Antispyware apps vie for top spot

TOP STORY — info you need to make Windows work

Antispyware apps vie for top spot

By Brian Livingston

Things are moving so quickly in the world of spyware that the major computer magazines should really retest all antispyware applications every three months or so. Fortunately, three new reviews have come out just in the past week to give us fresh results.

Nothing should surprise me any more, but this did: The three reviewers each picked a different antispyware app to receive the magazine's top score.

InfoWorld Magazine lauded an integrated package from F-Secure, while ranking the well-known Sunbelt CounterSpy Enterprise only fourth out of 10 contenders. Network Computing, by contrast, found CounterSpy the best, rating the F-Secure product only fifth out of seven products. Meanwhile, PC Magazine gave the most points to, of all things, Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta.

Does this mean all three reviewers are wrong? Or are all three right?

F-Secure heads InfoWorld list

InfoWorld tested 10 corporate antispyware packages, which are designed to protect as few as five workstations up to thousands. These business-oriented versions, which cost about $20 to $30 per year in quantities of 100 seats, are not designed for home use. But good ratings for an enterprise-level product suggest that the same company's single-user version might also be strong.

In the weekly magazine's Sept. 19 issue, reviewer Keith Schultz gave the top score to F-Secure Anti-Virus Client Security 6. "It has the best real-time protection of any products in this roundup, stopping all attempts," he says. The bundle combines antivirus, antispyware, and personal firewall protection.

InfoWorld's ratings for F-Secure and the other contenders are:

• F-Secure Anti-Virus Client Security 6 (Score: 9.3/10.0)
• Webroot Spy Sweeper Enterprise 2.5 (8.8)
• LANDesk Secuity Suite 8.6 (8.7)
• Sunbelt CounterSpy Enterprise 1.5 (8.5)
• SurfControl Enterprise Protection Suite (8.3)
• McAfee VirusScan Ent. 8.0 w/Anti-Spyware (8.2)
• Trend Micro Anti-Spyware for SMB 3.0 (8.1)
• CA eTrust PestPatrol Anti-Spyware Corp. 5 (7.6)
• Eset NOD32 2.5 Antivirus System (7.2)
• Tenebril SpyCatcher 4.0 (beta, not rated)

CounterSpy rules at Network Computing

Only days later, CounterSpy Enterprise walked away with the Editor's Choice award from Network Computing, which, like InfoWorld, has an invitation-only circulation.

CounterSpy's "spyware detection and prevention were excellent," says reviewer Christopher Beers, a systems operations manager for Time Warner Cable Broadband. "The number of unwanted running processes also was drastically reduced, more so than with the other products we tested."

Network Computing's Sept. 22 issue gives the following scores to the seven packages tested:

• Sunbelt CounterSpy Enterprise 1.5 (Score: 4.28/5.00).
• Trend Micro Anti-Spyware for SMB 3.0 (4.15).
• Webroot Spy Sweeper Enterprise 2.1 (3.85).
• McAfee VirusScan Ent. 8.0 w/Anti-Spyware (3.78).
• F-Secure Anti-Virus Client Security 6 (3.63).
• Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Enterprise (3.00).
• CA eTrust PestPatrol Anti-Spyware Corp. 5 (2.70).

According to the magazine, seven other companies declined to participate in the testing: Determina, Eset, Microsoft, Omniquad, Panda, SurfControl, and Tenebril.

Free MS tool is cool with PC Mag

Rather than testing antispyware software for networks, PC Magazine goes to the other end of the spectrum, reviewing in its Oct. 18 issue three single-user utilities that are free of charge. (This article does not yet appear to be posted at PCMag.com.)

