Avast Improved?

Hello,

About 2 years ago, I left avast due to his extremelly slow response time to add new samples. Because of it, his detection rates were decreasing everyday more and more. Wich was making almost impossible to rely in it to get your system protected.

I have been, during this period, sending tons of new samples that I am always collecting, just to know that they would not even add it, or add it after some months.

However, things seems to be different now. After last Av-Comparatives, I gave a second chance to Norton and Avast, 2 softwares that I did swear never install again, and keep away from my system. I started to pay some attention to them, tested some samples, etc.

For Norton, I believe that some mistake were made. I did see some detection improvement on it, but the improvement is not enough to say that it has a better detection rate then avast (Actually this is the only discrepancy in the AV-Comparatives report IMHO) The new version uses much better the resources in machine, I think its the AV that consumes less resources by now. But, in detections rates, it inst better then avast. No way.

For avast, I must say… I am really impressed with the current detection results. The service providers that avast already had, allied with the new detection rates, makes Avast now IMHO one of the best and complete AV nowdays. Only losing for Avira and GDATA (That has avast engine) in detection rates. Making it the top 3.

Saying it, I would like to make some questions:

1- This improvement, has anything to do with the new submit system? That VLK promissed, and would make the life of the analists easier and make the response time faster?

2- How is the response time, now? Its faster now? Just acceptable or still extremely slow? I couldnt test it yet…

3- This improvement, made me imagine, if the Avast For exchange server is now a product that really could delivery a good level of protection to the servers of the company that I work for. Considering that our trend micro office scan license is making its way to the end, and I think we cant say that we are happy with it, maybe Avast is one of the AVS that now have a chance to replace it in our servers… The only think that worries me, is that the last product update for it is a long time ago… Any reason for it? I must say that it really scares me.

Thanks for your time, and sorry for the long post.

BrBrasil

I think yes - internally. It’s still in the process of evolution (i.e. what Vlk promissed is not yet finished, especially not the part visible for the users) - but some parts are already deployed internally and help the virus analysts, IMHO.

I think it’s because of Exchange 2007 protection we would like to include. Since Exchange 2007 is 64bits only, the plugin has to be 64bit as well… and it’s kind of tricky for some reasons.
However, as far as I know, it’s already been implemented and is being tested now - so I hope the update will be released in a near future.

Really… You’ll have some work to convince us, users, that Norton is the AV that consumes less resources by now… really, a lot of work. Better in new 360 version, ok, but the best…

It’s better, but there are room to improvement, for sure, in speed and false positive corrections.

Hello Igor,

Thanks for your fast reply.

Just one more question, I saw that Avast is a Microsoft certified partner.
But what about the avast server for exchange? It has any microsoft certification, that informes about your product being full compatible with their products, running without conflicts (Its a certication that microsoft gives for products, I forgot how we call it in english)

Oh, and I forgot to congrat your company for the improvement. When I had to give some criticism, I did. Now its time to bow for your excelent results.
Congratulations Alwil, amazing job you guys are doing.
Avast doing your way to the top again.

Thanks for your time,

BrBrasil

Hello Tech,

Well, about Norton Internet security 2009 (Not 2008), its is really faster. The most faster AV that I already saw. I cannot deny it. Even me, always fighting against Norton in the past years because it is a resource hug, Its tottaly diferent now. A new apllication.

However Norton 360 I really dont know, because I didnt test it.

But anyway, I dont feel safe with norton… So, doesnt matter if its faster.

Thanks for your time,

BrBrasil

Spread the word is the way of helping :wink:

Oh, I forgot to ask also:

Is there any reseller for avast here in Brazil?

Thanks!

Yes of course
http://www.avast.com/eng/reseller-brasil.html

Thanks!

And about the certification for the product?

Thanks again!

BrBrasil

Expect a turnaround time of 1-2 days. Longer over weekends, because of the lack of updates.

You still don’t get a reply, which sometimes leaves you wondering if the file you sent was deemed clean if detection isn’t added for them - but still, this is a DRAMATIC improvement from, say, six months ago.

Thanks for reporting.