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

[Vistapocalypse]

It’s quite a relief to me that you have treated Avast fairly even though you are embarked on a quest to find something better.  (Good luck with your quest, but I’m still not convinced there is anything better for XP/Vista.) In fact you overstated the features of Avast Free 18.8 in your first paragraph:

2 hours ago, AstroSkipper said:

Avast Free Antivirus....offers additionally...Ransomware Shield, and core Firewall functionality....

As your “Protection” screenshot shows, those features are locked in Avast Free, although I’m sure you had them with Avast Premier. (Malwarebytes Premium includes Ransomware Protection, but unfortunately that feature is inactive on XP/Vista. )

 

[AstroSkipper]

2 hours ago, Vistapocalypse said:

It’s quite a relief to me that you have treated Avast fairly even though you are embarked on a quest to find something better.  (Good luck with your quest, but I’m still not convinced there is anything better for XP/Vista.)

Thanks for your reply! Of course, I always try to treat programs I present as fairly as possible. BTW, you must have misunderstood something. I am not looking for a better program. I'm not doing all this for myself, but to give all Windows XP users a structured overview of the remaining protection programs and to preserve data of them. As far as security peograms are concerned, I am well provided for. And there is no doubt that Avast has a perfect detection rate. I have used Avast Premier for ages in my system, and there was a time I was more happy with it.

2 hours ago, Vistapocalypse said:

In fact you overstated the features of Avast Free 18.8 in your first paragraph:

5 hours ago, AstroSkipper said:

Avast Free Antivirus....offers additionally...Ransomware Shield, and core Firewall functionality....

As your “Protection” screenshot shows, those features are locked in Avast Free, although I’m sure you had them with Avast Premier. (Malwarebytes Premium includes Ransomware Protection, but unfortunately that feature is inactive on XP/Vista. )

As I wrote, I used Avast Free Antivirus only a short time. Maybe, I overstated it. So, no Ransomware Shield. Ok! Do you know whether it has the Web Protection feature?  Or much better, does it have a Web Shield and a Mail Shield? Can you upload a screenshot with all available shields? I thought that was meant by core Firewall functionality. I know there is no firewall, of course. It's a feature of AIS and AP. I only wrote what I found about the features of Avast Free Antivirus. And all sources stated different facts. Even on the original Avast Free Antivirus homepage from 2018. And you're right, Avast Premier has all these features including the Ransomware Shield. Anyway! I didn't install Avast Free Antivirus and I won't do it, either.

Edited May 5, 2023 by AstroSkipper
Update of content

[Vistapocalypse]

5 hours ago, AstroSkipper said:

Screenshots:

 

You already posted very relevant screenshots. I did not install every available feature, e.g. Software Updater would advise you to update programs that cannot be updated on post-EOL XP/Vista in any case.

[AstroSkipper]

46 minutes ago, Vistapocalypse said:

You already posted very relevant screenshots. I did not install every available feature, e.g. Software Updater would advise you to update programs that cannot be updated on post-EOL XP/Vista in any case.

In times of Avast Premier, I didn't install Software Updater, either. Those features are always crap. But are you sure that all features from my first screenshot are fully available in Avast Free Antivirus? I assume that for example SecureLine VPN has to be paid and is not really part of Avast Free Antivirus. And I read on Avast's homepage from 2018 (archive.org) a spam and phishing filter is only a feature of AIS or AP. So is there really a Mail Shield in Avast Free Antivirus? 

Edited May 5, 2023 by AstroSkipper
Update of content

[AstroSkipper]

Ok! I checked again the Avast Free Antivirus homepage from November of 2018 on archive.org. For Avast Free Antivirus 18.8, four Core Shields are listed to be available: File Shield, Behavior Shield, Web Shield and Email Shield (only Outlook and Thunderbird are supported). Additionally, I found a German YouTube video from 2018 which confirms that indeed all features exist and can be enabled. Therefore, I revised my post in terms of available shields in Avast Free Antivirus. 

Edited May 7, 2023 by AstroSkipper
Update of content

[D.Draker]

23 hours ago, AstroSkipper said:

@D.Draker Just to clarify it! It was @jaclaz and you who stated the following:

What I did was simply checking the results of these tests which @jaclaz and you mentioned here. And unfortunately the results are rather poor. So it seems you trust tests from Virus Bulletin in general otherwise you wouldn't have mentioned it. Therefore, I don't understand your objections at all. You can't put forward arguments and then directly cast doubt on them again. That does not make sense at all.  
Spoken for me only, there are some testing institutes I try to trust: AV-TEST, Virus Bulletin and AV-Comparatives. And I don't and won't do such tests by myself. 

People cannot always be of the same opinion. But that is no reason to throw in the towel right away. So, don't leave! Go on! That's the idea of discussions. 

Thank you again! Yes, the last weeks I am so tired ...  I really don't know what's going on here. 

