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also known as Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Small.dam, Trojan.Downloader-647, Trojan.DL.Tibs.Gen!Pac13, Email-Worm.Win32.Zhelatin.a (Kaspersky), Downloader-BAI (McAfee), Troj/Dorf-Fam (Sophos), Trojan.Peacomm (Symantec), TROJ_SMALL.EDW (Trend Micro), Win32/Nuwar.N@MM (Microsoft).

An average of ten new viruses and spyware are found each day and the rate continues to grow. There is also a new breed of threats on the Internet, such as carefully planned targeted attacks that can pass through conventional security solutions unnoticed, possibly taking over your computer for illegal purposes.

F-Secure Anti-Virus 2009 comes with F-Secure DeepGuard™ 2.0, introducing network-based instant recognition of both safe and malicious software, which is able to protect you in 60 seconds from the first confirmation of a new threat. No other antivirus vendor has such "in-the-cloud" real-time protection network deployed globally.
With F-Secure® Anti-Virus 2009, you can open e-mail attachments and use your computer without any fear of virus infections, spyware intrusion or malicious programs that can take over your computer. In addition, F-Secure DeepGuard™ 2.0 provides instant protection against new threats with real-time protection network that shortcuts the hours it typically takes to send out database updates.

F-Secure Anti-Virus 2009

Advanced Virus Protection for Your Online Life
With F-Secure® Anti-Virus™ 2009, you can use your computer without any
fear of virus infections, spyware intrusion or malicious programs that can take
over your computer. F-Secure Anti-Virus has been designed to automate all key
tasks required to keep your computer and data safe from viruses. It's so easy
all you have to do is install and forget it.
DeepGuard 2.0 - Protect Yourself Against the Unknown
Fast-spreading hidden attacks designed by money-driven online criminals are a
major problem on the Internet. F-Secure Anti-Virus 2009 comes with updated
DeepGuard 2.0 technology that automatically protects you against anything
that might be a sign of danger in your computer. The new version also
introduces instant recognition of both safe and potentially bad software which
makes the technology virtually unnoticeable and more accurate than ever.
Protect your Privacy with Antispyware
Spyware can secretly track your surfing habits and profile your shopping
preferences. It can even hijack your web browser or abuse your Internet
connection by sending data to a third party. F-Secure Anti-Virus protects your
privacy by detecting and removing such software from your computer.
The Fastest Protection with Automatic Updates
Antivirus software is only as good as the capability of antivirus software
manufacturer to provide a timely cure for new virus outbreaks. F-Secure
Anti-Virus Research Team updates virus definition databases several times a
day to ensure that customers have 24-hour protection against new,
fast-spreading viruses. This is why F-Secure products constantly rank at the top
when compared with competing products.

Protects your computer against
viruses, worms and other attacks
With daily automatically updated
virus protection from the
world-renowned F-Secure Data
Security Laboratory and F-Secure
DeepGuard technology that
protects you against zero-day
attacks and other future threats, you
can safely use your computer, now
and tomorrow.
Detects and removes spyware from
your computer
F-Secure Anti-Virus removes secretly
installed software from your
computer, ensuring that your system
is running smoothly and clean of
spyware.
Fastest Protection
F-Secure is one of the leading
antivirus vendors when it comes to
reaction times and update delivery
times during virus outbreaks.

Protection Against Unknown Threats and Rootkits
Modern malware can break into your computer even if you have
up-to-date security components installed. F-Secure DeepGuard™ detects
and prevents any suspicious activity that might indicate a danger in
your computer. Rootkits are also detected and removed.
Scans E-mail and Web Traffic
POP3, IMAP and SMTP traffic are scanned for viruses so that you do
not have to worry about infected e-mails. Web Traffic Scanning
protects you against web sites that can infect your computer even if you
do not download anything from them.
Easy to Install and Use
F-Secure Anti-Virus is extremely easy to install and use. As the software
is highly automated, you do not have to understand the complexities of
data security.
The Fastest Protection Against Virus Outbreaks
Immediate reaction times and fast cures during new and emerging
threats ensured by F-Secure Research Team working 24 hours a day.
Security News
Get information about new viruses and their behavior immediately, as
well as the instructions on how to avoid the infection and a confirmation
whether your computer is already protected against the latest threat.
Multiple Scanning Engines
F-Secure Anti-Virus uses multiple scanning engines, bringing you the very
best in detection and disinfection. Each scanning engine specializes in
detecting a different type of malware. It is like having several antivirus
products running in your computer at the same time!
Software in your Language
F-Secure Anti-Virus has a clear user interface, including an easily
accessible electronic manual. Both the software and electronic manual
are available in your language.

