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


AstroSkipper

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1 hour ago, UCyborg said:

I knew testing Panda on Windows 7 x64 would be insightful. It installs with plain .NET Framework 4.0 installed with zero updates applied if you fake .NET Framework version by registry edit. Then you can revert the edit and the anti-virus itself still functions. .NET Framework version 4.6 at least must be faked in the 32-bit part of the registry, see Determine which .NET Framework versions are installed.

That doesn't work on XP x64, something else must be bugged about the installer. I was testing on XP x64 the first time around and noticed string with the registry path SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v4\Full\ in installer's Stub.exe with OllyDbg and several instructions later comparison is made with value 0x6004F, which you would find in Release DWORD value in registry on systems with .NET Framewok 4.6 installed. There was also reference to Install DWORD in the same key in neighbouring part of the code, which is normally present with just plain .NET Framework 4.0 installed. Should've realized then .NET Framework error message by installer is misleading.

Actually the computer I was trying to install Panda was Windows 7 32 bit. And it would download net framework 4 but fail to install all the time. However I downloaded net framework offline redist from MS website and the framework installed without errors. But Panda Setup wouldn't work anyway. I installed 360 Total Security instead. No issues at all there.

 

My main OS is XP 64 though. And it seems Panda doesn't work there. I wonder how many AVs do work on XP 64. In the past I was using Eset 5. And with a trick I managed to keep the definitions up to date even after support for XP ended. All the way to april 2022. Now it can't get definitions at all. Eset however is now forcing users to keep more recent versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11 or else it says it can't get updates because Azure compatibility.

Edited by tekkaman
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4 hours ago, NotHereToPlayGames said:

My goal was to compare Kaspersky to Panda.

Here's the latest Fact-checked article By Kristina Jarusevičiūtė, which will help you.

"Kaspersky antivirus latest review: is it safe to use?"

October 2023.

Fact-checked by

Paulius Masiliauskas*

"The Russian-owned company has been reported to be in communication with Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and is responsible for providing them with real-time intelligence and identifying data of customers’ computers."

https://cybernews.com/best-antivirus-software/kaspersky-antivirus-review/

*Paulius Masiliauskas is a content lead at Cybernews. An avid tester and spreadsheet lover, he currently specializes in website builder, VPN, antivirus, and password manager reviews

https://cybernews.com/author/pmasiliauskas/

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3 hours ago, tekkaman said:

Same way every antivirus reports users data to their home. Please stop with the politics.

Please provide fact checked articles to support your claims.

There's a huge difference between reporting to "home" (company) and directly to security services. So don't mix all in one bag.

Did you read the article? Or you just saying this to supress any discussions about Kaspersky?

The article shows pros and cons, a very balanced and polite article, I'd say.

Light on memory on one hand, not recommended to use due to the newly checked facts - on the other.

Everyone decides for himself.

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It's logic. All of them do. Even Windows does it. Windows reports to NSA and everyone here uses it without complaining. But NSA are the good guys right?  It's just the equivalent to the Russian intelligence but American version.

https://www.denverpost.com/2013/07/11/microsoft-gave-nsa-access-to-user-information-guardian-reports/

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4 minutes ago, Dixel said:

Please provide fact checked articles to support your claims.

https://www.cvedetails.com/vulnerability-list/vendor_id-8876/product_id-15666/Pandasecurity-Panda-Antivirus.html

The Panda version discussed here is v22 and that CVE is for v18.  Point is, Panda had to learn from its own mistakes.  As did Kaspersky (the anti-Kassperky rants here at MSFN are POLITICAL, period!)

That and ALL of you anti-Kaspersky folks won't even ADMIT that you can TURN OFF the "feature" that makes Kaspersky a privacy risk!

