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This Old Faithful and Market Leader has taken a lot of pounding by the market pundits lately, but I have found it to be a very reliable malware bugkiller on my box. I submit tons of new malware samples and SARC is usually timely to get back to me with results. NAV 2004 added runtime unpackers; scanning of compressed files in realtime; detection of Expanded Threats {adware-spyware, jokes, dialers, security-risks, RATs, etc.} that don't come under normal classifications of malware {trojan, virus, worm}; and an overall improved engine that runs particularly well in NT-based OSes. I also happen to disagree with the criticism that Expanded Threats should not have been separated from Regular or Classic Threats {trojan, virus, worm}. I believe many Vendors are misleading the Public by classifying adware and spyware as trojans when they aren't real trojans in a classic sense. With a classic Backdoor Trojan Server running on your System, anyone with malicious intent running the Client from an unknown remote location can steal passwords, log keystrokes, open and delete files, launch apps, and pretty much control your PC as if they were sitting locally in your place at the KeyBoard Console. By contrast, a program that downloads Gillette Razor ads to your PC is not in the same Threat Cateory as a Backdoor Trojan Server which totally compromises your Security by giving remote control to an external malicious hacker who could be located anywhere, on the opposite side of the world. These threats are *NOT* in the same Category of Malware and should not be included as such. It is misleading, and I think Symantec, rather than being bashed or criticized for this move, should be lauded and praised for taking an unpopular but correct stance to classify the malware properly as Adware.XX or Spyware.XX and not as Trojan Horse or Backdoor Trojan or TrojanDownloader -- a classification which misleads into thinking it is a real trojan. I applaud Symantec for their bold steps in this new release, and of course they appear to be continuing the same innovation in NAV 2005 as well. I believe that a lot of criticism of NAV stems from ignorance, from folks who haven't gotten it installed cleanly and running properly, etc. That is not intended as an offense but to counter a lot of unjust criticsm that this very fine AV has been taking lately. I give NAV a thumbs-up and say keep up the good work. About the only constructive criticism I might have for Symantec is not regarding the product quality, but simply note in passing that Subscription Renewal costs have been rising {as they have with the other Vendors} and I hope Symantec can curb those costs in near future. Otherwise, thumbs-up to NAV 2004 and its children in following years!

Added: October 17th 2004

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