Antimalware, firewall, and other security programs for Windows XP working in 2023 and hopefully beyond

[AstroSkipper]

10 hours ago, Multibooter said:

Have they detected anything? False positives?

Of course! Various threats and of course also false positives as is the case with all scanners.  But better one too many than one too few. 

[Multibooter]

3 hours ago, AstroSkipper said:

Of course! Various threats

For example? Under WinXP? Would these threats run under WinXP or under SSE-only?

[AstroSkipper]

4 hours ago, Multibooter said:

For example? Under WinXP? Would these threats run under WinXP or under SSE-only?

For example, website exploits, websites known malicious or suspicious download files. However, all some months or more ago. It always depends on the user's surfing behaviour. The more risky, the more notifications.  Whether they would run under Windows XP, I cannot say as they were immediately blocked by my antimalware programme and deleted after asking me what to do. In my Windows XP installation, almost nothing happens without my permission contrary to more recent Windows OSes or antimalware programmes which are designed to do what the creator decided without involvement of the user or administrator.

Edited June 27, 2024 by AstroSkipper
Update of content

[dmiranda]

11 hours ago, AstroSkipper said:

If I had used KY back in 2014, around the military invasion into Ukraine with subsequent annexation of Crimea in violation of international law, I also would have immediately ceased to use it on my system(s).  But as I already mentioned, KY was never an issue for me due to many well-known reasons.  

Yeah, something like that. Same happened to me with a then (2002) equally light AV (NOD32?)following the invasion of Afghanistan, and (Symantec/Norton?) before (1997) when MS started sending its update databases to some intelligence agency a month in advance than it released them to the public. Let me be clear: I currently use quad9 security as systemwide DNS, and their prior equivalents before. I do not quite mind (albeit I don't like it) for big intelligence orgs to have access to my system. Nothing I can do about it, any way. I mind and protect myself from potential intervening on part of the third party subcontractors and the myriad of local agents with access to parts of the "system," and their unchecked capacity to access the backholes left by said "system," for my "safety," mind you. 

Edited June 27, 2024 by dmiranda

[Dixel]

3 hours ago, dmiranda said:

Yeah, something like that. Same happened to me with a then (2002) equally light AV following the invasion of Afghanistan, and before (1997) when MS started sending its update databases to some intelligence agency a month in advance than it released them to the public. Let me be clear: I currently use quad9 security as systemwide DNS, and their prior equivalents before. I do not quite mind (albeit I don't like it) for big intelligence orgs to have access to my system. Nothing I can do about it, any way. I mind and protect myself from potential intervening on part of the third party subcontractors and the myriad of local agents with access to parts of the "system," and their unchecked capacity to access the backholes left by said "system," for my "safety," mind you. 

The invasion into Afghanistan had started in 1979. At that time, Eugene Kaspersky was studying at the KGB/FSB academy, the project "Kaspersky" was only in the plans, the software suite "Kaspersky" wasn't even released!

[Multibooter]

9 hours ago, Dixel said:

The invasion into Afghanistan had started in 1979. At that time... the project "Kaspersky" was only in the plans, the software suite "Kaspersky" wasn't even released!

"1979" was added by you. From the context it is clear that dmiranda did not refer to the Soviet invasion of 1979, but to the American invasion of 2001. Also, in 1979 there could not have been a project "Kaspersky" in the plans in Russia, whatever that means. 1979 was the year CP/M 2.2 came out for 8-bit computers, if I remember right, no 16-bit PCs, no MS-DOS, no viruses.
"November [1983]: The term "virus" is re-coined by [the American] Frederick B. Cohen in describing self-replicating computer programs".

Before 1983: invented by Americans and popularized in science fiction novels by American writers, but no Russian plans.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_computer_viruses_and_worms

Edited June 28, 2024 by Multibooter

[Multibooter]

8 hours ago, dmiranda said:

I currently use quad9 security as systemwide DNS. 