Windows Secrets Newsletter
Issue 61 — 2005.09.29

TOP STORY
• Antispyware apps vie for top spot
• F-Secure heads InfoWorld list
• CounterSpy rules at Network Computing
• Free MS tool is cool with PC Mag
• My advice: pay a little and get the best
• ZoneAlarm copes with complexity

SECURITY BASELINE
• The Security Baseline as it now stands

WINDOWS GIZMOS
• Devices help you connect, click, and swap
• More than your average Wi-Fi detector
• Sony ships credit-card size T5 camera
• Copy 8 kinds of memory without a PC

INDEX OF REVIEWS
• New digital cameras produce new reviews
• Sony awarded T3's Best Buy
• Synch names favorites in digicams
• Canon ranked highest by Digital Photography
• Four cameras get special recognition
• New Casio takes over top spot
• Plextor DVD wins PC Pro lab tests
• Three-way tie among CNET's player picks

HOT TIPS
• Readers debate ZoneAlarm pros and cons
• Clean install resolves e-mail problem
• Can ZA really reduce a fixed-size swap file?
• Software firewall conflicts with VPN
• "Stop all Internet activity" stops intranet, too
• Cable download speeds drop to 2400 Kbps
• Privacy checking affects HTML of Web pages

WOODY'S WINDOWS
• Resurrect your deleted files and photos
• Simple ways to screw up your pics
• Where photos go when they die
• How to get your pictures back
• You always have other options

OVER THE HORIZON
• Symantec report errs on Firefox security
• Firefox vs. IE, by the numbers
• The evidence adds up against IE
• Which flaws got fixed is crucial

WINDOWS PATCH WATCH
• What's a girl to do with no patches?
• Patches get complicated for Exchange and SBS
• Got BSOD? Get thee new drivers!
• Firefox isn't perfect, but patches come fast
• False positives affect Spybot and ActiveX
• SP2 for Office 2003, SharePoint released
• Hacked MS Access files can infect you
• Beware of the latest Web scams

WACKY WEB WEEK
• OkCupid plays free Internet matchmaker

USEFUL LINKS
• Inkjet wars: cheap ink vs. expensive
• Inkjet wars 2: preserving your prints

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CIRCULATION: over 146,000

Microsoft's AntiSpyware program, currently in beta testing, got the highest score, although that was merely 3.5 stars out of a possible 5.0. "We found it quite effective at removing spyware, but less so at blocking initial installations," says lead analyst Neil Rubenking.

Microsoft's flawed spyware blocking was enough, though, to beat out the other tested products, Ad-Aware SE Personal and Spybot Search & Destroy. The free versions of those two products offer no real-time protection at all.

PC Magazine's tepid ratings for the latter two utilities shows the sad decline of these products, which a year or two ago could slay almost any adware or spyware in circulation:

• Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (beta, Score: 3.5/5.0)
• Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Personal 1.06 (3.0)
• Spybot Search & Destroy 1.4 (2.5)

My advice: pay a little and get the best

Although Microsoft AntiSpyware didn't get an Editors' Choice award, its top score in PC Magazine implies an endorsement. That's unfortunate.

As I reported on July 14, Microsoft's malware detector no longer recommends that end users remove adware by Claria, 180Solutions, WhenU, and many others.

The reason seems to be that these programs do display an OK button in a vague dialog box before they're installed. Clicking this button supposedly binds you to the adware's end-user license agreement. Microsoft wants above all for EULAs to be seen as legitimate, no matter what may be in them.

Antispyware is so important that it's a category of software you shouldn't expect to get for free. The cost is a mere $20 per year for the personal version of CounterSpy, and its enterprise version runs as low as $11 per year for 1,000 seats (including first-year support). F-Secure's bundle costs only a little more: about $30 per year per 1,000. To prevent the theft of your banking passwords or your very identity, $1 or $2 a month is well worth paying.

Because these products are complex, it's understandable that different, respected reviewers often come up with different results. For this reason, I read as many reviews as I can before reporting in the Security Baseline, which appears below, that any particular product is "top-rated." When serious reviewers differ, I list whichever product earns the largest number of positive results.

In the case of antispyware utilities, the personal version of CounterSpy has been top-rated by both Laptop Magazine and PC World. In addition, the enterprise version has earned the top rating from three major magazines: eWeek, Windows IT Pro, and now Network Computing.

For these reasons, CounterSpy remains the champ in the Security Baseline's antispyware category. If and when some other product wins more ratings, that product will take the throne.

ZoneAlarm copes with complexity

I reported last issue that Zone Labs had released an updated 6.0 version of its product line, including ZoneAlarm Pro and ZoneAlarm Security Suite. Version 6.0.667 (Sept. 6) was said by Zone Labs representatives to correct install problems with version 6.0.631 (July 21). This was confirmed by several ZoneAlarm users who frequent the company's online user forum.

