AV-Comparatives May Retrospective/Proactive Test released

AV-comparatives.org has released new Retrospective/Proactive Test.

In total 16 antivirus products were tested.

Top three performers were Microsoft, ESET NOD32 and Kaspersky.

Avira found most but it was penalized due to some false positives and didn't make to to top three.

Three last ones were F-secure, Norman and Kingston.

Read entire test here (Retrospective/Proactive Test May 2009, Report (PDF - english))

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.37 released

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.37 has been released.

See below changelog from Malwarebytes forum:

1. (FIXED) Dramatically improved product updating.
2. (FIXED) /runupdate now completely silent, including errors.
3. (ADDED) Protection module now 64-bit compatible (XP SP2 and higher only).
4. (ADDED) New 32-bit protection module for XP SP2 and higher.
5. (ADDED) New heuristics for Trojan.JSRedir and other infections.
6. (ADDED) Type of scan displayed on scanning page.
7. (ADDED) Support for Arabic and Estonian language

Download latest version here or use internal updater.

Comodo Internet Security 3.9.76924.507 released

Comodo Internet Security 3.9.76924.507 has bee released.

See below changelog from comodo website

* NEW! Multilingual Support: CIS now supports other languages
* NEW! Stateful File Inspection for Realtime Virus Scanner
* NEW! Integrated In Memory Virus Scanner(i.e. Integrated BOClean)
* NEW! LivePCSupport is provided as a 30 Day Trial
* IMPROVED! Default popup layout changed to the basic layout in order to encourage the use of it
* IMPROVED! Stronger Defense+ protection: New types of defenses are added e.g. Clipboard logging, Keyboard input blocking etc.
* IMPROVED! Keyboard and Screen access alerts are improved and number of false positives are reduced
* IMPROVED! Stronger Defense+ protection while the Windows is Booting/Shutting down
* IMPROVED! Stronger Default Firewall policy in order to better hide from attackers(Thanks to feedback from our forum moderator Ronny)
* IMPROVED! Configuration Management window is changed
* IMPROVED! Submission functionality for the Quarantined items added
* FIXED! Avntivirus heuristics does not detect some files properly
* FIXED! Defense+ BO protection incompatible with Spy Swepper virus scanner.
* FIXED! CIS does not validate digital certificates properly
* FIXED! CIS blocks some application from being executed
* FIXED! BSOD while CIS is being uninstalled
* FIXED! CIS does not detect some types of shellcodes upon a BO attack
* FIXED! CIS erroneously reports buffer overflow attacks for some applications under certain circumstances
* FIXED! CIS does not scan spcially created RAR files properly (http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/34737, first reported by Thierry Zoller)
* FIXED! CIS creates duplicate file name entries for some protected file access alerts
* FIXED! Right click scanner reports "Antivirus Engine is not initialized"
* FIXED! Threatcast registration does not work properly(This bug caused some users unable to see TC statistics)
* FIXED! CIS occasionally crashes while submitting the files
* FIXED! CIS firewall drivers sometimes cannot be restored by the diagnostics utility
* FIXED! CIS did not scan NTFS streams during manual scanning
* FIXED! Windows Logon Screen is shown when CIS is installed under certain circumstances(Windows created a password bug)
* FIXED! CIS causes system performance to degrade after prolonged time of network data transfer

Remember that Internet Security contains both antivirus and firewall so if you have already antivirus installed, don't install Comodo AntiVirus as only one antivirus should be running.

Download it here or use internal updater

Powerpoint vulnerability to be fixed on Tuesday

Microsoft will release a fix for Powerpoint vulnerability on Tuesday. Classification of that vulnerability depends on Powerpoint version, for PowerPoint 2000 it is critical and for later versions it is important.

Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool will also get updated.

Read more about May updates here

Amount of spam is back to "normal"

Symantec recently reported that amount of spam is almost back to same level when dubious McColo was shut down in November 2008 being now 91% of it.

Currently 94 percent of all emails are spam. Current spam trend seems to be loans and real estate business. Spam emails offer help for people who need to sell their apartment or advice for loans.