ThreatFire Free Version Review

PC Tools has acquired Novatix Cyberhawk and incorporated the malware detection technology with Spyware Doctor into ThreatFire. The article reviews the tool.

Installation and Removal
Rating

ThreatFire does not need any configuration. Thus, it can be used easily and speedily. Moreover, unlike other products this tool is free to use. The Pro edition of course comes with a cost of $29.95 every year. After the installation, the PC would reboot. After reboot, the user would get a list of malwares, adwares, rootkits, spywares, and other rogues.

ThreatFire is easy to remove and can be removed from the start-up without uninstalling it. The absence of on-demand virus scanning ensures that the tool can be used with a program that offers on-demand virus detection and removal.

Features
Rating

Overall, the product is useful but in few cases only. The tool offers real time protection and prevention of virus and infections by identifying suspicious behaviour as and when they occur. Infact they are deleted before the malicious code is installed on the PC. Unfortunately, the tool does not offer on-demand scan for the viruses that are already installed on the PC. However, the tool has been designed to work with a standard signature based product to catch the latest zero-day threats that do not have signatures. The software real time protection does not slow down the computer. In addition to this, the customizable settings are very advanced and superb. Users can get a scheduler and create s restore point before moving the threats to the quarantine folder. They can also select the trusted processes and create rules for detection that include scanning SCR files that are created by an email client.

User Interface
Rating

The user interface is well defined and easy to use. The interface is easy to understand and can be used by both beginner and expert users. The tool runs in the background and monitors actions to alert suspicions. The tool can easily without trouble run along with other installed antivirus and security software.

Pros Of ThreatFire

• The tool is free for use at home.

• The tool can be used without any conflicts with other antivirus tools.

• The protection features have been configured for the best possible protection.

• The user interface is well defined and easy to understand and use.

• Behaviour based protection secures the PC against new and unknown threats.

Bottom Line
Rating

ThreatFire ensures behaviour based protection to protect against new threats that many other scanners may miss. However, it does not serve the purpose of a all-in-one antivirus scanner. Thus, ThreatFire is great for home users but those who want added security consider another program. Overall, this product is a great addition to any personal security tool kit. Overall, this product is a great addition to any personal security tool kit.

SpyCatcher Express Review

SpyCatcher is a product of Tenebril Inc. the product has been reviewed as concluded that it is effective in protecting against most spyware and adware threats.

Introduction

SpyCatcher Express is an advanced antispyware software that is designed to guard all web surfers. The tool protects user PCs against next generation spyware. Moreover, it also works well with beginner PC users to protect their PCs from dangerous spyware along with keeping up the PC performance.

Features
Rating

The tool provides best protection against spyware and protects PCs against all spywares, adwares, and other unneeded programs. Moreover, the tool is able to block all threats that are associated with next generation threats. The tool is easy to use and understand. DeepDefense feature ensures complete protection by finding and deleting spyware before it installs itself. Thus, the tool ensures proactive and immediate protection. SpyCatcher Express uses cutting-edge technology and a multi-pronged method to detect spyware. The Deep Scan takes 7 – 9 minutes while the Quick Scan takes about 2 minutes to complete. The software receives spyware submissions from automated research, research results from analysts, and voluntary submissions from users. All this data is added to an extensive database. The vendor tracking features provides users with certified vendors that have the applications running on their PCs. Users have the authority to allow, block, or remove all software that was published by a particular vendor.

User Interface
Rating

The tool user interface is very simple and intuitive. It is easy to use and understand. Unfortunately, the user interface is very dull and plain. The user interface provides a vast array of choices for the user with a menu running down in the left hand side of the application. The status bar displays the condition of the computer.

Protection
Rating

There are three levels of real time protection offered by the tool. These are High, Custom, and Normal. The High-level blocks spyware when it is detected, protects system settings, prevents keylogging, blocks rootkits, blocks pop-ups, and stops browser hijacking. The Custom level ensures the settings are adjusted as to how the program should behave when a malware attack is detected. Finally, the Normal level ensures browser hijacking, system settings security, blocking of adware, and keylog protection.

Pros of Using SpyCatcher Express

• Free scanner.
• Fast scanner.
• Threat database is updated regularly.
• Protection against next generation and complex softwares.
• Incorporates a multi pronged method for threat detection.
• Uses one detection model to prevent from blocking threats.
• DeepDefense prevents the installation of rootkits, and spyware.

Cons of Using SpyCatcher Express

• Memory usage is high and CPU level increases dramatically.
• The overall PC performance is greatly affected by the usage of SpyCatcher.
• Sometimes when closing the real-time protection, the window warns about the repercussion of the action but gives no option if users change their mind. Many a times this happens by mistake but as there is no confirmation button, the real-time protection shuts.

Bottom Line
Rating

The tool is efficient. However, when combined with another application, its efficiency increases. Most spywares can be blocked when SpyCatcher Express is used with another tool.