Greetings, AstroSkipper 

Posted Wednesday at 01:43 PM (edited)

 

https://msfn.org/board/topic/184730-antimalware-firewall-and-other-security-programs-for-windows-xp-working-in-2023-and-hopefully-beyond/?do=findComment&comment=1244620

 

Posted Wednesday at 02:15 PM (edited)

 

https://msfn.org/board/topic/184730-antimalware-firewall-and-other-security-programs-for-windows-xp-working-in-2023-and-hopefully-beyond/?do=findComment&comment=1244625

 

Posted Wednesday at 10:50 PM . Actual time maybe off - due to glitches in my browser. (But in any case - 9 hours later than your post).

 

https://msfn.org/board/topic/184730-antimalware-firewall-and-other-security-programs-for-windows-xp-working-in-2023-and-hopefully-beyond/?do=findComment&comment=1244656

 

In any case, fellas , I don't want to play ball. I said what I said, and nothing else to add. The AV works fine. If my GF sees it works bad, I'll notify you ASAP.

 

Take care and Regards.

[AstroSkipper]

Although this thread is actually only targeting the Windows XP operating system, I have nevertheless added the necessary system requirements to my articles in which I present security programs, in order to let our fans of Windows Vista in particular know whether the program in question is compatible with this operating system or not. 

Cheers, AstroSkipper 

[AstroSkipper]

I revised my article about Avast Free Antivirus again:

I added new screenshots, new links and further facts. I think it should be complete now, at least I do hope so. If you find any mistakes or miss something, please just post it here!

Kind regards, AstroSkipper 

Edited May 7, 2023 by AstroSkipper
Update of content

[AstroSkipper]

Avast Free Antivius 2015 (last version for SSE only CPUs):

This version is the last compatible version of Avast Free Antivirus for Windows XP running on a computer with a CPU that does not have more than the SSE instruction set. It still receives definition updates on a regular base.

Features:

Quote

Protection against viruses and spyware is the fundamental feature for timely detection and removal of trojans, worms, spyware, rootkits and potentially unwanted programs. Efficiency of this routine is ensured by regularly updated definitions-based engine, behavioral analysis, real-time defense, and cloud features.

Hybrid cloud technologies combine reputation services and streaming updates. This way, the user stays appropriately protected from the newest threats that the conventional signature principle might fail to handle.

Real-time shields are things that give avast! Free Antivirus an advantage over the competition. The program features a mix of the following additional protection modules: File System Shield, Mail Shield, and Web Shield. Each one of these can be stopped and re-launched at any time, plus you can apply custom settings and view the corresponding shield logs. Be advised making changes to shields’ statuses requires a computer restart to take effect.

Browser Cleanup is a feature whose objective is to check the web browsers installed on the computer for add-ons with poor user rating. It finds the extensions which are questionably safe and advises on countermeasures. If the user wants, the intrusive toolbars and other add-ons can be uninstalled in a single click.

By using the Remote Assistance option, avast! users can access each other’s computers remotely, which may be particularly useful for troubleshooting or maintenance purposes. No matter how complex this functionality might seem, the feature is a trifle to make use of: you click a button to generate a unique code which you can report to the person you would like to get assistance from. Likewise, to help your friend and access their machine, enter the code they sent you into the corresponding box.

Smart Scan is an all-in-one feature which makes it a single-click experience to check the computer for viruses and malware, hacker threats, out-of-date software and home network security status.

Software Updater is built into the application to detect out-of-date programs and inform the user about the apps that are up to date. For the utilities where a newer version is available, avast! Free Antivirus 2015 provides a one-click feature to download the latest build, which is really convenient because you don’t have to go to the vendor’s site. Activating automatic updates is a matter of first purchasing the Premier version’s license.

The Home Network Security (HNS) tool scans the network and router for potential issues that may expose your computer and other connected devices to the risk of remote intrusion.

SecureLine VPN is an online privacy feature which enables encrypting the user’s connection with a military-grade algorithm. This instrument is intended to provide web anonymity and prevent tracking of one’s activity on the Internet. Although this tool is included into the feature set for avast! Free Antivirus, it’s only fully functional for three days – a purchase is mandatory for further use.

Datasheet: http://files.avast.com/files/marketing/materials/datasheets/en/v2015/avast_free_2015_en.pdf

Homepage: https://web.archive.org/web/20151004232841/https://www.avast.com/index

Version number: 10.4.2233.1299

Date of release: 17.09.2015

System requirements:

Windows XP (with at least SP2), Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 in both the 32- and 64-bit variant. Pentium 3 processor or higher with 128 MB RAM and 2 GB of hard-drive space.

Test: https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/october-2015/avast-free-antivirus-2015-153713/

Review: https://tecoreviews.com/reviews/avast-free-antivirus-2015-review/

Download links:

Offline installer:

https://www.afterdawn.com/software/security/antivirus/avast_free.cfm/2015__10_4_2233_

or

https://www.filepuma.com/download/avast_free_antivirus_10.4.2233-9698/

Avast VPS update for versions 9 to 11: https://install.avcdn.net/ivps9x/vpsupd.exe

Screenshots:





I listed here Avast Free Antivius 2015 only for all owners of a very old computer whose CPU lacks of SSE2 and up. The program itself is very old, but Avast still rolls out regularly definition updates online and offline for this version. 

