One of the most popular tricks in the Malware Handbook is to fool users into installing fake antivirus software. You've seen the bogus warnings before, the ones telling you your PC is infected with viruses, and all you have to do to restore order is download and install whatever fake antivirus software is on your screen. Savvy PC users recognize this as a scam designed to get users to unwittingly install real malware under the guise of a helpful product, and the reason it still works is because malware writers keep finding new and creative ways of dishing up their bogus software.
With the year not even half over yet, Panda Security is getting a jump on 2012 by releasing the next major version of its antivirus software, including Panda Internet Security 2012 for Netbooks, Panda Antivirus Pro 2012, Panda Internet Security 2012, and Panda Global Protection 2012. That's enough Pandas to fill a zoo, and one thing they all have in common is they've been especially designed to Internet users who make the most out of Web 2.0 and the digital world, Panda Security says.
Symantec recently pushed out a signficant product update for both its Norton Antivirus 2011 and Norton Internet Security 2011 products, bringing the version number to 18.6.0.29. Among the upgrades are a few new features (like support for Mozilla's Firefox 4 browser), performance enhancements, better compatibility with third-party programs, and a handful of bug fixes.
Have you ever seen a Panda gloat, one that wasn't played by Jack Black? You have now. Panda Security today announced to the world that its Panda Internet Security 2011 software has been certified by AV-Test.org in its Q1 2011 Product Review and Certification Report. This kung-fu Panda of a different sort put the hurt on malware, detecting 100 percent of samples in AV-Test.org's malware batch, as well as those from its 'in the Wild' list, Panda Security says.
How many times have you been called to fix a PC that was invested with malware, only to discover that the user fell for one of the oldest tricks in the malware Bible, fake AV and utility programs? It's a common occurrence because, well, it simply works. Fake AV programs disguised as legitimate security software is getting tougher to discern from the real deal, and that's bad news for less savvy computer users. Security vendor McAfee put together a "Dirty Dozen" list of the most common fake AV software and utilities, and some of the entries might just surprise you.
F-Secure caught lightning in a bottle, poured it into its scan engine, and then built a security suite around it. When we say this scanner’s fast, we mean buckle up, hold on to the seat of your pants, and hope you don’t get whiplash. F-Secure’s scanner sped through our test bed in just three minutes and 18 seconds the first time around, which is nearly twice as fast as the next-quickest AV suite and more nimble than the second, optimized scans of 60 percent of the other apps in this roundup. During a second scan, F-Secure zipped through our files in a mere 45 seconds. 
Webroot used to focus its attention solely on system utilities and antispyware programs, such as Spy Sweeper, arguably it’s most popular product. Starting in 2006, Webroot widened its security net and now offers a fleshed-out lineup of antivirus products, the one reviewed here being its flagship suite.
When you first install BullGuard, you’re prompted to select a notification level. One of the two choices clamps a muzzle on BullGuard, stifling alerts the program can figure out on its own. The other promises more notifications so you’ll always know what the mutt is up to. We say mutt because BullGuard is another security suite that builds on top of someone else’s scan engine. We saw this with ZoneAlarm, which chose to go with Kaspersky, while BullGuard fetched BitDefender’s scan engine, another solid choice.
Sharing the spotlight with ZA’s well-known firewall is Kaspersky’s integrated scan engine. Kaspersky earned a 9 verdict and a Kick Ass award last year, and in our eyes, pairing its scan engine with ZA’s firewall is like hiring Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee as your personal bodyguards. If only they had come dressed for the job.
It’s hard not to look a gift horse in the mouth when you’re told it’s a potential thoroughbred capable of racing in the Kentucky Derby, but later find out it’s limping on two legs short of a set and isn’t even fit for making glue. That’s what we think about ClamWin, a free, open-source antivirus program that comes saddled with “gotchas.”
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