BitDefender Antivirus 2008 – My Rating

To find out how we test, see CNET Labs’ How we test: software: antivirus page.

In terms of protecting your PC, we cite results from two leading independent antivirus testing organizations. In the latest test results from AV-Comparatives.org, for on-demand scans, the previous version, BitDefender Professional 10+, earned an Advanced (second-highest) rating, catching 96 percent of all malware tested; and for the Retrospective/Proactive test, BitDefender Professional 10+ also earned a Standard (middle) rating, detecting almost half the backdoors, Trojans, and other malware sampled. BitDefender was not tested by CheckVir.com, our second choice for test results.

SupportBitDefender provides a fairly complete package of technical support for its antivirus product. Greatly improved from last year is the built-in help file, although it would be nice if it were also context sensitive so that when we have a question about the Identity Pirvacy feature, the help file opens on that section immediately.

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Where to look for help with application crashes

Note that PSI and NSI are intended to supplement rather than to replace your antivirus, firewall, and other security software.

Two forums on ExtremeTech include dozens of posts about software problems. Only about one out of 10 posts in the Software and Development forum are specifically on software glitches, but a good number of these include replies with possible solutions. The Windows Help forum is much more focused on solutions to Windows problems.

One of the categories at the Tech Support Guy Forums is Business Applications, though fewer than half of its postings relate specifically to Office apps. The site has a sophisticated search feature that lets you narrow your search by date and number of replies, and it features a search tag cloud similar to Flickr.

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Mastering Music™ School Music Software Helps Teachers Enhance

“We carry all the computer software CD-ROM (http://www.music44.com/X/products/computer%20software%20CD-ROM) programs. And the Music Mastering school music software (http://www.music44.com/X/product/29083-D) is the most complete, flexible and economical program we’ve ever seen for schools and teachers. It covers performing, composing and listening skills, and delivers highly specific musical outcomes in performance, composition, notation, digital audio, ear training, music theory and even film scoring,” says Music44 buyer Michelle Oleck.

She continues, “At Music44 we cater largely to schools and teachers, so we are very pleased to be able to offer this comprehensive and cost effective solution. Compare it to the popular Essentials of Music Theory software course (http://www.music44.com/X/products/essentials%20of%20music%20theory%20software) and you’ll see what I mean.

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Check Point Expands UTM Offerings

Check Point Software Technologies has expanded its UTM-1 Total Security appliance line, allowing customers and partners to better match the right solution with their security and performance needs. Check Point UTM-1 Total Security appliances provide businesses a comprehensive security solution that combines firewall, virtual private network (VPN), intrusion prevention, SSL VPN, antivirus, anti-spyware, Web filtering, Web security, and anti-spam into one, centrally managed solution. The new models are: UTM-1 Total Security 1070 featuring 1800 Mbps firewall throughput, three managed sites and six ports; UTM-1 Total Security 2070 featuring 2800 Mbps firewall throughput, five managed sites and eight ports.”Our commitment is to continue providing customers with the most secure, easy to manage and cost-effective security solutions on the market with the widest range of solutions and models to best fit their unique needs,” said Juliette Sultan, head of global marketing at Check Point.

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Program Invented to Track Kids Health and MD Visits

They created a new computer program that will forever change how patients interact with their doctors. The company released their new software to help others keep their health and medical issues organized, and in one place. Their first software release, called The Residential Maintenance Program, keeps track of all home maintenance, repairs, and costs in one easy computer program. Likewise, MyMedTracks, their second software release, is a valuable resource that helps users organize all health records and medical information. “As we have grown over the last four years we have found that there is a huge need for better communication and organization within in personal health records,” said Heather Freemont, part owner in the company. MyMedTracks is a software program that is a valuable resource to help organize health and medical information.

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Accounting software nightmare a cautionary tale for business

Shortly after buying a licence to use the software, problems emerged. White was not happy with 2Clix – it would later emerge many others were similarly unimpressed – and after a year of wrangling with the company and many thousands of dollars spent, decided he would drop it altogether.

But there was a problem. According to White, 2Clix refused to allow departing customers to take their information with them and continued to charge them for access.

“We were locked out of our data, and everyone was just about blackmailed into having to pay fees just to access their own financial information,” White says.

2Clix Australia is no longer trading, having moved into voluntary administration, although other companies associated with its directors remain registered and the company that reportedly purchased the software from 2Clix, Platinum One Business Solutions, still sells accounting software.

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Software makers should take responsibility

It is possible to write quality software. It is possible to sell software products that work properly, and don’t need to be constantly patched. The problem is that it’s expensive and time consuming. Software vendors won’t do it, of course, because the marketplace won’t reward it.

The key to fixing this is software liabilities. Computers are also the only mass-market consumer item where the vendors accept no liability for faults. The reason automobiles are so well designed is that manufacturers face liabilities if they screw up. A lack of software liability is effectively a vast government subsidy of the computer industry. It allows them to produce more products faster, with less concern about safety, security, and quality.

Last summer, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee issued a report on “Personal Internet Security.” I was invited to give testimony for that report, and one of my recommendations was that software vendors be held liable when they are at fault.

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PC World Downloads Have Been Revamped and Improved

New topic-specific sections that aggregate downloads, news, how-tos, and reviews about topics like antispyware and antivirus.Editors’ favorite files and collections

We want to know what you think of the new Downloads section and have set up a special location in our forums for your feedback. Let us know the good, the bad, and the ugly!

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Forty Percent of Web Browsers Open to Hackers

Use up-to-date antivirus software and configure your firewall as tightly as you can without destroying the usability of your computer.

“Don’t fall for unsolicited e-mails trying to lure you in with free stuff or great deals — stick to well-reputed Web sites,” Theriault said. “There is no silver bullet here, but these tips will certainly make you a much less attractive and vulnerable target.”
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Wall-E is Hollywood’s new star, so why is he causing an eco row?

This is the scenario of the latest computer-animated film from Pixar, the studio on a winning streak after Toy Story, Finding Nemo and Ratatouille. At the top of the US box office rankings and lauded by critics, it looks set to at least match the wild popularity of its predecessors. That is bound to translate into merchandise sales worth billions of pounds.

Toy retailers are gleeful at the prospect of stocking a cute, lovable robot that looks a little like ET and sounds similar to R2-D2. In the coming weeks, expect to see Wall-E action figures, Wall-E sweets, Wall-E greetings cards, Wall-E puzzles, Wall-E video games and Wall-E shoes that leave tracks like the robot’s caterpillar treads. As parents are about to discover, Wall-E is an early favourite to be the must-have toy this Christmas.

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