I seen ClamWin on myspace, but myspace is fading out. Why not advertise alittle on twitter or facebook like ClamAV did? Maybe spread alittle word around CNET?

It was just an idea I had to to help increase ClamWin's reputation. I thought about creating a twitter and putting ClamWin on it, but I 1. don't own ClamWin, so I wouldn't know how the developers would feel about me doing it and 2. I don't know where I would be able to gather people on it. If I do, I would need some help from the community.

You could run this by the developers via the contact us link from the main ClamWin web page. I think you would need some more functionality in ClamWin to attract social media users. It seems to me that the average current user is either a network admin type for an organization with a low budget or a personal user who has more PC knowledge than a social media type.

I think you might have a good idea if/when we are sure there will be a new ClamWin 1.0 with an upgraded GUI menu, surfing protection, and ease of use. I know the ClamWin developers are trying to get more resources, but it's tough.

Regards,

Waiting for ClamWin 1.0 would probably be the best idea. I guess seeing .9.8.1 as a version number, many people might think it's a beta version or alpha version and might not want to risk using it due to possible damage.

Surfing protection? Well that's good news. E-mail scanning and download scanning are things that ClamWin needs. Or was that just an assumption?

No, one of the developers told me they are working on implementing an API that provides user access to a malicious web site block list to prevent them from visiting "bad" sites. Depending upon the accuracy/timeliness of the block list, it should give users some good protection even without real-time scanning. Of course, many of the commercial AVs have had this protection for some time. When/if we get ClamWin 1.0, I think that this feature and an updated menu is about all we can expect unless they can get a professional C++ programmer involved. Meanwhile, Clam Sentinel will check all downloads--including email attachments.

If you want a block list presently, look at https://www.malwaredomainlist.com/forums/index.php?topic=3270.0 on the web. You can use the Hosts file block list by downloading it and replacing the hosts file (no extension) already in the folder C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc. Be sure to make a backup of your existing hosts file before you replace it, however, in case you ever want it back (copy it to Oldhosts). You will have to download a new updated block list a couple of times (or more if you want) each week. If a web location is in the hosts list, you will not be able to visit it because it will resolve to your local machine (which is location 127.0.0.1).

If nothing else, the ClamWin developers could automate this process and save users the hassle. I don't think that Windows 8 has a hosts file, however.

Regards,

Can I ask that I have wondered since I have joined ClamWin, what do you do for ClamWin, GuitarBob? Do you program, sig maker, or are you just a moderator? Sorry for asking a personal question and OT.

I started using ClamWin back in 2006 when the AVs dropped support for Win 98. I used the ClamWin forum a lot and developed an interest in fighting malware. When Sourcefire bought Clam AV in 2008, the ClamWin developers asked if I wanted to work signatures for Clam as an Open Source representative--to make sure they kept the Clam AV signatures open so ClamWin could still use them. After 5 years as sigmaker, I quit last December. Now I do a bit of monitoring the ClamWin fourms to free up the developers. I also help with testing on the Clam Sentinel project, and I helped with the design of the Clam Sentinel heuristics to supplement the Clam AV signatures.

You remind me a bit of myself with your interest in ClamWin. It certainly needs more people to get involved. If they don't, I'm afraid ClamWin may go away, and we will have to use a commercial AV and take what they give us.

P. S. Windows 98 does have a hosts file.

Regards,

Don't you think it's time to upgrade from Windows 98? Or do you use it for testing? I don't like commercial software so if clam does go down, I'd just be AV free.

Also, for the developers, something you maybe more interested in, a friend recommended this. It's a free code hosting site. The site is here: https://bitbucket.org/ I looked around a bit and it seems quiet interesting and it's free.

I quit using Win 98 back in 2007 and upgraded to Win XP. Then I followed the upgrades to Vista, Win 7, and Win 8 (on desktop, laptop still has Win 7). I don't like the way Microsoft uses each new version of Windows as a marketing tool. They could, for the most part, just upgrade/patch/fix the old version of Windows and not have a full-blown rollout of the new, latest/greatest Windows version. Each new Windows version is really a beta version--look at all the subsequent patches they need. IThey are going to have a problem when the average Windows gets tired of this. I think we are ripe for a desktop version of Android (maybe Chrome?) to replace Windows. I'm glad Clam Sentinel is written in Pascal/Delphi--should make it easier to port over to another OS.

Source Forge has been getting very proprietary over the last year--they are starting to ally themselves with adware in an attempt to monitize their hosted projects like ClamWin. We recently tested a Source Forge installer that fried my Win 7 machine. So I think the ClamWin developers might be receptive to another hoster. They probably know about bitbucket already, but I'll let them know about it just in case.

Regards,

I checked up on Github, as you said you had to pay for it, but Github offers free hosting for open source codes, such as ClamWin and ClamAV. Only closed source or commercial software have to pay. So that's another idea to keep in mind.

Yes, I have noticed Sourceforge was adding Malware or fake software up on there. They even have some closed source software on there, as well.

Everybody is trying to make as much money from the web as they can. Lots of "free" AVs now bundle adware/tracking toolbars and try to remove other AVs already on the machine when they are installed. If the ClamWin developers could get enough resources to improve/maintain the program, they could offer an alternative and probably do okay.

Regards,

So, I was on CNET and I noticed the version you have on their is outdated: https://download.cnet.com/ClamWin-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10369483.html but within the search I noticed this: https://download.cnet.com/ClamWin-Portable/3000-2239_4-10703786.html I am almost certain ClamWin doesn't have a portable version or was it an old one that was discontinued?

There is no ClamWin Portable distributed by the ClamWin developers. A portable version was developed by Portable Apps people and included in the portable applications. The link you gave is to an old portable version on Download.Com.

The portable version has some limited ClamWin functions--there is no scheduled scans at least, but it is handy for taking with you somewhere. It can also be used with Clam Sentinel, and Sentinel does not have to be on the USB if you configure the Sentinel .ini file to show the ClamWin config file on the USB.

Regards,