Symantec And Security Starlets Say Anti-Virus Is Dead

[Chiefcrowe]

http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/anti-virus-dead-or-dying-symantec-144954

 

[smakme7757]

Yep, no surprise there. AV vendors play catch up, unfortunately. With the increase in new virus playing catch up just doesn't cut it anymore.

They are lagging further and further behind. As it has always been, education is the best defence.

 

[halik]

i can't even remember last time i installed some kind of anti virus thingy.

 

[PliotronX]

Totally backs up what Code65536 and I were saying about AV in general. Nothing can protect people from themselves. If they don't want to keep their browser, Java, and Flash updated and think clicking on every damn thing is a-okay, there is not an AV on earth that will help them. A neat piece of software I came across is required by a lot of banks called Trusteer Endpoint Protection that includes a function to blank the screen buffer whenever a banking website is open and a screenshot is taken. I'd imagine it has basic keylogger detection and whatnot but that kind of stuff is probably going to be the way of the future.

 

[John Connor]

So all those anti-virus comparison website are BS? So long as viruses exist there will be anti-virus software. It's like the human body with immunization. In fact scientists study the way Internet viruses work. So I have read in the very old book Internet Privacy For Dummies.

 

[PliotronX]

Yes even AVs superfluously rated perfect will eventually let some through mostly because its users think they're bulletproof and don't pay attention. Immunization is different in concept because AV is more like a guy that sits on your shoulders making you move more sluggishly and analyzes s*** you put in your mouth and he's eventually going to think something is okay to eat. I think protection that assumes the system is infected like Trustee makes more sense in this day and age. Specific tools like TDSSkiller and HMP alert would be more effective than AV.

 

[John Connor]

I personally think running NoScript along with an anti-virus is pretty good protection.

 

[nemesismk2]

So all those anti-virus comparison website are BS?

short answer, yes

 

[Vanth]

Programs like Sandboxie and herdProtect are the way to the future in fighting malware.

 

[John Connor]

I have just downloaded Sandboxie and will check out Herdprotect. Right now I have Pandacloud which is Cloud based too!

 

[John Connor]

Well, Herprotect isn't connecting to the cloud. WTF!

 

[PliotronX]

I thought MBAM took a long time to scan holy crap Herdprotect is going on four hours with about 50% of the files analyzed.

 

[Vanth]

I thought MBAM took a long time to scan holy crap Herdprotect is going on four hours with about 50% of the files analyzed.

The best things in life require patience. Give it some time. The second scan will be considerably shorter.


If herdProtect doesn't connect to the cloud, then it is something on their end. Try in a few minutes or hours again.

 

[John Connor]

Seems like Herdprotect doesn't work with OpenDNS. I ran a VPN to be sure and sure enough it connected. Takes forever to scan so this won't be a everyday thing, maybe once a month. Says Cain and Able is a virus which is BS false positive. Too bad it didn't have active real time protection using the 68 engines. Problem with cloud based crap is that if malware screws up your TCP/IP stack or Internet connection you're SOL.

I had Panda Cloud update on me and completely jacked up. I couldn't uninstall conventionally so had to use Revo uninstaller and even then I had to run Ccleaner and System Ninja to rid the computer of Panda Cloud BS. I now went back to Bitdefender Free. I won't simply get rid of all protection. Need something at least. NoScrip is my front line. I do use Sandboxie when navigating the dark side of the net.

 

[John Connor]

WTF is this crap?! Herprotect was scanning some 4,000 files, went through half and said come back in a hour to scan again mean while it will be faster. Why should I wait an hour!?

 

[MrColin]

The criminal organizations overseas probably have better financial backing and smarter leadership than any AV company does. I can't see how a bunch of shareholder focused corporate jerkoffs can possibly compete in this arena.

 

[PliotronX]

The criminal organizations overseas probably have better financial backing and smarter leadership than any AV company does. I can't see how a bunch of shareholder focused corporate jerkoffs can possibly compete in this arena.

Seriously! Cryptolocker alone is estimated to have made its ingenius developers a billion smackers because there were hundreds of thousands of PC's infected and a solid estimate of 1 in 3 users paid out including a police department in Massachusetts. Makes one want to just quit and work for Cryptolocker.

 

[Aldon]

Any words on Kaspersky? I never had any problems with viruses or malware in the last 2 or so years. I purchased Norton and it has almost been like a routine to me. However, I find Norton to be good for detecting "potential" threats. In that case, if you don't download a bunch of porn from unknown websites, you might as well don't need any internet security or anti-virus software.

I think the major ballplayers, Kaspersky and Norton should rethink their strategy to marketing internet threats to potential customers. I could see these companies selling business-related products or big data management products in the future, in case that hasn't happened already.

 

[ussfletcher]

Anti-virus is only good for protecting against well developed threats. Heuristic detection is basically a scam because it is so easy to avoid.

 

[Knowing]

Programs like Sandboxie and herdProtect are the way to the future in fighting malware.

I used the trial version of sandboxie for years and when I went to finally upgrade to the paid version I saw that the original dev sold out and now it's a "subscription" service.

I've been watching Bromium in hopes that they eventually have consumer grade stuff.

 

[Captante]

I used the trial version of sandboxie for years and when I went to finally upgrade to the paid version I saw that the original dev sold out and now it's a "subscription" service.

Fortunately I purchased the paid version of Sandboxie several years ago and so far they've honored the lifetime free upgrades its a great program.

I also run AV software (Norton or Avast) and the pro-version of Malwarebytes plus keep all my programs and OS up to date.

Its true there's no substitute for common sense on the net, however common sense AND correctly configured security software is much safer then common sense alone.

 

[John Connor]

I have noticed that Sandboxie doesn't like Pandora very much as it loads slow as hell. I stuck Sandboxie on my parents computer and Yahoo will come to a craw sometimes. I don't know wtf the matter is. Then when there is an update to an add-on like NoScript you have to close Sandboxie and load the browser without Sandboxie so the update sticks. If you want to make a change to a browser setting you have to do it without Sandboxie. kinda a PITA!