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ThreatFire Free

Version: 4.5.024

Downloads Count: 49,072

License Type: Free

Price: Free

Date Added: Aug 24, 2009

Operating Systems: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003

File Size: 7621 KB

Author: PC Tools

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Avg. User Rating 3

Editorial Review of ThreatFire Free

Unlike most of the other pieces of free antivirus software that we tested recently, PC Tools Threatfire is not a stand-alone antivirus program. Instead, Threatfire supplements your existing security app with highly effective behavioral analysis that can stop malware based solely on what the file tries to do on your PC.

Behavioral detection attempts to thwart the successful hacker tactic of churning out ever greater numbers of malware variants to stay one step ahead of traditional antivirus signature databases (which the majority of security programs use). Other programs employ behavioral or heuristic techniques, too (the latter looks for partial matches with known malware). But behavioral detection like the approach that PC Tools has implemented here can be particularly tricky, as it's prone to accidentally flagging harmless software.

In AV-Test.org's behavioral-detection tests, most apps have only about a 30 percent to 60 percent detection rate. Not so for Threatfire: It warned about every single one of the 15 malware samples used, and it blocked all but one of them. What's more, this nimble malware nabber didn't put up any false-positive warnings. It's hard not to be impressed with such stellar performance.

While running more than one regular antivirus app at the same time can cause major problems, Threatfire should run smoothly alongside existing security tools, including any of the free antivirus software we ranked for our recent story. Since it detects only programs that attempt to run, you'll still want a standard antivirus program to perform regular scans and to check files that write to your hard drive, before they get a chance to execute.

Threatfire is simple to use and defaults to an appropriate medium level of sensitivity, but we suggest turning on the option in Settings, Quarantine to create a system restore point automatically before quarantining anything. As for extras, a nice system-activity monitor provides extensive technical details about all currently running programs, and a mostly just-for-show threat monitor maps global malware outbreaks.

Though Threatfire is designed to run with other apps, and we had no problems in our tests, it has conflicted with AVG in the past. That aside, we recommend Threatfire as a strong extra layer of defense.

--Erik Larkin

Description of ThreatFire Free

PCs are under constant attack from viruses, spyware and identity theft. Every day you hear about a new threat to your PC. They're coming faster than ever before, they're getting harder to stop and traditional antivirus products are not able to keep up.

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Most recent User Reviews for ThreatFire Free

Reviewed by: actuality

11-20-2009

Duration of ownership: 0 Days

Strengths: No clue

Weaknesses: Unlike what is stated on PC Tools website, this software does NOT work on windows 7 64-bit. An error message appears when installation is attempted.

Overall Evaluation: Would have loved to be able to try it, but...see above
Reviewed by: RW13

01-01-2009

Duration of ownership: 0 Months

Strengths: Works ok,seems to do as stated.

Weaknesses: none so far

Overall Evaluation: Anyone that states this system "fried THERE PC or had to reboot from XP CD because of this system is full of B.S.
Reviewed by: hedhuntr1963

08-29-2008

Duration of ownership: 1 Months

Strengths:

Weaknesses: This totally fried both of my XP desktops. I couldn't even boot.

Overall Evaluation:
Reviewed by: BubbaM

07-31-2008

Duration of ownership: 3 Months

Strengths: It seem to guard against all intrusion, very well

Weaknesses: After about a month, my laptop started acting up. I ended up having to reload everything because of changes made to drivers by Threatfire.

Overall Evaluation: After reloading Windows XP Home Sp 3, one of the first things was to update security, loading Threatfire after Defender and AVG 8. While loading TF, I was given a warning that drivers were out of date and needed reloading. I continued. Almost immediately, all the problems I had came back and I immediately Uninstalled TF and restored (just to be sure) to previous rest. point. All problems were corredted. I notified Threatfire and as yet have had no response.
Reviewed by: TGray

07-20-2008

Duration of ownership: 4 Months

Strengths: I've installed on friends' PCs, as well as mine, as an added layer of protection and is simple for them to use.

Weaknesses: Even with the scheduled scan disabled, it seems to start whenever it updates, and it makes even my dual code PC choke! It wouldn't be so bad if the scan could be paused, or stopped, but the popup controls are ineffective. Because if this, I've had to remove it from my friends' PCs as it makes them unuseable.

Overall Evaluation: I would be willing to try it again if the scans didn't impact my system so much. I think the way it detects threats by actions rather than signitures is superb, it just needs refinement.
Reviewed by: CrimsonFox

02-15-2008

Duration of ownership: 3 Months

Strengths: Just set and forget. Very effective. Uses minimum system ressources.

Weaknesses: None

Overall Evaluation: A very nice piece of software and definitely one of the most effective that I have ever used in the war on Malware. Even the smallest adware has trouble getting through. A fantastic 'must-have' product.

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Most recent User Reviews for ThreatFire Free

Reviewed by: actuality

Reviewed by: RW13

Reviewed by: hedhuntr1963

Reviewed by: BubbaM

Reviewed by: TGray

Reviewed by: CrimsonFox

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ThreatFire Free

Editorial Review of ThreatFire Free

Description of ThreatFire Free

Add Your Review

Submit your Review

Most recent User Reviews for ThreatFire Free

Reviewed by: actuality

Reviewed by: RW13

Reviewed by: hedhuntr1963

Reviewed by: BubbaM

Reviewed by: TGray

Reviewed by: CrimsonFox

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