I’ve decided to open a thread about the worst applications we test from time to time. Just to be as experience for the others. Of course, it will be very opinative and each ones will be able to judge. If we’re wrong, just go ahead, test yourself.
I’ll post the first one:
BufferZone from Trustware: http://www.trustware.com/products_home.phpSecure
It blocked my browsing, do not allow to start programs, take to yourself all the changes (files and registry) claiming to bring security.
Man, what a headache. Make a full backup of your partition before.
Filseclab personal firewall Professional Edition. This program blocked even Windows Update and did not block attacks on my computer. However the program may have fixed this problem since when I used it. But to me it is not worth the risk of trying it again.
The Yahoo!® DSL tabbed browser. I installed it twice over a two week period and it locked up my machine both times. When I need a tabbed browser I use Opera now.
Windows antivirus/firewall beta. Blocked random ports on my computer that could not be opened. After uninstalling it still left them blocked, so I could never access my network. Had to reinstall Windows XP
The latest worst application I tested is Kaspersky Anti-virus personal 5, my computer was freezed when scanning with KAV Personal 5 by its default settings, I seemed to can’t even move my mouse from time to time while KAV tried to scan archives/packed files in C:\Windows.… folders.
I know KAV is excellent antivirus in terms of detection rates but when it comes to balancing between security and performance I think KAV is not for me.
GhostSurf Platinum 2006 by Tenebril .
I won this program as a random prize from a website celebrating their second birthday. I have a Years license , and would like to give it away to anyone who is interested. ;D
My ISP shut down my account after using it for a day. Very strange and dangerous piece of sotware. :
F-secure antivirus 2005.
After installing the 20Mb package it needed to load another additional 40Mb (!)
It scr**** up my entire system and left a bunch of debris after deinstall.
Never again !
A Squared 1.8 Beta man was that a drag. My Idea of a beta program is one that can
at least maintain some of the original programs functionality. 1.8 couldn’t manage to keep
the update-date function working… at all. Not a bug?? Just didn’t work full stop. That was just one of the many problems assosiated with this Beta. This is when you really appreciate Add/Remove.
Pity I had used A Square for over 2 years prior to this, but there’s a lot more to this story??
I’m not much of a beta tester these days. Too busy with work this past year.
The worst I have tried were Incredimail (years ago when I was new to computers)
It took me days to learn how to remove it and taught me a valuable lesson: Be careful about what I download…and even more careful about what I install.
NAV 2001 - like Tech, it was the last time I bought their product.
I was also one of the 2,000,000 users who had their machines disabled long ago now, when a bad update arrived from Zone Alarm. I’ve never gone there again either altho’ I am told ZA is OK now. Back then we waited DAYS for a fix and it was actually their volunteer help forum which sorted the problem, not ZA staff. I had several articles to write, deadlines and a non-functioning computer! I don’t think kakapos are renowned for running about tearing their hair out but this one sure did then.
I was to learn that most help for computers comes from volunteers on message boards. Just like this one where I’ve learned SO much. Thank you all.
>:(