CNET Editors' review
ThreatFire offers real-time prevention of virus and malware infections by identifying suspicious behavior ("zero-day" events) as it happens, before malicious code installs itself on your PC. Formerly known as CyberHawk, ThreatFire has made some dramatic and noticeable feature improvements since it was bought by PC Tools.
ThreatFire seeks out rootkits, heuristics-based threats, viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, adware, keyloggers, and buffer overflows. The software real-time protection didn't noticeably slow down our 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 e-mail client. You can also avail yourself of the scheduler, and create a system restore point before moving threats into quarantine. The IntelliScan took about 15 minutes on our machine, but it didn't lock us into scanning mode. We were still able to check out other panes in the ThreatFire interface.
The only problem encountered was that occasionally, threats would be detected but without a name label. This made it hard to determine if they were genuine or false positives. ThreatFire has improved markedly, though, and working as a complement to your currently-installed antivirus it should be considered a serious protection tool.
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 4.7.0.53 includes various compatibility and malware detection fixes.
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All versions:
3.4 starsout of 514 votes
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Current version:
3.6 starsout of 27 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Recomended Product"
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.7.0.53
Pros
this Antivirus is great
Cons
I like it !!
Summary
I use It
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"There's nothing useful about this."
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.7.0.53
Pros
Installs fast.
Cons
Does not clear viruses; you still need an antivirus for your computer. Prevents other programs from working properly. I deleted it a few hours after installation.
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"It's a suppliment my other antivirus program!...Great!"
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.7.0.53
Pros
It works, PERIOD. I don't like the way it looks, to brightly cheerfully colored...looks aren't everything, but it works. It kinda heavy on resources and is slow on loading, but its find rate is up there, and when you have something try to slip by and get in, it alerts you fast.
It works....and its dependable! And its FREE!Cons
I hate the way it looks, it loads slow, and isn't graceful about taking resources....
Summary
I would say to anyone that needs a good solid backup AV, this is it! Its performance can't be beat, neither can its price!
Its been a couple of months, its still clogging right along! Yes, its not a true AV, its a malware detector....its still ugly, its still on my computer and its still working!
Yes, its a ugly interface, and its a pig on loading time, and takes some resources to run, Hey, It WORKS! And THAT is what its all about!!!!!
IF THIS THING HAD ANVI'S LOOKS, I'D THINK ITS THE BEST!
Updated on Mar 15, 2012
I load and unload software all the time, testing it, It doesn't give anything a chance to change anything! I KNOW I CAN DEPEND ON IT! -
"PCTools-ThreatF
ire is fantastic but..."Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.7.0.53
Pros
At least the way I am set up, Threatfire is controlled through the PC Tools Spy Doctor settings. They seem to be part of an integrated product.
The total package has been really good for catching virus/Trojan and hostile or fake websites.Cons
It will be a major pain if you don't uncheck the following:
1) Intelligard to detect potentially unwanted programs,
2) Scan to detect potentially unwanted programs. If they are checked, the program will put you through the wringer stopping programs and asking you unwarranted questions.
Also, I have found that I have to download separate solutions for rootkit attacks and senders. In those cases, I had to download a rootkit "fixer" from Kaspersky or PCTools.Summary
Overall a great program with some setting tweaks.
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"Great addition"
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.7.0.53
Pros
i feel bad to see some bad reviews. This program is not designed to function as an antivirus nor anti spyware/malware. Instead, it works by identifying suspicious behavior. Means, it try to identify any new process (from the time you install the program) as a legit or not. If it is suspicious about a program, it will ask you!! This is usually one of the firewall features. Since my system does not have a third party firewall running, adding this program with my current security programs (avast antivirus and malwarebyte) is a must for me. Again, program functionality is based mainly on processes behavior not signatures. my system is Windows 7 x64 with dual AMD Turion 500, 2.4GHz 4GB RAM
Cons
nothing at all
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"Great Unless You Use Majicjack"
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.7.0.53
Pros
It's really great! During installation it checks your system for needed security software before installing. It checks for Firewalls, Antivirus programs, and whatever else is need for layered protection. This is because it doesn't claim to be an all in one solution, just an addition to protection. Great User Interface. Easy downlaod and install.
Cons
Doesn't work on my system because of Magicjack. I disabled Majicjack for awahile and worked perfect.
Summary
Perfect Complement to security if you don't Use Magicjack. Everybody else...Get this!!!
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"It's free!"
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.7.0.53
Pros
A better free anti-malware than most.
Cons
It just doesn't seem as good as before.
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"good but not great"
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.7.0.53
Pros
Fair protecshion
Cons
needs to do more then fair.
Summary
NEED TO DO MORE THEN FAIR a good product people buy ok they don't.
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"You could do worse"
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.7.0.53
Pros
Offers real time protection for free and not many anti-spyware do that. Light on resources.
Cons
Average detection rates but at least it is better than MS Defender. The scanning process is sluggish and drags your machine down to a crawl so only scan when you don't need to use your machine for a while.
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"Very Efficient Anti-Malware/Spyware"
Version: ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition 4.7.0.53
Pros
Very light on System Resources; very few false positives; works in coordination with any standard anti-virus program; fills the gap where your anti-virus will fail; great zero-day protection.
Cons
None whatsoever!
Summary
I have had Avast installed on all my computers at my house, and it is a great free full-featured program, unlike the stripped-down free version of some of the other programs. However, I became very concerned about its protection level. I was trying to spy on my teanage daughter, and i decided that i was going to install a keylogger on her laptop. Granted the keylogger program comes from a reliable source, but I was upset to find out that I did not get an alert message from Avast. The program was allowed to run and execute without a whisper from Avast. I scanned my system with Malwarebyte after that, and it alerted me about a dangerous program on my system. That's when I decided I was going to add some extra protection on all my PCs. I came across Threatfire on the web, and boy, I have no regret. Threatfire works flawlessly with Avast and other anti-virus programs. It provides that extra layer of protection that anti-virus programs may lack. It was able to alert me and stop the process when i tried to install that same keylogger program that Avast had missed. Avast has been great to me over the years, but I was very uncomfortable with that sequence of events. I am not writing this here to discredit Avast, for it can protect your system in some ways, but it is not the same without the addition of a program like Threatfire. Excellent program, you go for it!
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