antivirus

As the Syrian civil war continues to escalate, pro-government forces are allegedly carrying out a cyberwar against local dissidents.

Syrian activists, journalists, and government opposition groups are under a barrage of targeted malware attacks, according to the watchdog group Electronic Frontier Foundation. What this malware does is deceptively install surveillance software into a computer under the guise of protecting the computer from viruses. Its name is AntiHacker.

Once the malware is installed in the computer, with promises to "Auto-Protect & Auto-Detect & Security & Quick scan and analysing [sic]," it actually begins to spy on the user. Using … Read more

Free antivirus solutions are common these days, and why not? They offer similar levels of protection because they're either based on the same antivirus engine and definitions or comparable ones. User scans and cloud-based reporting make for slim apps, fast scans, frequent updates, and early detection of new threats. With all that, antivirus freeware needs an angle to connect with users. For Cellframe, that means social media. Cellframe Antivirus Free Global Community Edition is a long tweet of a name for a free full-system antivirus and anti-spyware solution focused on social media and specifically on Facebook and Twitter. Cloud-based … Read more

When it comes to security software, there are plenty of perfectly good freebies. Avast Free, Microsoft Security Essentials, Panda Cloud Antivirus Free Edition...the list goes on and on. You really can safeguard a PC without spending a dime.

That said, why not use a full-featured, support-backed security suite if you can get it for free as well? Every so often I see a deal on one such suite, but today, Newegg has nine Windows security programs for free (after rebate).

Scroll down just a bit and you'll see the various choices, all of which show their regular prices … Read more

If you missed out on our exclusive giveaway of Panda Cloud Antivirus 2.0 Pro earlier this week on CNET Download.com, you are in luck. Back by popular demand, we are giving you a second chance to get your free copy, but don't wait too long because we only have a small handful of license keys to give away.

The all-new Panda Cloud Antivirus Pro Edition protects your computer against viruses, spyware, rootkits, unknown malware and malicious activity. It is extremely light and fast as it delegates to the cloud, the Collective Intelligence, and applies non-intrusive intervention techniques, … Read more

The bottom line: Panda Cloud Antivirus Pro 2.0 is a mixed security bag. It's got surprisingly good detection marks and a dead simple interface, but it's a bit too sluggish for our tastes.

Review: When it originally debuted, Panda Cloud Antivirus was notable as a free security solution for two reasons: Panda traded on its reputation as a solid security suite vendor making its first foray into the realm of freeware, and the program attained its goal of freeing up system resources by putting much of the program's heavy lifting in the cloud. Now we can … Read more

A major update to Panda Cloud Antivirus today provides more robust protection for fans of the lightweight security suite.

Available exclusively today from CNET Download.com, Panda Cloud Antivirus Free 2.0 (download) and Panda Cloud Antivirus Pro 2.0 (download) bring some welcome changes to Panda's security alternative. The Pro version now comes with a firewall that leverages Panda's community network and uses intrusion prevention signatures.

In version 2.0, people with Cloud Antivirus Free get access to the behavioral analysis engine that had previously been only in the Pro version. Other improvements in both versions include … Read more

A recent update to Symantec's antivirus software rendered some Windows-based PCs inoperable, the security software maker disclosed Friday.

An update earlier in the week to Symantec Endpoint Protection 12.1 antivirus software for businesses caused some Windows XP-based computers to crash repeatedly with a "blue screen of death," the company revealed on its Web site.

"On July 11th, 2012 Symantec Security Response started receiving reports of customers experiencing blue screens after applying the July 11th revision 18 definitions," Orla Cox, of Symantec Security Response, wrote in the post. "Machines may continue to blue screen … Read more

Facebook is now directing users who think their computer might be infected to sites where they can get free antivirus software.

The Malware Checkpoint for Facebook sends people either to sign up for Microsoft Security Essentials or McAfee Scan and Repair. Mac users are referred to an Apple Security Updates site.

Facebook already notifies users when the site detects a possible malware infection on an individual machine, and provides these users free antivirus software to clean up the infection. The social network has now opened up its anti-malware campaign to all users in order to them them proactively protect themselves, … Read more

The bottom line: Bitdefender Total Security 2013 remains one of the best high-end security suites around. This update gives you a fully isolated Web browser for secure financial transactions.

Review: Bitdefender Total Security 2013 presents a convincing alternative to its better-known competitors. It's a strong program, with all the major tools that users expect, and some additional useful tricks in its arsenal. When it comes to efficacy, Bitdefender isn't the best in every area, but it's definitely competitive.

Editors' note: Portions of this review are based on CNET's review of Bitdefender Total Security 2012.

Installation Bitdefender … Read more