F-Secure Anti-Virus is a great product that offers many of the standard functions associated with antivirus software, but also goes above and beyond the bar set by others with efforts by F-Secure to educate the people that use F-Secure Anti-Virus on general security practices as well as specific threats.

F-Secure Anti-Virus is one of the most effective antivirus programs on the market. Its heuristic scanner is considered by many to be one of the fastest and most complete on the market.

We did have some problems with its on-access scanner though. The test system we used is a pretty fast system. Intel Pentium D 2.8GHz with 1GB of RAM. The on-access scanner would sometimes bring this system to a halt when opening programs or moving files.

F-Secure Anti-Virus comes with the standard protection you would expect from any modern antivirus suite. Both on-access and on-demand scanners are included as well as a spyware scanner that runs with both. An email scanner is also included for those of us using local email clients like Outlook or Thunderbird.

One feature we especially liked about F-Secure Anti-Virus was the integrated news on the home menu. The Security News section is full of useful information about which new security threats are out and whether you are protected from each threat.

Antivirus and antispyware protection for Windows from the world's most trusted security company. Use the Internet with confidence in your home or small office.

Superior Proactive Protection from Viruses, Spyware, and other e-Threats...that won't slow you down!

Confidently download, share and open files from friends, family, co-workers - and even total strangers!

• Improved: Scans all web, e-mail and instant messaging traffic for viruses and spyware, in real-time
• Proactively protects against new virus outbreaks using advanced heuristics

Protect your identity: shop, bank, listen, watch privately and securely

• Blocks attempted identity theft (phishing)
• Improved: Prevents personal information from leaking via e-mail, web or instant messaging

Guard your conversations with top-of-the line encryption

• ^NEWInstant Messaging Encryption

Play safe, play seamlessly!

• Improved: Reduces the system load and avoids requesting user interaction during games

Get fine-tuned performance from your computer !

• Uses few system resources
• ^NEWLaptop mode prolongs battery life
• Improved: Scans all web, e-mail and instant messaging traffic for viruses and spyware, in real-time
• Proactively protects against new virus outbreaks using advanced heuristics

Features and Benefits

Family network protection
Manage the security of your home network from a single location. BitDefender software from other computers in the network can be remotely configured, while tasks such as scans, backups tune-ups and updates can be run on-demand or scheduled to run during off-hours.

Hassle - Free Hourly Updates
Hourly updates ensure that you are protected against the latest threats without pushing a button. Lost program files are not a problem either. In the rare event of file damage due to PC problems, BitDefender automatically repairs and updates itself.

For those seeking the best antivirus software for the money AND an "install and forget" proposition, BitDefender is the right choice. Not only does it protect your computer and files, but BitDefender is easy to use, light on your computer and, maybe most importantly, light on your pocketbook.

No matter how technically capable any piece of software may be, the productivity enhancement it offers is only effective if people use it. This is especially true in antivirus software. The primary reasons people fail to protect their computers from a variety of malware are the cost and the 'burden' of installing and maintaining antivirus software. The best protection in the world is worthless if people find it cumbersome and distracting to use.

The same holds true for price. This is the beauty of BitDefender: It provides comprehensive protection, takes up little space on your computer, costs less and requires little maintenance.

You might think antivirus software that's this easy to use and this inexpensive might not be as effective as products with bigger brand names and bigger price tags, but you would be wrong. AV-Test.org is among the most prestigious, independent research laboratories in the world for testing antivirus software. In recent tests, BitDefender received their highest rating for having removed 98% of all viruses and spyware in their rigorous tests. In addition, BitDefender has received the highest ratings for effectiveness by Virus Bulletin (VB100%) and AV Comparatives.org, and was certified by ICSA, Checkvir.com and West Coast Labs for its ability to detect viruses and virus replication while minimizing false positives (detecting viruses that are not there).

One of the key features BitDefender has developed is a virtual machine that runs invisibly in the background on your computer where it tests suspicious code, which is code that looks like a virus but doesn't currently match any of the known virus signatures. In this way, BitDefender can protect your computer from viruses no one has reported yet. In the same tests by AV-Test.org, BitDefender scored higher than Kaspersky, Norton, Computer Associates (CA) and McAfee on its proactive detection of viruses and other malware with this heuristic approach. BitDefender scans somewhat slower than some of its competitors, due (we believe) to this virtual machine running. Naturally, there's going to be a price for this type of protection, but other products like ESET's NOD32 have done a better job at minimizing it.

Although BitDefender is great at removing viruses and spyware, it excels at protecting your system from incoming viruses. The new BitDefender can actually strip viruses from your incoming HTML stream before the virus makes it to your browser. We think every new computer should be outfitted with this kind of protection.