 

Malwarebytes gets hit with these security vulnerabilities all the time.

https://www.cvedetails.com/vulnerability-list/vendor_id-15027/Malwarebytes.html

 

So does AVG.

https://www.cvedetails.com/vulnerability-list/vendor_id-5639/AVG.html?page=1&order=1&trc=31&sha=3f64505c63df246736fcfcbbceb2561459dda9b9

 

It's political to turn a blind eye to Malwarebytes or AVG yet constantly constantly constantly point a finger at Kaspersky.

Turing off the computer for a few days.  I've been to this movie and it wasn't worth watching the first three dozen times.

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3 hours ago, tekkaman said:

Windows reports to NSA and everyone here uses it without complaining. But NSA are the good guys right?  It's just the equivalent to the Russian intelligence but American version.

May I just ignore your obvious beef with the NSA? Thanx.

I'm sorry, how is this relevant to Windows XP SP3 security programmes topic?

Do you have proof or fact checked articles about Windows XP alleged leaking? thanx.

Oh, and please stop with the politics.

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51 minutes ago, NotHereToPlayGames said:

https://www.cvedetails.com/vulnerability-list/vendor_id-8876/product_id-15666/Pandasecurity-Panda-Antivirus.html

The Panda version discussed here is v22 and that CVE is for v18.  Point is, Panda had to learn from its own mistakes.  As did Kaspersky (the anti-Kassperky rants here at MSFN are POLITICAL, period!)

That and ALL of you anti-Kaspersky folks won't even ADMIT that you can TURN OFF the "feature" that makes Kaspersky a privacy risk!

 

Malwarebytes gets hit with these security vulnerabilities all the time.

https://www.cvedetails.com/vulnerability-list/vendor_id-15027/Malwarebytes.html

 

So does AVG.

https://www.cvedetails.com/vulnerability-list/vendor_id-5639/AVG.html?page=1&order=1&trc=31&sha=3f64505c63df246736fcfcbbceb2561459dda9b9

 

It's political to turn a blind eye to Malwarebytes or AVG yet constantly constantly constantly point a finger at Kaspersky.

Turing off the computer for a few days.  I've been to this movie and it wasn't worth watching the first three dozen times.

There is a big difference whether there is an official warning, such as that from the BSI, for a programme or not. Such official warnings do not exist for Malwarebytes, Panda and AVG, but they do for Kaspersky. Any turning off features changes nothing at all. :no: TBH, such an official warning says it all. smilie_denk_24.gif And finally stop with your anti- and pro-categories in this thread! sstop.gif That has no place here. :no:

Edited by AstroSkipper
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Got Panda running on XP x64, you will need to install Application Verifier 4.0. And .NET Framework 4.0 too of course if you don't have it yet, the antivirus' management interface uses it. If you don't update the framework fully, might be a good idea to at least have KB2600211 as well to have some bugs of initial release fixed.

Run Application Verifier (from Application Verifier folder in Programs folder).

File->Add Application, you don't have to browse to any actual file, just type Stub.exe in the File name field and confirm. Repeat the process for Setup.exe.

Edit both entries like so, you don't need Basics, so uncheck it, then check HighVersionLie under Compatibility. Right-click on HighVersionLie->Properties, here you need to put in Windows Vista's info (crazy, I know, it's also funny that MS's own online installer for .NET Framework 4.0 tries to download an update for Windows Vista when executed on XP x64). I was going off MS documentation really quick, so maybe some flag is missing in that Suite mask field, but it'll work for this, I only list fields I changed:

Major version: 6
Build number: 6003
Service pack major: 2
Suite mask: 512
Product type: 1
CSD version: Service Pack 2

Save the changes, run the Panda installer (the official installer pulls the latest version from http://acs.pandasoftware.com/Panda/FREEAV/Promo_pd/FREEAV.exe (thanks @VistaLover), this was version 22.01.01 when this post was revised). First time around, before revising this post, the older 22.00.01 was tried from Major Geeks, there were some trouble with it and it refused to work properly next day.

I only changed (checked) Offline installation option during setup.

