Battle Planned: Real-world Test of Trend Micro, ZoneAlarm, Eset and Webroot

[Trident]

Testing should align with the product's design. For advanced user products, configure settings accordingly. Automated products should be tested as designed.

Deviating from this approach would not provide a comprehensive evaluation of the product's features and functionality as specified in the design.

I can configure advanced settings but no HIPS rules for Eset. This is too much.

 

[Jonny Quest]

Testing should align with the product's design. For advanced user products, configure settings accordingly. Automated products should be tested as designed.

Deviating from this approach would not provide a comprehensive evaluation of the product's features and functionality as specified in the design.

When downloaded and installed, how many users actually know how it's to be configured, to FAD, without possibly visiting the vendors forum or this forum? How many people actually read the PDF manual for what may be the optimal settings? I know we're about a person should be educated in knowing what they're using, of what setting to use and why, and that's their fault if they don't. And that the goal here is to educate people in that regard, but, this is why I like the posts mentioning testing them in default, and advanced settings mode.

 

[ForgottenSeer 114834]

When downloaded and installed, how many users actually know how it's to be configured, to FAD, without possibly visiting the vendors forum or this forum? How many people actually read the PDF manual for what may be the optimal settings? I know we're about a person should be educated in knowing what they're using, of what setting to use and why, and that's their fault if they don't. And that the goal here is to educate people in that regard, but, this is why I like the posts mentioning testing them in default, and advanced settings mode.

While I appreciate your perspective, we must establish that a product has been fully tested according to its design specifications before concluding it's a failure.

The core point is that testing a product according to its design and identifying failures provides accurate information. This data can be shared with the vendor to enhance the product, ultimately benefiting everyone.

 

[Trident]

When downloaded and installed, how many users actually know how it's to be configured, to FAD, without possibly visiting the vendors forum or this forum? How many people actually read the PDF manual for what may be the optimal settings? I know we're about a person should be educated in knowing what they're using, of what setting to use and why, and that's their fault if they don't. And that the goal here is to educate people in that regard, but, this is why I like the posts mentioning testing them in default, and advanced settings mode.

Even the forums and the guide are not enough to configure. For example, Webroot in documentation specifically warns not to change heuristics settings, unless guided by support and adds that users should understand how this impacts detection.
I do understand how they will impact detection and performance, but not sure that other users do.

 

[Trident]

I am having a lot of fun

 

[mlnevese]

If a product is designed to be used with a certain configuration then make that configuration the default.

A good example is Bitdefender. Very little you have to change there to get maximum protection.

Expecting a home user to even know enough to understand what they have to change is unrealistic.

 

[Trident]

Poll has been added as well.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

Poll has been added as well.

Voted for default. I believe the vast majority will vote for default too. Testing the default settings is realistic. Testing with custom settings is for fun and to prove a point.

 

[simmerskool]

for me, a point of reference is always how does AV compare MS Defender, ie, why install 3d-party AV if MS Defender successfully passes the same test. MS Defender perhaps should be tweaked with DefenderUI or ConfigureDefender... or better default & tweaked.
any chance of testing any of these with Voodooshield aka Cyberlock? If I were to run Webroot, I would certainly use CL, and if MS Defender provides the same protection, why run Webroot, or any 3d-party AV. (this is coming from someone who is currently running various VM with Harmony, DeepInstinct, Norton, GData, ESET Nod32, MS Defender & MS Defender with Mbam (not all at the same time)

 

[Trident]

Voted for default. I believe the vast majority will vote for default too. Testing the default settings is realistic. Testing with custom settings is for fun and to prove a point.

In the case of Trend Micro I could allow this tweak, as it is just one radio button (although still, many will not activate it).

 

[Divine_Barakah]

And let's not forget that default settings are there for a reason. Default settings are usually a balance between protection and usability. Custom settings usually provide more FPs which could be intimidating for inexperienced users.

