Here's a look inside the new antivirus application from Kaspersky.
Robert Vamosi
As CNET's former resident security expert, Robert Vamosi has been interviewed on the BBC, CNN, MSNBC, and other outlets to share his knowledge about the latest online threats and to offer advice on personal and corporate security.
Last year's CNET Editors' Choice award winner for antivirus protection returns. Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 doesn't rest on its many laurels, providing a new interface and new protection tools for your desktop PC.
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Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 sports a cleaner, more sophisticated look. Of all the antivirus apps we've seen for 2008, this is our favorite. Both newbies and advanced users will be able to find the settings they need.
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Kaspersky uses top-of-the-line heuristics to identify newly created malware. The more traditional, signature-based antivirus protection is updated hourly. Few antivirus products cover you so well.
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Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 scored well in CNET Labs' performance tests and in third-party, independent antivirus testing using live viruses. Kaspersky is one of the few antivirus apps to thoroughly scan your system by default--others skip compressed files or Microsoft Office files, leading to faster scan times but horrible protection.
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The fact that Kaspersky is a Russian antivirus company doesn't mean you can't get top-quality technical support from within the United States or elsewhere. There are active user forums and FAQs available online. And you can use e-mail or call a toll-free number for live technical support.
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We also like the thorough help file. Kaspersky also offers a robust 321-page PDF manual (the most complete of any antivirus application we've seen); it includes just about everything--except an index, although the table of contents is richly detailed.
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Unlike some applications, Kaspersky makes it easy to modify, repair, or remove the program. If you chose the last option, they even allow you to keep parts of it if you want to. A nice touch, we think.
