F-Prot v3.16b - REVIEW

That depends. How big was the download size of the database as compared to normal?

 

I'm not sure, since you always download the full database while updating...

 

A new version for Exchange was also released recently (I don't like any Microsoft server related stuff, but that's off topic...)

Something I noticed: Check out the help file. There's a new F-Prot logo in this version. Since the logo is what everyone identifies your company and/or products by, you generally don't want to be using multiple logos for products except for during a brief transition period. I wonder if this means that v4 for Windows isn't too far off now. I don't think that they would change the logo for 3.1x when they say that 4 is coming someday in the near future.

They didn't give any clues about the release date a few weeks ago when I sent a bug report on the updater. However, that message indicated that there will be some pretty big improvements with that component. Also, this new version will have better support for fast user switching on XP.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but it just seems like we may be getting close to release. They seem more definite on the features now - when I emailed them in the past, they weren't too sure what was going to change. Now, I'm getting clearer answers. I still can't get them to send any screenshots or other clues about the new version, but I don't have a problem with them keeping that stuff secret. They want users to be excited about the product when it is released.

I think v4 will be a winner when it is released. The current version is very good, but just needs a few more modern features.

Still, if anyone from FRISK is browsing these forums, some more hints would be nice.

 

Protection is good but it needs a number of essential features.

A very 'bare-bones' AV that has no exclude function, no quarantine, no incremental updating and virtually no configurability of the RTM on NT systems.

These are not 'modern' but essential, standard features for F-Prot to compete with other commercial AV programs.

 

I've asked about v4 several times. From what I have been told, I think that F-Prot 4 will get all of these features. They've hinted at the exclusions feature on the support page, and have pretty much said that the real time protector will have options in the next version. I also think the updates will be incremental, but I'm not as positive about that.

 

Yes...but it sure is taking a lot of time...why not at least a beta?

 

OK; as usual, I read interesting threads from beginning to end and then I add my $.02 worth:

I used F-Prot as an on-demand only scanner for two years. Why, you want to know, why for on-demand only usage? Because F-Prot's on-access scanner caused massive system slow-downs on two of my laptops, and F-Prot with XP SP2 early-on was not something for young children to see.

I relate my experience with F-Prot to be like hunting with the nearly one hundred year old .30-06 (flame-suit on): it's not particularly good at anything. The .30-06 has too much recoil compared to the .270. It doesn't shoot flat like the .25-06. It's not "enough gun" for elk and moose (two flame-suits on now). It's also world renowned for poor accuracy (I speak with much experience on this one).

When my F-Prot yearly renewal came due in Feburary 2005, I didn't renew it; I instead bought ArcaVir 2005 for the same cost as F-Prot. IMHO ArcaVir 2005 has the real potential of becoming a world-class product like Dr. Web and NOD32. I advise anyone who is in need of a paid-for AV program to download and test the evaluation version of ArcaVir 2005 before deciding which AV product to buy. But then, again, that's just my $.02 worth......

KDCDQ, Security Freak

 

ArcaVir 2005 ? I thought one of the thing F Prot is good is its resource usage.

Don't know how it slow down your computer so much.

I am using Fprot now. Although i fell there is slow down when openning a folder with huge amount of exe file. But otherwise none.

On process explorer ( not task manager which has been known to be incorrect ) it is using NO CPU resources!

Which comes the worrying part because it is using too little CPU resource i am thinking if it is working or not.

I think F prot 4 would be hard to make. ( Hence why it is taking so long ) Because WinXP has changed so much and SP2 as well. While the good old F prot scan engine is still one of the oldest engine in the market ( without huge updating )

Anyway. At the rate NOD32 is going. Better AH every update. More signature ( May be we will see it go beyond 90% in the next AV comparative test ) With Spyware detection. i hope F prot can keep up with it.

Because these are the only 2 which uses little resources. ( SOorry haven't try dr.web yet )

 

F-Prot did have some problems with causing slowdowns for a little while, but the more recent virus definitions fixed all of those problems for these.

The key to getting those problems resolved is this: You have to tell them that there is a problem. There is so much software out there that there is no way they could test everything. They care about their customers, which is one of the biggest reasons I stick with F-Prot.

 

Those might be essential features for you, but not for everybody. In fact, for some users it is best to eliminate as many options as possible.

A lack of an exclude function is mainly to deal with false alarms. One alternative is to use archives with passwords. I have heard complaints about this from Outpost users regarding excluding the firewall log, but I consider that to be an Outpost issue, and it is not likely Outpost users would be attracted to F-prot anyway.

For broadband users incremental updating is a non issue. There are actually three files containing the signatures. They are usually mot updated all at once. If you are on dial-up, you have my sympathies.

Anyway, before jumping on a product because it does not fit your needs or wants, try to consider where it does fit. I can not think of a better AV for old hardware (except possibly Dr.Webb), or for non technical users (no way, Dr.Webb).

BTW BlackCat, I know you like KAV. A great AV, if there ever was one.

 

My main argument was against the point that F-Prot only needs " a few more modern features".

I suggested it needs features that a lot of people now would regard as essential, not modern, in a commercial program competing against other AV products.

I am restricted to dial-up here in the sticks, so incremental updating would be a help.

Personally, I have had no problems with the present version of F-Prot as it is now, apart from the fact that I would run an AT alongside it if I was still running it as a primary AV. And incremental updating would be nice.