Since that time, I've received more than 100 e-mail messages about this, some from ZoneAlarm users who had no problems or easily corrected them, others from unhappy customers who are still experiencing show-stopper headaches.

In a telephone interview, ZA product marketing manager Jordy Berson confirmed that 6.0's novel "operating system firewall" and its new antispyware capabilities could conflict with other security products. "Because we just released this brand new technology, we're seeing issues with vendors that we're working out," Berson says. Fortunately, most ZA users aren't bumping into these conflicts, he added, saying the number is similar to previous "point-oh" rollouts.

The problems readers are running into seem to fall into four broad categories. Berson provided me with detailed responses to try to resolve ZA user's complaints:

1. ZoneAlarm allegedly reduces a 3GB Windows swap file to 2GB.

Berson: "Our developers and QA [quality assurance] can't think of how we would affect the file in this way. Could it be another factor on these computers? If these users contact support, we would certainly be happy to continue investigating the cases, though."

2. Two readers say ZA cuts their cable download speeds almost in half.

Berson: "While it's true we have some performance slow-downs, we’ve never seen anything of this magnitude. We have a performance testing lab dedicated to monitoring performance in all kinds of conditions. We do see consistent, slight drops in performance due to the extra processing the firewall does to monitor traffic and protect the computer. But it's very slight — and generally not noticeable by customers."

3. ZA repeatedly reboots one reader's PC when PrevX is also running.

Berson: "The OS firewall goes where other firewalls don't in order to offer the kernel-level protection and advanced security it does. ... The combination of this new, powerful technology, and a world where software can be written to various standards by so many different companies, unfortunately can result in compatibility issues such as these. Fortunately, the issues seem to hit a very small number of our users, but we are still taking the issues seriously and correcting things with other vendors as quickly as possible. Until fixes occur, a user can turn the OS firewall off or consider not running the conflicting product."

4. ZA, bundled with CA EZ Armor, rewrites HTML and truncates it at 256 KB.

Berson: "Our privacy feature does modify HTML code in order to strip out advertisements and other unwanted content. This is a very simple and low-impact operation that, inasmuch as we've seen so far (in 3+ years of operation with no fundamental code changes), wouldn't have the effect this user is describing. If this customer writes to support, we can try and hone in on the problem."

For my part, I'd like to emphasize that you should never have two real-time scanning operations — such as a software firewall, antivirus, or antispyware — running at the same time. Enable only one program in each category. It's fine to let two or more programs periodically scan your hard drive for spyware. But schedule each app to run its disk scan at a different time of the day.

Berson encourages everyone who's having problems with ZoneAlarm to get help through the company's support page at ZoneLabs.com/tsform. But he went much farther than that.

Berson invites any reader of the Windows Secrets Newsletter who doesn't get a solution from support to send e-mail to him personally at JBERSON AT ZONELABS DOT COM. Now that's what I call going the extra mile to help customers.

Complete descriptions of the problems described above, including remarks about problems that were successfully resolved, are in the paid version of today's newsletter, below. There's no fixed fee to get the paid newsletter. You'll receive all new content for one year — and the ability to search all existing content — by making a voluntary financial contribution of any amount. How to upgrade

To send us more information about Windows security software, or to send us a tip on any other subject, visit WindowsSecrets.com/contact. You'll receive a gift certificate for a book, CD, or DVD of your choice if you send us a comment that we print.

Brian Livingston is editor of the Windows Secrets Newsletter and the coauthor of Windows 2000 Secrets, Windows Me Secrets, and eight other books.

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THE SECURITY BASELINE — the minimum you need for safe computing

The Security Baseline as it now stands

By Brian Livingston

The new 6.0.667 release of the ZoneAlarm family of products hasn't completely eliminated every problem with the earlier "point-oh" version. The glitches that some users are reporting are covered as part of my top story, above. You should read that discussion in case any of it applies to you.

Meanwhile, ZoneAlarm Security Suite 6 continues to enjoy Editors' Choice ratings from PC Magazine and CNET. In addition, a new PC World review finds that the new ZA suite removes far more active adware and spyware components than such competitors as Ad-Aware SE Personal and Spybot Search & Destroy. So ZA remains in the Security Baseline as the top-rated product in this category — until some other product surpasses it in test results.