In the spirit of "install and forget" software, BitDefender doesn't go in for the blinking red and green lights to notify you of its activity. Instead, a tiny red and black icon appears in the lower-right corner of your desktop, just above the system tray. This unobtrusive icon is the scan activity monitor. A green line indicates when files are being scanned for viruses and spyware. You can remove the monitor by going into the configuration settings.

The antispyware section of BitDefender includes Privacy Protection. This feature is disabled by default, but turning this feature ON is recommended. In the Advanced Setting link, you can enter your credit card numbers or other private information, and if any Windows application attempts to send these over the Internet, it stops and requires your active permission. Otherwise, BitDefender will refuse any program that attempts to send your personal information over the Internet.

BitDefender is the only antivirus software reviewed with a gamer mode. With gamer mode enabled, online gamers are protected without sacrificing much performance. Since online gamers are notorious for disabling firewalls and other protection to optimize performance, this could be a lifesaver for the family computer used for online gaming by members of your household.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009 provides the basic tools needed to protect your PC. Installation of a separate firewall and anti-spam filter is recommended.

Virus Essential Protection

• Protects from viruses, Trojans and worms
• Blocks spyware and adware
• Scans files in real time (on access) and on demand
• Scans email messages (regardless of email client)
• Scans Internet traffic (regardless of browser)
• Protects instant messengers (ICQ, MSN)
• Provides proactive protection from unknown threats
• Scans Java and Visual Basic scripts

Preventive Protection from Viruses

• Scans operating system and installed applications for vulnerabilities
• Analyzes and closes Internet Explorer vulnerabilities
• Disables links to malware sites
• Detects viruses based on the packers used to compress code
• Global threat monitoring (Kaspersky Security Network)

Advanced Protection & Recovery

• The program can be installed on infected computers
• Self-protection from being disabled or stopped
• Restores correct system settings after removing malicious software
• Tools for creating a rescue disk

Data & Identity Theft Protection

• Disables links to fake (phishing) websites
• Blocks all types of keyloggers

Usability

• Automatic configuration during installation
• Wizards for common tasks
• Visual reports with charts and diagrams
• Alerts provide all the information necessary for informed user decisions
• Automatic or interactive mode
• Round-the-clock technical support
• Automatic database updates

Kaspersky Labs has been one of the best antivirus software developers in the world for over a decade and now Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009 only strengthens that reputation. Founded by Natalia and Eugene Kaspersky in 1997, this Russian company is often the first to find and identify new viruses. Long used in Russia and Europe, Kaspersky is now making inroads in the North American market. Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009 is one of the most effective antivirus packages in the world today and boasts a great interface with easy to use and intuitive controls.

Kaspersky Labs has always been known for its ability to effectively detect and remove viruses as well as or better than any software program on the market. Like BitDefender, Kaspersky was able to remove over 98% of all viruses it encountered in the most recent  objective tests of AV-test.org. Kaspersky is also certified by all of the major virus/malware testing laboratories. Tests confirm Kaspersky's effectiveness. It found every virus on the test computer.

Although Kaspersky is excellent at detecting viruses and malware, it could use some work in the detection of spyware. Independent tests by AV-test.org showed that Kaspersky allowed 8% of adware/spyware to go undetected. Furthermore, Kaspersky's proactive/heuristic engine failed to meet the high standards set by BitDefender, NOD32, F-Secure, Panda and some others.

Like other software with proactive/heuristic engines to detect malware before their signatures are available, Kaspersky's scan is relatively slow. The time and resources demanded by these proactive/heuristic engines slows these scans, and relatively slow scans may be the price we pay for this level of protection. Of the antivirus software packages reviewed, only NOD32 scored high on both proactive detection and scan speed. 

Kaspersky's feature set is one of its strongest assets. While BitDefender's interface is primarily an enable/disable feature set, Kaspersky is the software-tweakers dream with controls for nearly all of its features. Like most of the antivirus packages in our review, Kaspersky protects your computer from spyware as well as viruses. Scanning for both viruses and spyware simultaneously is far more efficient in terms of time and resources than stopping to do both separately. Kaspersky scans email and port 80 traffic (port 80 is the port that receives web traffic and must be open while browsing the web) so that this excellent software can detect and block online viruses, Trojans, and various other malware before they can cause you trouble.

Kaspersky also has a proactive defense for your computer. Kaspersky watches for unwanted adware, dialers, rootkits, remote access utilities and locks specific registry keys that malicious code may target to damage your computer. Furthermore, Kaspersky now includes protection from viruses while using IM and ICQ.

Kaspersky, in its ever-vigilance against viruses and other malware, now helps you create a rescue disc in the case that your computer is hit by some malicious code that makes your system unbootable. Although this effort to prepare users for the computer equivalent of Armageddon is commendable, the process is tedious and difficult. If you downloaded your operating system or the system disc is lost or unavailable, this feature will be unavailable to you.