Batten down the hatches

I see a lot of merging going on as far as software roles are concerned. I think the traditional anti-malware suite is going to end up eventually rolled into one bit of software under one name. No more separate/modular antispyware, antivirus, and firewall, it will all be part of the same security engine. I wouldn't be surprised to see bluetooth and WirelessUSB bandwidth being monitored as well.

There's alreadt quite a bit of overlap, with Outpost having AntiSpyware protection, Ewido catching rootkits, and NOD32 stopping ISTBar for example. Kaspersky has added some registry/process watch options too. Will this be the year that convergence takes a step forward and the term Anti-Malware replaces the page-long list of current terms?

 

No Thanks, I won't be relying on any one anti-malware to cover all areas of detection for some time. We still need multiple anti-malware programs IMO. There is still no one anti-malware program that excels in all areas of detection from what I've seen.

Some are good at detecting spyware others at viruses etc... but there is no one single program that excels in all areas IMO, or at least not good enough. Some may say KAV does a pretty good job and I would have to agree it does do a decent job, but still not good enough IMO.

I think the idea of layering your apps still applies and will for some time to come. That is if you want decent detection rates and the protection that running mutiple apps provides. I shy away from anything with the word suite in the title.

 

Yeah, I agree with your point. The problem is that software is marketed to the common user as being "all you'll ever need!", which leaves them with a false sense of security. I've already had a couple of my clients griping about the fact I've loaded extra programs on their computer after they spent $$$ on aforementioned all-in-one solutions. I'm educating as fast as I can, but that doesn't keep people from getting ticked when I tell them that they need to put yet another program on their computer.

 

I have no problems with people using Suites. I think with the right user habits, suites are more than sufficient. Not everyone needs to run around with Proccessguard, Regdefend and Appdefend plus Boclean ,KAV and Outpost Pro.

 

Yep and those users will continue to be infected by all kinds of malware their "all in one" suites just can't detect/stop. Just look at any site that does Hijackthis logs to see how well protected those users are with these 'great' all in one suites.

But who said anything about running Processguard, Regdefend and Appdefend plus Boclean, KAV and Outpost Pro together? I just feel most suites, on their own, won't be enough in 2006. In a few more years.....who knows.

Security is really no different than most other things in that you can take it as far as you like. If you want a quick fix and mediocre protection, at best, get a suite. For those in the know, who care about quality protection and want to do the best they can, we'll do far better in the battle against malware.

 

I agree that I don't rely on any single product for full protection. My primary reason is that I feel that specialized apps do a better job at what they do.. they're more focused, and have a lot more attention paid to the thing that each does.

At the same time, look at the trend around here to minimize the number of security apps one runs. As more suites emerge, I expect more will adopt them. Most people want simplicity, they don't want to maintain several different apps.. they want one program to update, one subscription to pay.

What I tend to think, though, is that we will start to see the emergence of a new kind of app.. and we're already starting to see it in apps like Prevx1 and some of the others. They combine everything we knew, and take it a step further. By this time next year, I'm sure that Prevx1 will look a lot different, also. Who knows, maybe it will be all you need, but for now it makes an excellent layer for those of us that like layers, and may even be adequate for some to use alone

 

And only one program to hack.

 

Those truly in the know , understand that it's not just the security software you run that makes the difference. Running a suite doesn't immediately mean a visit to HJT hell.

Are the elite members of Wilders more protected than other people because they have specialized layer by layer security software or is it because they are more knowledgable in the ways of configuring their system and have much better user habits and have better instincts at avoiding problems?

I suspect the later is a much bigger factor than the former. For sure, members who run very little or in some cases run some might consider inferior security software remain as unscathed as the most heavily armored of us here.

So what exactly makes the difference? It can't simply be suites versus specialised pieces. Or top of the line security software versus merely decent.

I always found great irony in the fact that as a rule the people who don't need the protection as much are the very ones who are suited up with the best of the best.

 

Maybe there is no simple solution to make everyone happy.

I don't think the majority of home users spend most of their time researching security as we do. This brings up the point, who tells them which AV, AT, firewall is best for them? Yes you can mention say the top four and tell them to just make a choice based on ease of use because you sure can not expect most home users to know hot to set up rules in a firewall. Home users are not hard core I love to dig deep into my security software. The want and I even think they need as close to set it and forget it as you can get.
This is why I favor suites for the home user.
Can someone point me to a HJT thread where a user of say KIS 2006 has been infected? I would find it interesteing to see this so please point me in that direction.

Another good point is the Windows OS itself. WIll all home users be converted to say a LINUX distro? I am thinking not anytime soon. We still don't know for sure if MS designed the latest backdoor into Windows but if they did, it appears all of our firewalls ect didn't stop it.

Maybe the governments of countries should make it a law that home users can not change anything at all on thier systems. They should redesign the internet so home users can only go to say 1000 sites and no more. LOL
They should take away our rights by requesting huge search engins such as google turn over their search logs so we know who is searching for child porn.
You know, A dictatorship is what the home user really needs.

If there is a poll for home user suites I would vote yes.

I was just thinking of starting a poll on which shoe does most tie first in the morning? sandles, loafers ect not included.

con