Thanks for the hint about https://www.quad9.net

Seems to be a better DNS server (is located in Switzerland) than the one by OpenVPN (by Cisco) which I have been using.

I have changed the DNS settings in both my router and under WinXP to quad9 for a while, can't hurt. Perhaps improvements in connections with embargoed countries, perhaps improvements in security.

Edited June 27, 2024 by Multibooter

[dmiranda]

6 hours ago, Multibooter said:

OpenVPN (by Cisco) which I have been using

OpenVPN is quite good too, I used to use it before other user here (our youtubedl guy) suggested quad9, a few years back. Since I've gone bareback since 2014 (except for on demand avast/clamwin and until recently malwarebytes), it seems quad9 (and openVPN before) has served me well.  Be well!

[AstroSkipper]

On 6/26/2024 at 8:08 PM, Skorpios said:

What's your engine version? I have 5800 and think it was the last one for XP.

The McAfee Anti-Malware Engine 5800 is from August of 2015. Are you really sure that the most recent dat files for updating definitions are still compatible with this old engine? Did you try updating using the most recent dat file?  BTW, the McAfee Anti-Malware Engine 5900 from February of 2017 seems to be the last compatible with Windows XP as far as I could read. 

[AstroSkipper]

1 hour ago, AstroSkipper said:

On 6/26/2024 at 8:08 PM, Skorpios said:

What's your engine version? I have 5800 and think it was the last one for XP.

The McAfee Anti-Malware Engine 5800 is from August of 2015. Are you really sure that the most recent dat files for updating definitions are still compatible with this old engine? Did you try updating using the most recent dat file?  BTW, the McAfee Anti-Malware Engine 5900 from February of 2017 seems to be the last compatible with Windows XP as far as I could read. 

All this with special consideration that the latest engine is 6710 which is of course no longer compatible with Windows XP.

[Multibooter]

On 6/25/2024 at 8:56 AM, AstroSkipper said:

I offered you alternatives to replace your Kaspersky software... In any case, this is not a Kaspersky discussion thread. It will lead nowhere. Kaspersky is more or less a discontinued model... This thread is about antimalware programmes that have a perspective and can be an option under Windiws XP.

One man's opinion. I disagree, however. No non-Western antivirus suggested. Kaspersky seems to be the only good non-Western antivirus, although I haven't tried Dr.Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr.Web

Kaspersky could be installed on a dedicated virus-checking computer, always off-line except for getting updates. No risk and no WinXP requirement.

[AstroSkipper]

25 minutes ago, Multibooter said:

One man's opinion.

No. Maybe that's what you want. But that has nothing to do with reality.

25 minutes ago, Multibooter said:

No non-Western antivirus suggested.

One can only suggest something that exists.

25 minutes ago, Multibooter said:

Kaspersky seems to be the only good non-Western antivirus

No. Kaspersky is spyware. Nothing is good there. This can be read in their own documents.

25 minutes ago, Multibooter said:

although I haven't tried Dr.Web

That's it. Dr Web is simply trash. Never read any good about it.

25 minutes ago, Multibooter said:

Kaspersky ... No risk and no WinXP requirement.

Not true. Very risky.

[NotHereToPlayGames]

3 minutes ago, AstroSkipper said:

Kaspersky is spyware.

True!

But so is (almost) *ALL* antivirus programs - why turn a blind eye to this fact?

[AstroSkipper]

11 minutes ago, NotHereToPlayGames said:

True!

But so is (almost) *ALL* antivirus programs - why turn a blind eye to this fact?

In the EU, there are clear laws regarding data protection and security. And this is also monitored. In dictatorships and other non-democratically run countries, there is no data protection and security. Software, especially antimalware programmes, from such countries cannot provide security for the user. They only protect their own interests.

[NotHereToPlayGames]

I guess my "litmus test" would be this - see if you can upgrade your "virus definitions" through a VPN.

If you cannot, then "they know who you are".  They may not know your "name", but they have you "fingerprinted".