Kind regards, AstroSkipper 

Edited May 7, 2023 by AstroSkipper
Update of content

[AstroSkipper]

BitDefender 1.0.21.1109 can't be verified here to be working in Windows XP. The online installers for this version don't work anymore. BitDefender must have removed the online sources which these installers need to download. An offline installer would therefore be necessary.
@bluebolt You made the following statement in March of this year:

On 3/24/2023 at 10:40 PM, bluebolt said:

Yes, there is a full (offline) installer for BitDefender 1.0.21.1109, and it still works fine.

Since then, no further information from you! At this point, I would ask you to share your knowledge with us. Any detailed information about this offline installer would be helpful such as name, size, date and version. Even better would be a working download link or, if there is no longer one, an upload link.  Thanks in advance!

Kind regards, AstroSkipper 

PS: Due to the lack of a working installer, I added BitDefender 1.0.21.1109 to the list in the third post.

Edited May 9, 2023 by AstroSkipper
Update of content

[AstroSkipper]

Avast Internet Security and Avast Premier

All features of Avast Free Antivirus which are listed in the post

are of course included in Avast Internet Security and Avast Premier. Both versions are commercial. Additional features are: Firewall, Anti-spam, Real Site, Ransomware Shield, Sandbox, Data Shredder (only in Premier) and Webcam Shield (only in Premier).

Comparison of Avast Security programs in form of a table:



Homepage of Avast Internet Security: https://web.archive.org/web/20181120211012/https://www.avast.com/internet-security

Homepage of Avast Premier: https://web.archive.org/web/20181120211119/https://www.avast.com/premier

Version number: 18.8.4084.0

Date of release: 15.11.2018

System Requirements:

A PC with 256 MB+ RAM and 1.5 GB of hard disk space. Avast Antivirus is compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP SP3.

Download links:

Online installers:

https://install.avcdn.net/av/avast/iavs9x/avast_internet_security_setup_online.exe

https://install.avcdn.net/av/avast/iavs9x/avast_premier_antivirus_setup_online.exe

Offline installers:

https://install.avcdn.net/iavs9x-xp/avast_internet_security_setup_offline.exe

https://install.avcdn.net/iavs9x-xp/avast_premier_antivirus_setup_offline.exe

Avast Uninstall Utility (Avast Clear) in the correct version of 18.8.4084.0: https://web.archive.org/web/20181116091922if_/http://iavs9x.avg.u.avcdn.net/iavs9x/avastclear.exe

How to uninstall Avast using Avast Clear:

Sometimes it's not possible to uninstall Avast the standard way using the Add/Remove Programs in control panel. In this case, you can use the uninstallation utility Avast Clear:

• Download avastclear.exe on your desktop.
• Start Windows in Safe Mode.
• Execute the avastclear.exe.
• If you installed Avast in a different folder than the default, browse for it. (Note: Be careful! The content of any folder you choose will be deleted!).
• Click REMOVE.
• Restart your computer.

Screenshots:









All I wrote in my article about Avast Free Antivirus also applies to Avast Internet Security and Avast Premier. Very good protection but very bloated. They are definitely options for Windows XP, but I personally can't and won't recommend them here due to my reservations and experiences from the past as I already wrote in the post about Avast Free Antivirus.

Kind regards, AstroSkipper 

Edited May 9, 2023 by AstroSkipper
Update of content

[Vistapocalypse]

7 hours ago, AstroSkipper said:

BitDefender 1.0.21.1109 can't be verified here to be working in Windows XP. The online installers for this version don't work anymore....An offline installer would therefore be necessary.

Even if an offline installer can be located (bluebolt posted a third-party download link April 23, 2019 but filehorse evidently no longer has that old version), “all updates” for BitDefender Antivirus Free for Windows were supposed to cease June 30, 2022:

https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/answer/2027/

[AstroSkipper]

17 minutes ago, Vistapocalypse said:

Even if an offline installer can be located (bluebolt posted a third-party download link April 23, 2019 but filehorse evidently no longer has that old version), “all updates” for BitDefender Antivirus Free for Windows were supposed to cease June 30, 2022:

https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/answer/2027/

And what about this post?

There is a picture inside:



It says "LAST UPDATED: Today", and the date is 24.03.2023. Is it fake? 

[Vistapocalypse]

I just looked at a YouTube video in which that exact version was tested. The video was uploaded in June 2014 i.e. that’s a mighty old version!

Edit: The version x.x x.1109 that bluebolt uses only dates back to July 2016. 

Edited May 10, 2023 by Vistapocalypse
Oops!

[NotHereToPlayGames]

1 hour ago, AstroSkipper said:

It says "LAST UPDATED: Today", and the date is 24.03.2023. Is it fake? 

I myself would not go by the "last updated" date in the GUI but rather look at timestamp info for the definitions file.

I only say that because we can't rule out that what you downloaded "today" and thusly reported by the GUI as "last updated" is actually an OLD definition database.

Not sure how to verify that, but just saying it is "possible".