Version: 2008
  • On GameFAQs: What causes the Red Ring of Death?
advertisement

ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.6

  • Quick specs
  • Price: Free
  • Operating system: Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows XP
  • Date added: September 23, 2009
  • Total Downloads: 1,444,586
  • Downloads last week: 14,376
  • See full specifications
Add to my list Add to my Watch List
Download Now (9.7MB)
Tested spyware free

CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on March 20, 2008

Editors note: This review was modified from the original to reflect changes in the publishers description of the product as a complementary rather than standalone package.

Called CyberHawk under its previous owners, PC Tools' ThreatFire is a useful program but only in limited situations. It offers real-time prevention of virus and malware infections by identifying suspicious behaviors ("zero-day" events) as they happen, before malicious code installs itself on your PC. However, ThreatFire does not offer an on-demand scan for viruses already on your computer, though it will perform an on-demand scan for other malware. The name says "antivirus", but if you're looking for an all-in-one on-demand bug killer we recommend looking for a product that includes both on-demand virus scanning and real-time protection.

ThreatFire does do some things very well. The software real-time protection didn't noticeably slow down our Windows Vista computer, and the customizable advanced settings were excellent. Users can pick and choose their preferred trusted processes and create rules for detection, such as scanning for SCR files created by an email client. You can also avail yourself of the scheduler, and create a system restore point before moving threats into quarantine.

However, once installed, ThreatFire is difficult to remove from your startup routine without uninstalling it. The absence of on-demand virus scanning means that this app is best used in conjunction with a program that offers on-demand virus detection and removal. While ThreatFire offers some compelling features, competing freeware security programs provide a more comprehensive combination of real-time and on-demand virus scanning.

Publisher's description

From PC Tools :

Traditional antivirus solutions cannot protect you until after they have discovered a new threat and produced a signature to counter it. ThreatFire does not rely on signatures, but instead provides behavior-based protection. It is designed to be used alongside your existing antivirus software and it fills the gap in protection between your antivirus signature updates. ThreatFire protects you against major security threats including viruses, worms, trojans, rootkits and even some spyware. Its advanced ActiveDefense technology intelligently analyzes the behavior of processes and programs on a system and immediately halts any malicious action. It continuously monitors all activities on your PC at a very low system level and uses a proprietary combination of analytics, risk algorithms, program histories and tolerance thresholds to identify and shut down threats so you are always protected, no matter how new the threat. ThreatFire is easy to use, instantly effective, and very light on system resources.

What's new in this version:

Version 4.6 reduces the confusion about the appropriate action to take, and incorporates patent-pending technology to provide accuracy.

Anti-Executable Blocks Unwanted Programs

More popular Antivirus Software downloads

  1. 2,765,821 downloads 1. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
  2. 957,128 downloads 2. Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus
  3. 757,403 downloads 3. Avast Home Edition - Free Antivirus
  4. 94,050 downloads 4. Avast Professional Edition
  5. 50,761 downloads 5. AVG Anti-Virus
  6. See all Antivirus Software downloads
Get the scoop on what you need to secure your PC.

User reviews

Submit your review

Log in or create an account to submit your review for:

ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.6

ORLog in with your Facebook account
1. Rate this product:
(Mouse over the stars to rate this product and click to set your rating.)
2. One-line summary:(Summarize your review in one line. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 55 characters
3. Pros:(Tell us what you like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 250 characters
4. Cons:(Tell us what you don't like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 250 characters
Bottom-line summary:(Explain to us in detail why you like or dislike the product, focusing your comments on the product's features and functionality, and your experience using the product. This field is optional.)
0 of 5000 characters

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks are prohibited.
Click here to review our site terms of use.

Submit
See more CNET content tagged:
PC Tools,
Real-Time,
on-demand,
protection,
threat

Previous Versions:


advertisement