AOL just released two days ago it’s new free antivirus software called Active Virus Shield. It is powered by Kaspersky and NOT McAfee. That makes a huge difference! So the engine and technology comes from the best antivirus solution on the market, Kaspersky (sorry avast! no disrespect intended).
We all know the good things about Kaspersky. If you get the AOL version, be aware of what you’re not getting:
Cons: It is just a 1 year license. Good enough for most, not enough for some. The license is also exclusive to this product. The activation key you receive when signing up through the AOL website works ONLY in AOL Active Security Shield. I tried it in KAV6 and it failed saying its not a license for KAV6.
Oddly, the Scan menu is grayed out even though it works 100%. It is very weird.
It is a slimmed down version of KAV6. Differences are the following:
-Web Antivirus has been removed. This is a necessary feature of KAV6, which immediately scans web cache and such. A big hole is left without it.
-Proactive Defense has been removed. This is a feature which scans all process requests and alerts you of them, asking for your permission to allow them or not. This is becoming the norm with security software. KAV6 has it, Spyware Terminator has it. I think it is the future of security software. It is too bad they removed it.
-Trusted zone settings have been removed. All trusted zone entries can only be added as you get alerted by questionable material.
-Rescue Disk creation abilities have been removed. I never used this tool, but there are some who probably do use it.
-Mail connection monitoring settings have been removed (i.e. monitor POP3/SMTP/etc.)
-Appearance settings (for changing the look and feel of the program) have been removed. This isnt a big deal to most, but maybe to some. It only controls transparency and the system tray icon in KAV6, so its not a big deal.
Well, it’s free but it’s not free
You need to take AOL, you don’t have one of the most atractive features of KAV as the version is dropped…
Without mail monitor? Without Internet traffic protection? …
No thanks…
Well if the only way to get a free AV was to Join AOHell, no way! Regardless of how good it is supposed to be, feeding on the name but not the facts. As Bob states it has been crippled from the paid for Kaspersky, a shadow of its former self. I’m not sure Kaspersky holds the title best AV solution on the market, Eset’s Nod32 might give you an argument here ;D
Not to mention the AV you choose must be right for you, does it support your browser, email program (some only support the likes of MS Outlook spit), not all provide additional IM or P2P protection, etc. So it is a very subjective subject what you feel is best, not to mention some people simply can’t afford it and have to go with a free AV.
I think that this topic name is completely misleading… Kaspersky Antivirus is now FREE!
Kaspersky Antivirus is NOT free (unfortunately). What’s free is just this application-like antivirus protection offered by AOL to AOL users… nothing else. I suggest to the author of this thread to change topic’s name to something else… something more accurate.
active virus shield is free.You don’t need to use aol You can load AOL toolbar for IE,if ,and only IF YOU WANT.It’s a wonderfull av,very light.Objectivity is a part of honesty!!!
when it’s good it’s good,bad is bad .bye
And no one said it’s not a wonderful AV. In many occasions, members of this forum mentioned that Kaspersky is one of the best if not the best AVs out there… even in this thread, just go through all replies very carefully). This is just a matter of misleading thread name, nothing else. Ignorance is not bliss.
i thought this was an Avast! Anti-Virus forum about AVAST! ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE or was i wrong :o
not promoting some OTHER a/v product 8)
no harm intended just the fact
have a good one avast! world :
This is exactly the point I’ve tried to bring out.
It’s an outdated version. The current version is 6 not 5
The version AOL is offering is a crippled version which in essence makes it version 5.
If your interested in cripple ware, there’s a lot more available for free and it doesn’t
even come from AOL.
Welcome to the Avast Webforum. What is the point in discussing a second class KAV free solution (with an older scanner-database). This is beyond me. Why don’t we discuss all the gorgious free additional anti-virus solutions that can be used next to our beloved Avast?
I think this is a much better option. You could have the additional open source non-resident ClamWin solution running alongside Avast. It has a different signature database, real frequent updates, and is closing your vulnerability gap, that is what we want after all, didn’t we?. You have the in-browser DrWeb hyperlink scanner plug-in, dioes not weigh on you cycles, and also a welcome addition. There is the a-squared security centre (anti-malware solution), but this a bit heavy on the mem in older systems! But you can have it as an on-demand, also a nice addition. You can have the occasinal on-line scanning with Bitdefender, or you could go to jotti.de or virustotal when in doubt about a suspicious file and upload it there to run against various av-scanners (one linux based). You can also use a heuristical dos-solution, with a live-updater, F-prot for dos, still free and still alive and kicking, and a very good addition, but you have to re-check the suspect files, risks of FP’s. There are script scanners, there are blocklist programs, proxomitron, a whole scala of additional security programs to make Avast shine. Why not discuss these things in stead of promoting a hampered free second grade version of one of the best av-solutions. Oh, gee, look here it is free. Come on, folks, give me a break, promotion works here. It is like in mediaeval times people like to believe in fairy tales. Who said modern people didn’t?
RejZoR,
Are you saying that AOL is offering a full fledged current version of Kaspersky. ???
If they are, please fill us in. From everything I’ve read, it’s a crippled strippped down version.
So the engine and technology comes from the best antivirus solution on the market, Kaspersky (sorry avast! no disrespect intended).
