RSSMcAfee VirusScan 9 Goes After Spyware
By David Worthington | Published July 14, 2004, 1:35 AM
As the public continues to encounter unwanted programs, the words "spyware" and "adware" are entering into the vernacular. The question of how to deal with these nuisances is particularly challenging when programs users desire -- such as Kazaa -- require spyware components in order to operate.
In its upcoming release of VirusScan, McAfee is attempting to address that very question. In developing the next iteration of VirusScan, McAfee's software engineers have made it their number one priority to enhance the detection and removal of spyware, adware and other malware. However, detection is only one part of the equation.
The signatures of these unwanted programs are now rolled into VirusScan's virus definitions to allow the software to specifically identify applications that may "break" if a suspect program if removed. Users are then presented with a unique dialog informing them of any dependencies rather than a blanket statement insisting on their removal.
In the run-up to the release, some other changes that have made the cut include a move toward a uniform email proxy feature that will become standard issue across all McAfee product lines.
Other functionality will not be visible to customers - much of the improvements made to VirusScan had been made under the hood. To be more specific, the product's core scanning engine has improved efficiency so that, according to McAfee's claims, it is faster and less resource intensive.
Even though it is shoring up VirusScan's capabilities, McAfee has pledged to keep the product's footprint small. While rival Symantec recently added firewall capabilities to its forthcoming release of Norton AntiVirus 2005, McAfee is including a firewall in its bundling - not VirusScan's core functionality. A firewall will be available to customers through McAfee Web Essentials and McAfee Internet Security Suite.
Since McAfee adheres to a subscription-style pricing model, customers can expect stronger interim releases in the near future. The next update to VirusScan is scheduled for November and will feature a deeper on access malware scan.
Pricing for VirusScan 9 will remain consistent with last year's VirusScan 8 software package, and the product will be released to the Web by the end of August with shrink wrapped copies to follow in September.
McAfee 9 still doesn't have good spyware detection or removal capabilities. They add a few extra spyware definitions, and call it a new version. Major anti virus vendors really don't do whats best for the consumer.
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Will VirusScan9 finally support email scanning over IMAP4? Anybody knows?
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I'm already using Symantec (aka. Norton) Anti Virus Corporate Edition v9.0, which claims to detect adware and spyware. Here's what their web site says about it:
"NEW! Expanded Threat Detection and Threat Categorization recognizes unwanted applications such as spyware and adware"
- Eric, http://www.InvisibleRobot.com/
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Go on www.sarc.com and look at the extremely tiny list of adwares they detect. And notice how the list barely grows...
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They better get rid of the security center... or atleast let you use VS without it. (Heck, they should just ship the Enterprise version as the conusmer version)
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Mozilla/Firefox - Free
Spyware Blaster - Free
Ad-Ware 6 - Free
Spybot: S & A - Free
EZ Antivirus - Free
Having a spyware/virus/popup free PC - Priceless
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It's kind of funny that they add a few more spyware definitions and they can call it a whole new product. Just like Norton, their anti virus products haven't changed much in 4 years, while other less known anti virus products continue to improve.
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My spyware resouce center
I've helped so many people i made a list of my favorte proggies.
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I like witty, intelligent posts. They are so unusual.
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Trend Micro also just released version 6.5 of Officescan, which also removes spyware.
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McAfee, Trend, Panda, and Kapersky are all looking a lot better since Symantec's trend of releasing more and more bloated software continues.
Aaron
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I have found that for the past 3 years Symantec's software has just been released in an alpha state that requires many liveupdates over many reboots to actually get it working anywhere close to prime-time. If that's people's idea of security and "fun" then by all means have at it.
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