Serious Discussion Shadow Defender is dead now in 2023?

simmerskool

Level 38
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Apr 16, 2017
2,779
f-secure 19.5 - SD 1.5.0.726
thanks, just a side comment NOT directed at you... SD 1.5.0.726 was released Aug 2020 (per website). Some folks at MT were posting like madmen when Comodo Firewall had not been updated for about 2.5 years. I have not used SD in several years. Not currently using CF either. Just a comment fwiw... :unsure:
 

Trident

Level 34
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Feb 7, 2023
2,349
The programme has not received any updates for x years. No bugs fixes and God knows how many security issues are there. This is a security product which clearly got abandoned, so I believe it is a bad idea to use it compatibility and security wise.
It is a product that once installed and turned on, is embedded very deeply into the OS. This product has turned now into abandonware, and for performance, security and compatibility reasons, usage is not recommended. If it was an audio player or something, abandonware is still not great but you can live with that. But software of this sort, no way.
 

Antarctica

Level 1
Aug 20, 2017
25
The programme has not received any updates for x years. No bugs fixes and God knows how many security issues are there. This is a security product which clearly got abandoned, so I believe it is a bad idea to use it compatibility and security wise.

don’t worry, I uninstalled it after a couple of BSOD :cry: But that’s OK, that program gave me 10 years of good service, can’t ask for more, right?:)
 

Sorrento

Level 13
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Dec 7, 2021
624
Not had a single issue with Win 11, no changes made - I use it when grandchildren call in & do things on PC, works well to boot then out of Shadow, back as it was - The thing is there really isn't anything I've found to easily replace it? No AV has flagged it as malicious?
 

pvsurfer

Level 2
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Oct 20, 2019
64
In my case, Core Isolation definitely was the culprit for the BSODs I experienced after updating to Win11 22H2 and running Shadow Defender v1.4 and v1.5. Over a year ago, I attempted (a few times) to contact SD's customer support in that regard, to no avail. I then read an article about Core Isolation causing various software application problems, so I disabled Core Isolation > Memory Integrity and have not experienced a single BSOD since then (I'm now running SD v1.5 on Win11 23H2 on a daily basis). Nevertheless, there is no question in my mind that SD development and support was abandoned years ago. :(
 

pvsurfer

Level 2
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Oct 20, 2019
64
Actually the software is becoming more and more irrelevant these days anyway, as the majority of malware out there is stealer malware or RATs. So Shadow Defender is unable to protect your system from data theft.
That absolutely is a limitation of Shadow Defender (as well as other virtualization or 'sandboxing' software), but 'that hole can be plugged' by employing firewall outgoing monitoring (allow/block outgoing internet access). Afterall, malware can't steal your data if it can't 'call home'. ;)
 
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Divine_Barakah

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May 10, 2019
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Not had a single issue with Win 11, no changes made - I use it when grandchildren call in & do things on PC, works well to boot then out of Shadow, back as it was - The thing is there really isn't anything I've found to easily replace it? No AV has flagged it as malicious?
Any good Backup software will replace it.
 
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Divine_Barakah

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May 10, 2019
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Not really. Admittedly, regular use of a good (image) backup app is the last means of system recovery and I wouldn't be without it, but it can no more replace Shadow Defender than it can replace other security software.
Backup is a means of protecting files against loss and encryption. It has nothing to do with protection. Malware can cause damage and send personal data or banking credentials to the attacker, so in this case both SD and Backup are useless. Thus, Backup is not a security solution replacement.

Also backup is good to revert system changes.
 

pvsurfer

Level 2
Verified
Oct 20, 2019
64
Backup is a means of protecting files against loss and encryption. It has nothing to do with protection. Malware can cause damage and send personal data or banking credentials to the attacker, so in this case both SD and Backup are useless. Thus, Backup is not a security solution replacement.

Also backup is good to revert system changes.
No argument with that ...as I said "it (backup) can no more replace Shadow Defender than it can replace other security software".
 

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