Panda Cloud AntiVirus

[speedbird591]

This is a spillover from the AVG thread. I rashly promised to give this new type of AV a test run after reading of its 99.4% detection rate. It's out of Beta and this is version 1.

I've been trialling the more conventional Microsoft Security Essentials which I like very much as it is effective, simple, non-invasive and requires little input. As it's so easy to install and uninstall it's no problem to whip it off to try something else for a bit.

I assume we all know what the cloud is. So the protection is provided by Panda labs' servers which means you have to be online for it to be completely up-to-date. But that means that there is no big program on your hard disk and no updates to download. It checks all files opened or downloaded in real time so there's no requirement for a scheduled scan although there is a manual option. It doesn't even put an icon on your desktop as it does everything completely automatically, although there is an icon in the control panel which I've shortcutted on the desktop.

So here are three screenies which show the interface (not that you have to do anything - there aren't any settings to alter other than to add a proxy server), the help screen with a basic intro of how it works and an event log after a manual scan that found the usual tracking cookies. There is an active and friendly forum and loads of help pages. I must say I'm very impressed with the idea, the simplicity and the recorded results. I like this very much and if it fulfils its hype and promise I'm definitely keeping it.





I'll put it on cyberbrat's machine tomorrow for a more extreme test and will report back when I've lived with it for a while. If you want to know anything just ask as I'm sure the answer will be in that Help index.

Ian

[speedbird591]

A couple more points about Cloud AV that I've found while browsing. It does retain a core definition file on your HD which it will use if a virus prevents internet access.

Just found this review of the released version 1.0 in PC Mag. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2355828,00.asp

It rates it as the best free AV and as 'very good' compared to payware suites.

Ian

[ianhind]

Ian

Thanks for that. I am just about to try it myself but wonder how installing it on more than one PC works. Reading the T&C, there was mention of needing an account for each PC. Not sure if that means you just register each PC, or you actually need to log on as a different person (with another e-mail address)

Let me know how you get on, since this does seem worth looking at further.

Ian

[nigelb]

Ian, thanks for posting this. I think my only concern would be if the Panda servers ever went down temporarily. How would you know they were down - is there any way of telling? I suppose the core definition file would protect you in that situation so I guess I may have answered my own question.

Nigel²

[speedbird591]

Hi chaps. Found these two answers in FAQs and on the forum which I think answer your questions.

What happens if my computer is not connected to the Internet?
Panda Cloud Antivirus is a security service that protects your computer thanks mainly to the Collective Intelligence hosted on our servers. So, in order to take full advantage of the detection capacity of Panda Cloud Antivirus, your computer must be connected to the Internet. Otherwise you cannot connect to our servers.
Nevertheless, this does not mean that Panda Cloud Antivirus will not protect your computer when you are not connected to the Internet. In this case, Panda Cloud Antivirus will protect your computer against the most common threats in circulation.

Panda Cloud Antivirus is not only free for home users. It's also free for education. In order to install it into multiple PCs, simply create an account and install into all PCs using the same account.

There is a panda icon in the task tray and when the internet's disconnected it has a red cross over it. I imagine that if it couldn't connect to the servers the same would apply. But remember Panda has been a big player in AV for 20 years and sells a lot of corporate stuff so I should think their servers are reliable.

Creating an account is as simple as giving an email address and creating a password. They send you an instant email with a verification link which creates the account. This gives you access to the forums and allows you to install more copies. I haven't installed it on the other laptops yet. Perhaps tomorrow!

Ian

[nigelb]

Thanks for that, Ian!

Nigel²

[ianhind]

Ian

Works as described on multiple PCs- thanks. AVG Free was nagging me to upgrade to version 9 so changed to Panda.

Ian

[DaveB]

An interesting topic. I'd toyed with the idea of going MSE on the office system but Panda Cloud may well win the day when AVG8 starts nagging it's time for an upgrade

ATB

DaveB

[speedbird591]

Before installing it, my biggest doubt was the loss of full protection if not connected to the internet. Until I realised that in that event the threat is minimal anyway It means that you'd have to be careful if scanning removable media. So it's just the risk of the servers going down which would just reduce the protection to a basic level. It doesn't look high risk but it's the only area of possible concern that I can think of to worry about I don't actually understand how a file opening on my laptop can be sent for analysis to servers in heaven knows where and returned instantly with no visible delay. But then again, there's not much I do understand nowadays

I've had to pin the little panda icon to the visible part of the task tray to assure me that it's there. Otherwise you wouldn't know - there is no sign of activity - no popups or messages or downloads or scans. Nothing visible for your money and nothing to play with. All you can do is run the odd pointless manual scan

So if AV-Test labs have shown that it gives 99.4% detection and PC Mag rates it as the best free AV (it's only been out a couple of weeks so no more reports available yet) is there any justification for running anything else?

There must be something wrong with it! It'll be interesting to see what crops up as more people use it, but it seems to be one of those brilliant ideas that is so simple that you wonder why nobody thought of it before.

Ian

[emfrat]

I don't actually understand how a file opening on my laptop can be sent for analysis to servers in heaven knows where and returned instantly with no visible delay.
Ian

Hello Ian -
It is certainly an interesting concept, and thank you for raising it.
If it does do what you describe above, I can see it having a hefty impact on one's bandwidth allowance. If it only scans files you open, the first time you do so on any given day (or session), then the effect would probably be acceptable; but I would not want it uploading and downloading all the 83GB or so on my 160GB drive, every time I connect to the 'Net.
I will be looking at it more closely.
Many Thanks
MikeW