After installation is complete, delete entries from Application Verifier and save.

spacer.png

Edited by UCyborg
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8 minutes ago, UCyborg said:

(I got offline installer FREEAV.exe from Major Geeks),

One can always use the same direct fetch URI as the on-line installer does: 

http://acs.pandasoftware.com/Panda/FREEAV/Promo_pd/FREEAV.exe

This will get you the latest version of the off-line installer (88.9 MiB), with a dual digital signature of Sep 17th, 2023...

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21 hours ago, VistaLover said:

One can always use the same direct fetch URI as the on-line installer does: 

http://acs.pandasoftware.com/Panda/FREEAV/Promo_pd/FREEAV.exe

Or, one can use this link I have fetched from the online installer (93 88.9 MB) and provided im my post about Panda Free Antivirus
http://acs.pandasoftware.com/Panda/FREEAV/193309/FREEAV.exe

Edited by AstroSkipper
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17 minutes ago, AstroSkipper said:

Or, one can use this link I have fetched from the online installer (93 MB) and provided im my post about Panda Free Antivirus
http://acs.pandasoftware.com/Panda/FREEAV/193309/FREEAV.exe

Dear Astro :), we had the same discussion in the past, without any conclusive result :whistle:; the link you re-posted just now,

http://acs.pandasoftware.com/Panda/FREEAV/193309/FREEAV.exe

, is still valid, I just tried it mere seconds ago, but from my location it just fetches the exact same binary (sized 88.9 MiB, not 93) as the link I posted in my previous post,

http://acs.pandasoftware.com/Panda/FREEAV/Promo_pd/FREEAV.exe

, with the exact (dual, i.e. SHA1+SHA2) digital sig of 2023/09/17 !

In any case, "the more the better" :P, interested MSFN members can try both for themselves!

Kindest regards :) ...

Edited by VistaLover
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20 hours ago, VistaLover said:

Dear Astro :), we had the same discussion in the past, without any conclusive result :whistle:; the link you re-posted just now,

http://acs.pandasoftware.com/Panda/FREEAV/193309/FREEAV.exe

, is still valid, I just tried it mere seconds ago, but from my location it just fetches the exact same binary (sized 88.9 MiB, not 93) as the link I posted in my previous post,

http://acs.pandasoftware.com/Panda/FREEAV/Promo_pd/FREEAV.exe

, with the exact (dual, i.e. SHA1+SHA2) digital sig of 2023/09/17 !

In any case, "the more the better" :P, interested MSFN members can try both for themselves!

Kindest regards :) ...

I can remember very well. I checked my provided link some minutes before posting and the file FREEAV.exe has indeed the size of 93 88.9 MB. It seems to depend on the country from which you access the link. You know the proof is in the pudding. :P So, you can try to access the link with a German IP via VPN to check if the file size changes. I'll try to download the file with a Hellenic IP:)

Edited by AstroSkipper
correction
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20 hours ago, VistaLover said:

Dear Astro :), we had the same discussion in the past, without any conclusive result :whistle:; the link you re-posted just now,

http://acs.pandasoftware.com/Panda/FREEAV/193309/FREEAV.exe

, is still valid, I just tried it mere seconds ago, but from my location it just fetches the exact same binary (sized 88.9 MiB, not 93) as the link I posted in my previous post,

http://acs.pandasoftware.com/Panda/FREEAV/Promo_pd/FREEAV.exe

, with the exact (dual, i.e. SHA1+SHA2) digital sig of 2023/09/17 !

In any case, "the more the better" :P, interested MSFN members can try both for themselves!

Kindest regards :) ...

All horses back! The download manager in Opera on my Android tablet shows a wrong file size. Now, I am back at my desktop computer, and the file size of FREEAV.exe matches nearly the one you posted: 93181864 B (88.9 MB). I already corrected my posts. So this time, we seem to get the same offline installer regardless of our location. :P

Kindest regards, AstroSkipper :)

Edited by AstroSkipper
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