I have tried every combination with no positive result. This occurs on every two out of three installs of BDIS I do. (BD is currently working on a new updated version of its Firewall for at least the reasons that they removed the Paranoid mode that requires permissions on outgoing packets and they removed the network monitor. The update,I assume, is being made mainly in response to the huge customer outcry about the lack of these features in the current 2015 version.)

    KIS 2015, on the other hand, will not allow me to view the content of certain websites or certain proprietary video viewers, which the 2014 version never blocked. This blocking occurs even when I place the sites as approved on the "whitelist."

    I will not use Norton so I am considering using the new ZAISE 2015 which runs nicely with low impact on my system. That is why I am curious about the true independence and reputation of AV-Test, whose results for ZAISE 2015 were near perfect. Because of the timing of the test, it was an individual test done for Checkpoint, using the same procedures as that used in AV-Test's multi-AV tests, but I believe that it must have been paid for by ZA.
     
  2. fax

    fax Registered Member

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    It is a legit organization and with AV-comparatives the two most rupatable testing organisations. Then you will hear all sort of comments... AV-TEST is junk, AV-Comparatives is bad, one is better than the other... etc. However this is not really the point, those tests will give you a broad indication of the good products out there and the ones to avoid.

    KIS, BDIS, ZA will all provide excellent protection, its up to you to find the one you like most and/or work best on the system.
    But remember that none of them will be able to protect fully the PC if managed by careless users. ;)
     
  3. hawki

    hawki Registered Member

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    Thanks for the input fax. Would really like to use that recently offered BD 9 month free license, but if I can't use Google and other sites don't know.. The free license has to be installed within 30 days of receipt so I'll reinstall it and if it doesn't work right that time I'll uninstall it, but my license will be preserved. Currently running 30 day demo of ZA . My subs on both KIS and BD run out within 30-45 days but ZA is expensive and I know of no retailer that heavily discounts it.

    Here's a link to the AV-Test results for ZAISE 2015

    http://www.av-test.com/tests/projects/AV-TEST_Checkpoint_ZoneAlarm_Jan_2014.pdf
     
  4. fax

    fax Registered Member

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    Sorry, no idea on places were to find ZA with good discounts.
    May be some users here have a better hint?
     
  5. Securon

    Securon Registered Member

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    Good Afternoon! Hawki...I also installed BD 2015...and It stated that Firefox...was potentially a Malware Conduit...also HMP...Stated to scan immediately...etc. Very disconcerting...and as you stated that the certificate was affected or infected. Anyhow to much drama for any install...so I promptly uninstalled BD...and will consider utilizing it once the bug with the firewall is rectified. Sincerely...Securon
     
  6. ArchiveX

    ArchiveX Registered Member

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    Legit enough...
     
  7. Frank the Perv

    Frank the Perv Banned

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    If you need or have a credit monitoring service, this particular one throws in ZA as part of the package.

    http://www.identityguard.com/partne...za&utm_term=tpwithza&campid=106&hid=213417630

    I have that service and can tell you it's great. Alerts every time.

    If you get the Costco version of that service, it's even cheaper. If you are a Costco Executive Member, it's even cheaper.

    http://costco.identityguard.com/about.html
     
  8. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    In my opinion AV-Test is as legit as other Av testing organizations. When it comes to testing AVs impact on system performance, my experience is different than their tests results, but nevertheless they are still good AV testing company.
     
  9. agoretsky

    agoretsky Eset Staff Account

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    [Quick edit to add West Coast Labs. AG]

    Hello,

    Here is a list of security software testers that I think have decent methodology:

    • AV-Comparatives
    • AV-Test
    • Dennis Technology Labs
    • ICSA Labs
    • PC Security Labs
    • Veszprog (CheckVir)
    • Virus Bulletin
    • West Coast Labs

    I don't always agree with everything they do, but they are at least consistent enough and provide enough information about their methodologies so they can at least serve as a baseline for building your own opinions.

    Regards,

    Aryeh Goretsky
     
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2014
  10. siketa

    siketa Registered Member

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    What about West Coast Labs?
     
  11. agoretsky

    agoretsky Eset Staff Account

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    Hello,

    Oh, yes, WCL as well. I had just made that last off the top of my head. Let me go ahead and edit it to add them.

    Regards,

    Aryeh Goretsky
     
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