Based on the latest published tests, therefore, the best four products to give a PC comprehensive protection against hackers are (1) a Linksys hardware firewall, (2) ZoneAlarm Security Suite 6.0.667, (3) CounterSpy antispyware, and (4) an update-management tool of your choice. See details below.

		1. Hardware firewall. For small-office Wi-Fi networking, the most affordable secure firewall is the Linksys Wireless-G WRT54G router (left, about $55 USD street). To cover more than a few adjacent rooms, consider the Linksys WRT54GX ($160), which doubles the usual "g" range. Be sure to enable WPA or WPA2, either of which provide strong Wi-Fi security. For SOHO wired networking, a top-rated model is the 4-port Linksys BEFSX41 router ($65). All of these devices are PC Magazine Editors' Choice winners and support stateful packet inspection (SPI), an essential security feature.
		2. Security suite. The new ZoneAlarm Security Suite 6.0 (left, $60 street) is the best all-in-one software firewall, antivirus program, and antispam filter — now with antispyware scanning and Windows OS kernel protection. It's received Editors' Choice awards from both PC Magazine and CNET. The previous version was also recognized in PC World's "100 Best Products of 2005." With the ZA Security Suite, there's no longer any reason to purchase separate antivirus, antispam, and software-firewall applications. (Turn off ZA's real-time spyware protection in favor of the real-time feature of CounterSpy, shown below.)
		3. Antispyware program. Sunbelt Software CounterSpy 1.0 (left, $20) is the most effective remover of spyware for individual PC users, according to reviews in Laptop Magazine and PC World. The latter magazine says its reviewers were able to catch 100% of the tested, unwanted malware using CounterSpy along with the free HijackThis analysis utility. (HijackThis is an advanced program for use with a tutorial and free technical forums.) For small to medium businesses, Sunbelt's CounterSpy Enterprise ($255 for 10 machines) is top-rated by eWeek, Windows IT Pro, and Network Computing Magazine as a centrally managed program.
		4. Update management. For small to medium networks, Microsoft provides the free WSUS (Windows Server Update Services), which automates the downloading of critical patches for Windows, Office, and Exchange. For larger businesses, GFI LANguard Network Security Scanner (left, $375 for 25 users) is a broader product, top-rated by WindowSecurity.com and MCSE World. The latter site also publishes a helpful tutorial on LANguard NSS and Shavlik's HFNetChkPro ($900 for 25 users). Individual users should opt into the new, free Microsoft Update and also turn on the auto-download features of any installed apps they may have. —————— For non-U.S. sources of information on a product reviewed above, enter the model name into a search box at one of the following links: Canada / U.K / Elsewhere The Security Baseline section appears in every issue. It summarizes the top ratings of trusted reviewers in four categories of products that every PC needs for protection against threats.

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WINDOWS GIZMOS — our product reviews of new stuff

Devices help you connect, click, and swap

By Brian Livingston

Call me a geek, but I love the technological arms race that's packing more and more functionality into shiny little pocket-sized objects.

This week, we're blessed with a device that can not only help you find a Wi-Fi signal but also let you share it. Plus, Sony comes to market with one of the tiniest cameras yet. And when your digicam fills up, but no PC is handy, now you can easily transfer photos to anyone else's memory card.

