Hi Folks,

This has probably been covered somewhere but i can't find it:

If ClamWin uses the ClamAV database, then how relevant is it to Win virii?

It just seems to me as though ClamWin would be using a database designed for UNIX/Linux virii which would have limited, if any, use for scanning on a Win system.

Hopefully, i'm missing something..

Actually, the Linux OS has very few viruses. The core Clam user group is Linux email servers, but the email they serve up is mostly for Windows users. I would say that 99.9% of the viruses in Clam's database are designed for Windows. In 1.5 years of doing Clam signatures, I have only done 2 Linux/Elf virus signatures.

What's needed is for more real Windows PC users to send in malware samples--they viruses they get are a little different than what the email servers get. Also, what's even more needed is a bigger budget for Clam!

The upcoming PE file heuristics in version 0.96 should help improve detection rates when it comes out in February or so. I hope ClamWin can take full advantage of them.

Regards,

Thanks Bob.

I feel a little bit happier about trying CW now, especially as it's the only free one that lets me install it on a server.

You are very welcome.

ClamWin doesn't yet have a real-time scanner. The average user is better off using a real-time scanner and keeping ClamWin as a backup scanner. It works great in such an application, as no one antivirus can catch every piece of malware, and it will not conflict with most real-time scanners. Microsoft's Security Essentials scanner is free for genuine Windows users, and it is quite good. Also look at PC Tools' Threatfire behavior blocker--It is free, and you may be able to use it in a business.

Regards,

Well i'll be upgrading to server2008 once i don't have to and i'll have a look at the new MS stuff, never thought about it before.

It's not for business, i'm just a student these days but i need to keep on top of technology so i run a domain at thome and a business AV solution is way above my needs and budget, especially after paying MS for licences every year.