AOL's Active Virus Shield. Is it safe?

[area51]

Is the new AOL Active Virus Shield safe?
When it first came out I read some people didn't like the EULA and it
installed a toolbar.

From this article:
http://www.computerworld.com/action...cleBasic&articleId=9002564&source=rss_topic85

So I stayed away from it, but since it uses the Kaspersky Antivirus
engine I would like to try it, but still, it's AOL and that scares me.
I use WinXP and Firefox.

TIA,

area51

 

[Jo Kerr]

area51 vient de nous annoncer :

Is the new AOL Active Virus Shield safe?
When it first came out I read some people didn't like the EULA and it
installed a toolbar.

From this article:
http://www.computerworld.com/action...cleBasic&articleId=9002564&source=rss_topic85

So I stayed away from it, but since it uses the Kaspersky Antivirus engine I
would like to try it, but still, it's AOL and that scares me.
I use WinXP and Firefox.

TIA,

area51

You may not install the toolbar and the activation code may be received
through a temporary email address.
What you have is a KAV (only antivirus).

 

[Carol]

Is the new AOL Active Virus Shield safe?

That might depend on your definition of "safe". When they first came
out with their version of McAfee free for AOL users, it was set to
automatically delete anything it identified, and that couldn't be
changed. It was also fraught with a number of false positives that
proceeded to delete the normal keyloggers that are included in the AOL
software for the purpose of logging IM conversations. Worst, per AOL
usual, for *months* there was no avenue at all for reporting problems
with the software.

Frankly, I'm sure you can get something else that uses the Kaspersky
engine.

Carol

 

[Art]

Is the new AOL Active Virus Shield safe?

Just don't accept the Toolbar option during installation and
you'll have a top notch av for yourself.

Art
http://home.epix.net/~artnpeg

 

[James E. Morrow]

Just don't accept the Toolbar option during installation and
you'll have a top notch av for yourself.

Art
http://home.epix.net/~artnpeg

I can second that. As of this time I observe no adverse behavior. The only
thing wrong with it is the AOL name. AVS is very effective and reliable. If
I have a subsequent problem with the program I will post loudly to alert
this and other security related groups.

It is after all a matter of trust. You don't have to trust AOL. Few
knowledgeable people would. But the Kaspersky name does carry a well
deserved reputation, That is what counts.

 

[Art]

I can second that. As of this time I observe no adverse behavior. The only
thing wrong with it is the AOL name. AVS is very effective and reliable. If
I have a subsequent problem with the program I will post loudly to alert
this and other security related groups.

You and me both. I've had it installed for quite some time now. I've
done everything I'm capable of in terms of searching for any negatives
..... any problems or issues ... and I've not found any. To the
contrary, all I've discovered are some pleasant surprises I've
grown to really like AVS very much. It's a very well designed
product, suitable for the needs of both typical and experienced
users, IMO. No problems at all on my Win 2K sp4 machine.

It is after all a matter of trust. You don't have to trust AOL. Few
knowledgeable people would. But the Kaspersky name does carry a well
deserved reputation, That is what counts.

Indeed. I'll mention the two "pleasant surprises" I experienced from
my own perspective:

1. You can, for convenience, use the MSCONFIG utility to disable
AVS from running at Startup (Win 2K users can download the
XP version of MSCONFIG since Win 2K doesn't have it).
http://downloads.thetechguide.com/msconfig.zip

2. You can disable both of its modules ... File and Email scanning.
This seems counter-intuitive at first. But all it does is disable
realtime or background scanning. It leaves you with the
very flexible on-demand file scanning capabilities. Also,
then whenever you choose to double click on the AVS desktop
icon, you will see a grey icon appear in the active tray,
which "pulsates" for a short time as AVS auto-updates its
data bases. Right clicking on the grey icon then brings up
the option to "open up" AVS for selection of options or
Exit, shutting it back down completely.

Point is, that from the perspective of experienced users,
AVS is very much under your control. You don't have to
have it "underfoot" and "in the way". It doesn't "shove
itself down your throat" and "take over" your machine
the way some products do.

It's unfortunate that bias against AOL blocks users from
even trying AVS and evaluating it. It's their loss though,
not mine

Art
http://home.epix.net/~artnpeg