VIPRE tops AV repair test

VIPRE has topped one of the key AV-Test criteria for virus repair

APC magazine has reported that VIPRE (Smoothwall's chosen anti-malware developer)  has topped one of the key tests performed by the German security testing company AV-Test

Testing anti-malware software is fraught. Since the effectiveness of security packages varies from day to day depending on what new malware is released, APC magazine has given up trying. Instead, we rely on the test results of some independent security testing bodies whose only job is to test security products. One of the main testing organisations is AV-Test GmbH, a German company which runs a 20-person lab that regularly tests and certifies consumer and enterprise security software.

The AV-Test for consumer software tests for three main things. One is "Protection," or how effective the anti-malware is at detecting and preventing malware. Two, "Repair," looks at how well the software removes malware and disinfects a PC. And three, "Usability," determines how much the software slows down the system and how many false positives it generates.

The AV-Test Repair test checks the following areas:

• Removal of all active components of widespread malware from a computer. While the industry average in the test was 86%, VIPRE got 95%.
• Removal of further malicious components and remediation of critical system modifications made by malware.  Industry average was 48% while VIPRE’s was 71%.
• Detection of deliberately hidden active malware (rootkits and stealth malware). Industry average was 76% while VIPRE's was 86%.
• Removal of deliberately hidden malware (rootkits and stealth malware). Industry was 57% while VIPRE was 64%.