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    MS Safety Scanner vs Dr. Web CureIT

    Discussion in 'Security and Anti-Virus Software' started by NumLock, Aug 28, 2011.

  1. NumLock

    NumLock Notebook Evangelist

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    Good Day,

    I'm in the market for a good portable AV to use when scanning relative's home PCs. I've tried these two products on one PC and the results where very different.

    MSS: no virus detected after a full scan
    De. Web: 5 viruses detected and deleted after a full scan

    Both were downloaded on the same day so I'm pretty sure they should be on par with the virus definitions. I trust MSS more when deleting items from the OS that they themselves made; its Dr. Web that I'm somewhat pessimistic about.

    Has anyone been using this these two portable AVs and can attest that they have not caused more problems after deleting.

    TIA.
     
  2. Baserk

    Baserk Notebook user

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    You really can't expect AV's to have the same detection rate, just because their virus definitions have been updated the same day.
    It depends much more on the scanning engines/techniques involved, whether they also scan compressed files, how deep they scan, etc.

    About deletion of files, both can wreak havoc when deleting a legitimate system files, therefore go with a scanner that offers to quarantine files instead of only deletion.
    Both programs, MSSS and Dr. Web, have never deleted any legitimate (system) files when I used them but YMMV.
    Other programs I'd advice to use for offline scans are Malwarebytes'Antimalware/MBAM and Emsisoft Emergency Kit.
    Download the most recent MBAM virus definition here; link
    Emsisoft link
     
  3. Hungry Man

    Hungry Man Notebook Virtuoso

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    SUPERAntispyware portable.
    TDSS Killer.
    AVZ4.
    Emsisoft Emergency Kit.
     
  4. NumLock

    NumLock Notebook Evangelist

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    Thank you Baserk and Hangry Man for your suggestions and sharing your experiences.