		More than your average Wi-Fi detector Upon first glance, ZyXel's new Wi-Fi finder may seem like all the other pocket-sized wireless locators that you've seen before. But the AG-225H (left, $99 list) has some surprises under its USB 2.0 cap. It's the first hotspot detector that can find all three protocols: 802.11a, b, and g. It also shows signal strength, security, encryption, operation channel, and radio band. Plus, the AG-225H doubles as a wireless modem. If your laptop can pick up a signal that your buddy can't, the ZyXel lets you wirelessly share your connection with the other portable. ZyXel AG-225H Wi-Fi Finder/Modem
		Sony ships credit-card size T5 camera The latest addition to Sony's Cyber-Shot T-series is incredibly thin at 0.8 inches (2cm) and light at 4.8 ounces (136g). But the credit-card sized camera boasts serious features despite its diminutive dimensions. Sporting a 5.1-megapixel CCD and a 2.5-inch LCD, the gizmo's 38-114mm optical zoom lens extends internally and never protrudes. The T5's durable metal body comes in four colors: silver (photo, left) — which is available now — plus some zippy-looking red, gold, and black models coming in October. Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T5 Camera
		Copy 8 kinds of memory without a PC Aleratec puts a new spin on 8-in-1 media card readers by adding the ability to transfer files between cards without a computer. The Copy Cruiser Plus, about $80 street, uses USB-to-USB connections (supporting both 2.0 and 1.1) to move images, while its LCD screen shows your progress and how much available space is left. It's powered by three AAA batteries (no AC adaptor) and read/writes Compact Flash Type I and II, MicroDrive, Smart Media, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Secure Digital, and Multi Media Cards. Aleratec USB Copy Cruiser Plus —————— For non-U.S. sources of information on a product reviewed above, enter the model name into a search box at one of the following links: Canada / U.K. / Elsewhere Windows Gizmos reviews only recently released products that create new market categories. Once enough competing products have emerged for comparative tests to be conducted, the results will be summarized below in the Index of Reviews.

INDEX OF REVIEWS — our directory of product shootouts

New digital cameras produce new reviews

By Vickie Stevens

A number of new camera models have been introduced this month by major manufacturers, including Sony, Casio, and Canon. New cameras mean new reviews, and this week we have five. It's camera showdown time!

Other new releases for this fall include a crop of new MP3 flash players and DVD drives.

		ULTRA-COMPACT DIGITAL CAMERAS Sony awarded T3's Best Buy The editors at T3 Magazine review five of the newest and smallest cameras on the market. Two models tie, receiving the magazine's highest rating (the Sony Cyber-Shot, photo at left, and the Samsung Digimax). But only the Sony comes away with the Best Buy award. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T7 (Best Buy, Score: 5.0/5.0) Samsung Digimax i5 (5.0) Link to all ratings and full review
		DIGITAL CAMERAS Synch names favorites in digicams The editors at Synch Magazine try out 10 digital cameras, ranging from expansive D-SLRs to ultra-compact models. The mag doesn't give numerical scores in its reviews, instead pointing out the best aspect of each unit so you can pick the one that fits your particular needs. Canon PowerShot SD450 (Best for feeble eyes) Link to all ratings and full review
		DIGITAL CAMERAS Canon ranked highest by Digital Photography Digital Photography Magazine delivers a hands-on review of 16 of the latest digital camera offerings available. Canon's newest digital SLR receives the highest rating among the variety of cameras tested. Canon Digital Rebel XT (Score: 9.4/10.0) Link to all ratings and full review
		DIGITAL CAMERAS Four cameras get special recognition PC Magazine compiles a list of all-time favorite digital cameras, for those looking to upgrade to a full-featured, high-quality model. Four cameras take the lead, bearing Editors' Choice awards in three feature-specific catagories. Canon EOS 20D (D-SLR, Editors' Choice, Score: 5.0/5.0) Nikon D50 (D-SLR, Editors' Choice, 5.0) Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 (Superzoom, Editors' Choice, 4.0) Canon PowerShot SD500 Digital Elph (Ultra-compact, Editors' Choice, 4.0) Link to all ratings and full review
		POINT-AND_SHOOT DIGITAL CAMERAS New Casio takes over top spot The editors at PC World Magazine put new point-and-shoot cameras through a battery of tests. The new 7.2-megapixel Casio Exilim and the HP Photosmart come out ahead of the pack. Casio Exilim EX-Z750 (Best Buy, Score: 4.0/5.0) HP Photosmart R717 (Best Buy, 4.0) Link to all ratings and full review
		DVD WRITERS Plextor DVD wins PC Pro lab tests New-model DVD drives now offer dual layer support and write speeds of 16X. PC Pro Magazine puts 12 new DVD drives to the test to find out whether these products can deliver on their promises. Plextor PX-740A (Labs winner, Score: 6.0/6.0) Lite-On SOHW1693S (Value, 6.0) Samsung SE-W164 (Recommended, 5.0) Link to all ratings and full review
		FLASH MEMORY MP3 PLAYERS Three-way tie among CNET's player picks The new Apple iPod Nano joins the crowded top spot in CNET's latest flash MP3 player review. Along with the iPod, the Cowon iAudio and the Samsung Yepp earn praise from the editors. Apple iPod Nano (Editors' Choice, Score: 8.3/10.0) Cowon iAudio U2 (Editors' Choice, 8.3) Samsung YEPP YP-T7X (Editors' Choice, 8.3) Link to all ratings and full review —————— For non-U.S. sources of information on a product reviewed above, enter the model name into a search box at one of the following links: Canada / U.K. / Elsewhere The Index of Reviews summarizes only head-to-head comparative tests by respected industry reviewers, not individual ratings of single products. Vickie Stevens is research director of WindowsSecrets.com.

