Possibly switching to Kaspersky

Just thought I'd make a post to inform other folks of what I have discovered...

After having run with Norton for a couple of years, I was in the market for a change. I had read consistently impressive comments about NOD32, so I decided to try the trial version of that software. My first full-system scan with NOD32 didn't go that well, as I discovered that this software doesn't handle Eudora mailboxes. (Thread on that subject is here). Although that first full-system scan ran for five hours, I was pleased that NOD32 picked up a threat that Norton had missed. Still, due to the software's inability to handle Eudora mailboxes, and due to my inability to set the software up to bypass those files (the idea of which I didn't really like, anyway), I did not initiate another system scan.

Then, 25 days along in my 30-day trial, the software informed me that my trial period had expired. Interestingly, I found that I was not the only NOD32 Trial Version user who had encountered this problem (thread about that subject here). Given these two problems, I decided to abandon NOD32 for the time being.

Since then, I have downloaded and installed the trial version of Kaspersky. The install was much more straightforward than that for NOD32, and upon running my first full-system scan, Kaspersky picked up an instance of downloader.js.small.aq which was apparently not picked up by NOD32.

I'm not trying to "flame" on NOD32, but I did want to lodge a post indicating that not everyone has as much "success" with that program as the rabid fans of that product seem to have. It may be fine for a lot of people, but for me, it just doesn't do the trick. So far, I haven't run into any similar problems and/or difficulties with Kaspersky.

For your information... Your mileage may vary...

 

Might have been a false/pos, as that same virus should have been picked up by NOD as HTML/Exploit.Phel.V if it was a live file.

The thing about antivirus programs, is to have faith in the several methods that are used by the program to sum up their protection. If one component of a program can't get at something, often another component (or two) can. Hence..if the scanner won't get into that particular type of mail database file, the AMON would if you clicked on the mail itself, or the IMON would if that bad guy either came down the pipe (port 110) or tried to shoot out the pipe (port 25).

Regardless....enjoy Kapersky...another excellent choice. Either of the two a huge step up!

 

Ensign Garak

Ruling out FP's, i wonder why and how you are picking up those Trojans etc. Have you bolted down you system and browser enough. Or maybe you are clicking on things on unsafe sites and also allowing downloads of infected stuff ?


I once installed NOD32 and after the trial it didn't uninstall correctly, and it hosed my PC. I had to reformat and start all over again. That doesn't mean it's bad AV, on the contrary, i see the positive things said about.

More recently i tried KAV and thought it the best AV i had tried yet. Very nice install and so easy to set up and configure. Looks good too, not that it's a high priority though. Very smooth and light to run full time, and that's with heuristics on high, and using the extended database. This detects almost 100% of previously undocumented viruses and unknown viruses.

The high position it holds in normal detection rates is very encouraging too.

It also detects and disinfects viruses and trojans in over 1200 compressed file formats. The Script Checker is welcome as it scans and filters all scripts run on your PC before being executed.

I would recommend it to anyone to try.


StevieO

 

One thing is to think that you are protected and another one is to really be protected

You can't go wrong with either of them.

 

I'm wondering about that, too. I've not been "plagued" with virus problems in the past, and I certainly don't surf in a "risky" way. I don't visit a wide variety of sites, and my wife doesn't either. Since we're the only two who occupy our home and use the computer, there aren't any other variables to consider.

It seemed as though there would often be pauses when I surfed, as NOD32 appeared to be engaging in an active scan of the content that was being pulled up by my browser at the time. So, if I had picked anything up since performing my NOD32 full-system scan, I don't know why NOD32 wouldn't have prevented such a trojan from downloading itself. If it was there prior to my installing NOD32, I don't know why it wouldn't have picked it up on the full-system scan it performed.

I don't know - Perhaps I did something wrong, or didn't have a NOD32 setting set properly. All I know is that I installed Kaspersky quickly and easily using default settings, and the first full-system scan I performed picked up the trojan.

Again, this isn't a flame against NOD32 - The issue of "ease of use" is just one more reason why Kaspersky may be a better choice for me personally. I guess I'll find out if that is indeed the case over the next twenty-some days remaining in my trial period.

 

If you decide to buy Kaspersky efter the trial, then i would uninstall the trial and do these steps to remove Norton completely:http://forum.kaspersky.com/index.php?showtopic=5233, you should also be aware of the networkprotection/"minifirewall" in Kaspersky which you should disable if you already use a firewall:http://forum.kaspersky.com/index.php?showtopic=897.