As an "AV groupie" I have tried and used many AV programs and I think in most of my posts here I tend to support rather than 'bash' products. In fact I would hope that my 'review' on this program was a balanced viewpoint on this AV; https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=10006

My main concern is not my needs for F-Prot but that this AV compared to other commercial AV's seems to be falling behind in features that a lot of people would like to see in an Anti-Virus program

Agreed. These two at the present time seem to be the best for an older system.

 

Wouldn't you agree that providing a Quarantine area would be VERY desirable, especially for non-technical users? After all, F-Prot does fire off a false-positive once in a while, so it might be good practice for non-technical persons (such as me) to leave stuff in quarantine for a while, to see if anything vital ceases to function properly.

With respect to the lack of incremental updating, you say it is a non-issue for those with broadband. However, there are still a lot of real & potential customers for F-prot who lack access to bb &/or lack the shekels to pay for it.

Also, for an appreciable number of those on cable broadband, downloads can get pretty doggone slow at certain times of the day in certain areas (where they all share the same pipe). That happens a lot where I live, especially between 4PM to 10PM, right at the time when working blokes are trying to surf the web, do AV updates, etc. DrWeb's quickie downloads are very handy at such times. F-prot's BIIIG ones, on the other hand, can be a real drag.

I am a fan/licensee of F-prot, but there's no getting around the fact that it has a bit of catching up to do. And I'm sure they WILL catch up.

Just as a newly-wed might not notice his/her spouse's persistent flatulence while on honeymoon, so also might someone not notice F-Prot's little *idiosyncrasies* during the trial period. Therefore, I (for one) think it is worthwhile for experienced users to take pains to point out the advantages AND the disadvantages of F-prot. That way, potential buyers of that program will have the main facts needed to make up their own minds. Hopefully, then, they won't be coming back here with a post saying, "Hey, why didn't someone tell me about this (whatever)?"

aloha..... bellgamin

 

FRISK guys apperantly changed something with signature update...
F-Prot is detecting lots of stuff as "unknown virus" on Jotti.

 

Indeed, I noticed the same...

Something else, I found a little article on the F-Prot FAQ pages mentioning 4.0.0

Code:

http://www.f-prot.com/support/windows/fpwin_faq/11.html

 

"Riskware" or picked up by heuristics/neural network?

 

I must be taking my broadband for granted. It is up to 5 megabits now. Totally amazing.

 

It looks like F-Prot 4 is released and bundled with Armor2net firewall.

https://www.ssl-id.de/www.antivirus-shop.de/xtc/product_info.php?products_id=25

or maybe its a typo......



tECHNODROME

 

The lack of Incremental updates are a big problem, since it makes it more difficult to recommend F-Prot for most dialup users.

The note about F-Prot 4 has been in the life cycle policy for quite some time, but this is a different wording (http://www.f-prot.com/products/lifecycle_win.html).

I've been searching ftp://ftp.f-prot.com/pub and http://f-prot.com/download/beta-test/ just in case there is something interesting appears there. Nothing so far. The beta test page is not currently linked from their web site, but it was linked the last time there was a UNIX beta product.

 

No it does not look like a typo. But I think the F-Prot 4 refers to F-Prot Professional?

Now the differences between F-Prot Professional and F-Prot Win are?

Is the Professional version just the normal F-Prot for Windows for the German market

They look the same from the screenshot

But I did find an F-Prot forum, with 5 registered members; http://babelfish.altavista.com/babe...://www.antivirus-shop.de/php/phpBB2/index.php

 

I agree totally, BG. It's not only a PITA for home users, but can affect larger networks, also. Incremental is the way to go, and i have no doubt that new versions of FP will incorporate this feature.

Nah. She always notices my persistent flatulence.

 

F-Prot Pro comes with monthly CD-ROM updates, includes integrity checker (at least it did) and comes with 10 licenses. Everything else it’s just about the same.


tECHNODROME

 

I'm using F-Prot now (Switched from NOD32, to Kaspersky 4.5 to Dr. Web).

I'm not really a paranoid user, and I don't have dangerous surfing habits.

I find it convenient, just to double-click on the Real-Time Protector icon in the system tray to disable it, in case I'm copying a DVD or some other activity that requires lots of memory.

F-Sched.exe is using 3,836 K
F-StopW.exe is using 2,776 K

I'm happy with F-Prot ^_^

 

I had serious problems when I tried F-Prot last year.

1) CPU usage would spike, dramatically - for unknown reasons.
2) It would crash random applications, I pinned the problem on F-Prot.
3) Updates were extremely slow and annoying at times.
4) Slowdowns.

So how is F-Prot today? I was pretty annoyed at their lack of response to threats I sent in, and seemingly inability to fix or improve their product.

 

Working fine here

Windows XP Professional SP2.
Firewall: Kerio Personal Firewall 2.1.5

You sent in threats? xD (Verbal threats or virus threats/samples?)

 

Viruses = threats.

But I find a wide variance of what people consider "Working fine here", as opposed to what I consider working fine. Which is why its difficult to make an informed opinion based on other peoples experiances.

I'm less inclined to install and try 30 different AV's a month anymore. Its too time consuming, and generally, my results are always the same from version to version. So I stick with what works for me (Dr.Web).