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Subscribers to the paid version receive additional information in each issue. Some of the extras this week are:

	Brian Livingston / Hot Tips. The best information available on making Windows work the way you want it to: • Readers debate ZoneAlarm pros and cons • Clean install resolves e-mail problem • Software firewall conflicts with VPN • Cable download speeds drop to 2400 Kbps
	Woody Leonhard / Woody's Windows. You get a pointed look at Microsoft's operating system through our guru's flat screen: • Resurrect your deleted files and photos • Simple ways to screw up your pics • Where photos go when they die • How to get your pictures back
	Chris Mosby / Over the Horizon. The steps you need to take NOW to protect yourself, because patches aren't yet available for some known threats: • Symantec report errs on Firefox security • Firefox vs. IE, by the numbers • The evidence adds up against IE • Which flaws got fixed is crucial
	Susan Bradley / Windows Patch Watch. We tell you which official patches have problems and, more importantly, how you can work around them: • Patches get complicated for Exchange and SBS • False positives affect Spybot and ActiveX • SP2 for Office 2003, SharePoint released • Hacked MS Access files can infect you

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WACKY WEB WEEK — playing for you the Internet's greatest bits

OkCupid plays free Internet matchmaker
There are plenty of "find a partner" sites on the Web, such as Lavalife and Match.com. But OkCupid provides a wacky alternative, with services that it says will stay permanently free and an interview technique that produces outrageously intimate revelations from many of its members.

The site is based on those multiple-choice tests that seem to be wildly popular with bloggers, such as the How Much of a Virgin Are You? Test. A lot of blog-o-buzz arose this week over the new Politics Test, which plots you on a 2-dimensional graph.

Without any advertising, OkCupid has grown to 193,000 registered users in the past few months, according to the service's Wikipedia entry (which sounds exactly like it was written by the founders themselves). After you've answered 500 questions, which is more fun than it sounds, you can submit your own, like member darkendstar (pictured at left with profile), who discloses that she has 15 piercings.

The service is the invention of four Harvard and MIT grads who previously built SparkNotes.com and sold it to Barnes & Noble. You just might find a match in your Zip or postal code — if you're willing to answer a few simple questions. OkCupid

USEFUL LINKS — more stuff that's good to know

Inkjet wars: cheap ink vs. expensive
The high cost of brand-name ink affects an ever-larger audience. Some people are doing something about the price of ink — but you need to know both the ups and the downs of the alternatives. (By Brian Livingston, Datamation) More info

Inkjet wars 2: preserving your prints
Using quality papers and inks, and storing documents in reasonably cool, dry, and dark places, can provide up to 100-year stability for documents and photos. (By Brian Livingston, Datamation) More info

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ABOUT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION — we're here to serve you

The Windows Secrets Newsletter (formerly Woody's Windows Watch and Brian's Buzz on Windows) is published twice a month, except for breaks in August and December. The newsletter is published on the Thursday after Microsoft Patch Tuesday (the 2nd Tuesday of each month) and two Thursdays after that. A short "newsletter update" is sometimes published between regular newsletters, if breaking news occurs.

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Editor: Brian Livingston is the coauthor of Windows 2000 Secrets, Windows Me Secrets, and eight other books. Contributing Editors: Susan Bradley, Mark Burnett, Woody Leonhard, Chris Mosby. Research Director: Vickie Stevens. Program Director: Brent Scheffler.

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