 

[Trident]

for me, a point of reference is always how does AV compare MS Defender, ie, why install 3d-party AV if MS Defender successfully passes the same test. MS Defender perhaps should be tweaked with DefenderUI or ConfigureDefender... or better default & tweaked.
any chance of testing any of these with Voodooshield aka Cyberlock? If I were to run Webroot, I would certainly use CL, and if MS Defender provides the same protection, why run Webroot, or any 3d-party AV. (this is coming from someone who is currently running various VM with Harmony, DeepInstinct, Norton, GData, ESET Nod32, MS Defender & MS Defender with Mbam (not all at the same time)

This test will stay as planned strictly, maybe in the future we can test MS Defender or CyberLock.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

In the case of Trend Micro I could allow this tweak, as it is just one radio button (although still, many will not activate it). I

Well, I believe it is better to test TM with default settings and then optionally with tweaked settings. It would not be fair to tweak TM even if it is only one setting.

 

[simmerskool]

Poll has been added as well.

voted for both (ooopppssss that is not an option).

 

[Divine_Barakah]

for me, a point of reference is always how does AV compare MS Defender, ie, why install 3d-party AV if MS Defender successfully passes the same test. MS Defender perhaps should be tweaked with DefenderUI or ConfigureDefender... or better default & tweaked.
any chance of testing any of these with Voodooshield aka Cyberlock? If I were to run Webroot, I would certainly use CL, and if MS Defender provides the same protection, why run Webroot, or any 3d-party AV. (this is coming from someone who is currently running various VM with Harmony, DeepInstinct, Norton, GData, ESET Nod32, MS Defender & MS Defender with Mbam (not all at the same time)

Besides of MT and Reddit, I have never seen anybody who knows about CD let alone use it. I believe the vast majority of those using MD think they do not need a security solution or do not want to pay for one. Those who use CD are a minority.

 

[Jonny Quest]

While I appreciate your perspective, we must establish that a product has been fully tested according to its design specifications before concluding it's a failure.

The core point is that testing a product according to its design and identifying failures provides accurate information. This data can be shared with the vendor to enhance the product, ultimately benefiting everyone.

Share with the vendor, shouldn't the vendor be sharing that with us, the users? Are they not keeping up with their own product, but launching it and saying, *"you all figure it out and get back to us with your results." Is a sad commentary of that vendor, no?

And what are we trying to turn this forum into, or at least the AV testing, into a white coat lab, sterile research center? But I get it, if you're going to do it, do it right to be useful for those here and visit this thread from a Google search etc.

*which tends to be Bitdefender, a lot of times the users ARE the beta testers, especially with their Password Manager and new Parental Controls "upgrade". They tell us how it's supposed to work with the articles submitted, but the users are the ones telling them the issues. They make it, say "here it is", and we figure it out, and raise a complaint on the forum.

I'm done, if you want to reply, that's fine, but I don't want to continue to highjack this topic Cheers

 

[Moonhorse]

Voted for defaults

These suites arent used by everyone so it would be interesting to compare these '' rare '' antiviruses against 'most used' antivirus like avast to see how basic antivirus compares against ''next gen antiviruses'' if you can call them with that word?

anyways im interested to see results of this test, as there are zonealarm wich is hyped at the forum currently, and the trend micro wich was hyped before you guys killed it

 

[Trident]

But in regards to sharing I should mention that I registered on Webroot community to provide feedback and I was banned from the first post. So I am not sure that Webroot is interested in sharing.

 

[Trident]

Voted for defaults

These suites arent used by everyone so it would be interesting to compare these '' rare '' antiviruses against 'most used' antivirus like avast to see how basic antivirus compares against ''next gen antiviruses'' if you can call them with that word?

anyways im interested to see results of this test, as there are zonealarm wich is hyped at the forum currently, and the trend micro wich was hyped before you guys killed it

That's why I am including Eset, a very popular one.

 

[Moonhorse]

That's why I am including Eset, a very popular one.

Makes sense, i just havent used it in years so im kind of unfamiliar with it , looking forward your test tho