In today's Internet world, protecting end-user PCs from the unknown is one of the most important things you can do. No matter
how a system is compromised -- be it a virus or a "drive-by" install of malicious code via a Web site -- there is no end to
the amount of irritation and potential financial damage that the user or company might suffer. With most attacks zeroing in
on identity theft, can you really take a chance?
The best way to defend PCs is to have some sort of antivirus and antispyware protection -- and real-time protection trumps
traditional on-demand scans. Real-time antivirus protection has been around for years, but only recently have we started to
see vendors roll out real-time analysis and detection of malware. Like its real-time antivirus counterpart, this approach
ensures malicious code is stopped before it ever lands.
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Among companies packaging real-time protection against viruses and malware is Webroot Software. The recently released 5.5 version of Webroot AntiVirus with AntiSpyware and Firewall provides real-time and on-demand detection
and remediation for virus and malware threats, and it boasts an easy-to-use user interface. Resource utilization is minimal,
and in my tests, there was no noticeable slowdown while browsing the Web. This package is intended for single users or small
office installations; there is no administrative console or central management. Business users that need more administrative
tools should look at Webroot AntiSpyware Corporate Edition with AntiVirus.
United front
The Webroot system comprises two separate yet complementary engines. Through its partnership with Sophos, Webroot is able
to totally integrate Sophos' antivirus protection into its package, providing protection against all types of digital threats.
New to this release is the addition of behavioral detection in the antivirus product; previously, only signature-based virus
detection was available. Now even zero-day threats can be dealt with as the system monitors the overall behavior of the running
processes and data streams.
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