- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Date added: November 06, 2008
- 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 266 votes
See all user reviews
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 :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.
Version 4.0 improves protection of new and unknown Internet threats.
What's new in this version:
Version 4.0 improves protection of new and unknown Internet threats.
More popular Antivirus Software downloads
- 2,099,912 downloads 1. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
- 1,271,461 downloads 2. Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus
- 741,971 downloads 3. Avast Home Edition - Free Antivirus
- 94,139 downloads 4. Avast Professional Edition
- 54,308 downloads 5. Panda Cloud Antivirus Free Edition
- See all Antivirus Software downloads
User reviews of ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.0
- Average user rating: 3.2 stars out of 266 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
-
Showing 5 of 59 user reviewsSee all 59 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.0
"Too many "initiating" forever problems"
Pros: Good writeup by PC Mag. I can't directly test it against real world threats, but the writeup was good enough for me to try it out.
Cons: All 3 PCs periodically get stuck in "Threatfire - Initiating" such that I had to poweroff to reboot.
Summary: I put this on my and my kids PCs (Dell Dimension 2400, E510 and 9250). First two with XP SP2. Last one with XP SP3. All running AVG 8.0.237. Threatfire seems to have problems getting itself launched and running. These problems can be significant... read more >>
-
5 out of 9 people found this review helpful
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.0
"Save your time and avoid this product."
Pros: Appeared to work good for a couple of days.
Cons: Does not work with Vista,it has pop up ads.It made my keyboard and touchpad inoperable.This is the 2nd PC Tools product that I have had problems from.I will never install one of their products again.
Summary: How are they going to sell their buy products if the free programs are a scam ?
Luckily I knew to uninstall this adware as soon as I started having problems.Not a good way to gain new customers.Install at your own risk. -
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.0
Pros: Have loaded it on all machines, and works great, uses very few resources and always gives a in detail summary of each event stopped. Will reccommend to all.
Cons: Tried on Windows Beta 7 and it caused a incompatability alert, but other than that. Wonderful
Summary: Best Free Software out there, just have to get it to "gel" with Windows 7 and its faults.
-
4 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.0
Pros: Ease of use, unobtrusive, seems to work
Cons: none so far
Summary: I found this program via a recommendation in PC Magazine - "Best Free Software" , Vol. 27, No. 4, March 2008 . I loaded it on my two desktop computers at home and it has worked in the background for the past six months. I DID NOT load it on my wif... read more >>
-
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.0
Pros: I hate virut. this product help me
Cons: speed and clear
- See all 59 user reviews Write review
Submit your review
Previous Versions:
