- Quick specs
- Price: Free; Paid upgrade available
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Date added: September 27, 2007
- Total Downloads: 1,432,355
- Downloads last week: 13,184
- See full specifications
A newer version of ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 265 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
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 :ThreatFire is unlike traditional antivirus products that rely on old fashioned "signature" technology and require updating every time a new threat occurs. ThreatFire's patent-pending ActiveDefense technology provides powerful protection against zero-day and emerging threats. It constantly monitors for both known and unknown viruses, worms, trojans, rootkits, buffer overflows, spyware, adware and other malware. It uses behavioral analysis to hunt down and paralyze threats that are too new or too clever to be recognized by traditional "signature-based" antivirus software. ThreatFire is the perfect complement to traditional antivirus programs.
What's new in this version:
Version 3.0.8 includes performance improvements.
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User reviews of ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 3.5
- Average user rating: 3.2 stars out of 265 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 138 user reviewsSee all 138 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
89 out of 95 people found this review helpful
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 3.5
"Threat Fire a deceptive name."
Pros: This program has a nice interface, it scans all hard drives and the registry for root kits only. And it does monitor your computer for suspicious changes.
Cons: It doesn't scan for any threats.
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78 out of 84 people found this review helpful
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 3.5
Cons: Would go from 4 stars to five stars if it slowed computer less.
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47 out of 55 people found this review helpful
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 3.5
Cons: Threat Fire doesn't seem to protect my PC. This software is untrusted.
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36 out of 45 people found this review helpful
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 3.5
Pros: It didnt find anything okay thats good really fast scan not even 5 minutes on full scan
Cons: right in the middel of installing snoop free tells me that a keyboard filter has been found and that it can see every little letter i press.
Dont know if its from this program but seemed weird and i denied it.
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16 out of 24 people found this review helpful
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 3.5
Cons: i'm not sure what it does other than slows your computer down
- See all 138 user reviews Write review
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