Antivirus software
Identification methods
Signature based detection
Suspicious behavior monitoring
Issues of concern
Mobile devices
Effectiveness
Other computer protection methods
Avast!
Avira
AVG (software)
BitDefender
Cisco Security Agent
CA, Inc.
DriveSentry
Eliashim (anti virus)
Fortinet
FRISK Software International
F-Secure
Kaspersky Anti-Virus
 
 
 
 
 

Avira
Avira GmbH is a German antivirus software company. Its antivirus applications are based on the AntiVir scan engine also known as "Luke Filewalker", first launched in 1988. It was called "H+BEDV Datentechnik GmbH" when it was founded. Avira's engine has been licensed to Ashampoo antivirus and Webroot WebWasher.
Avira AntiVir Personal is freeware. The application is for personal use only. Like most antivirus software, it scans disks for viruses and also runs as a background process, checking each opened and closed file. It can detect and possibly remove rootkits. It also performs Internet updates (daily by default) in which it opens a window, with an advertisement suggesting the user to purchase Avira AntiVir Premium. Avira updated all their products to version 8.0 on 14 April 2008. Version 8.0 free has a faster scanning engine and a more refined user-interface.

Avira AntiVir Premium has several improvements over the free version, most notably:

* Detection of adware, spyware, phishing
* Email scanning (POP3 and SMTP)
* WebGuard to block access to malicious sites
* Bootable RescueCD for malware removal and system recovery.
In the end of January 2008 Avira AntiVir was rated 6.5 out of 8 in tests for detection and removal of rootkits and 71% for proactive virus detection by Anti-Malware Test Lab.

However, it also received "poor results", the lowest grade, for infection treatment and it failed to thwart attempts to disable its protection.

Avira has received several "Advanced+" awards from AV-Comparatives.org (Feb, May and August 2007 and 2008)

At the end of the year 2008, www.AV-Comparatives.org rated Avira as the most effective anti-virus software with it's highest detection rate compared to it's major competitors, Norton, AVG, Eset, Mcafee, and many more.