Question Downloading security software from Softpedia ?

[hakaru_eitara]

Hello everyone,

Today was my first time exploring Softpedia, and I was curious about its software categories.

I searched for tags like #firewall and #antivirus, but I noticed that more than 95% of the firewalls listed there are outdated—some haven't been updated in 4 to 5 years or even longer.

Starting from page 7 of the antivirus listings, it seems that many of them haven’t received updates either.


Here are my questions:

1. I understand the functional differences between antivirus and firewall software, but is it okay to use a firewall (like Comodo) that hasn’t been updated in several years?
2. Why have many antivirus programs never been updated? And if someone decides to use one of those outdated versions for a specific purpose, is it safe?
3. In general, is it safe to download any software from Softpedia that’s labeled "FREE"?
4. Which Firewall for windows 10 you can suggest ?
5. How can I determine which software is best suited for a specific purpose? Should I rely on the number of downloads or user ratings? What characteristics are helpful to consider for someone who isn’t familiar with that area?

Thank you🙏

 

[SkyNetRising]

Windows has built in firewall and has built in defender antivirus.

Why are you looking for a 3rd party firewall?
Are you looking for some specific firewall features (built in windows firewall can't provide) ?
I'd stay away from comodo firewall. It can mess up your pc, when you decide to get rid of it.

Windows defender antivirus also is considered quite good.

 

[cruisetung]

Windows has built in firewall and has built in defender antivirus.

Why are you looking for a 3rd party firewall?
Are you looking for some specific firewall features (built in windows firewall can't provide) ?
I'd stay away from comodo firewall. It can mess up your pc, when you decide to get rid of it.

Windows defender antivirus also is considered quite good.

Exactly. No 3rd party firewall/antivirus needed. No market for 3rd party software so no update.

Softpedia stuff is quite safe, never encounter any virus from this site.

Another safe site: Snapfiles

 

[hakaru_eitara]

Are you looking for some specific firewall features (built in windows firewall can't provide) ?

Thank you. Honestly, no—I just thought it could be something supplementary to Microsoft Firewall and Defender Antivirus.

 

[hakaru_eitara]

Exactly. No 3rd party firewall/antivirus needed. No market for 3rd party software so no update.

Softpedia stuff is quite safe, never encounter any virus from this site.

Another safe site: Snapfiles

Thank you. I have another post (about analyzing a CMD script). Do you mean that while I'm scanning the OS and files using Microsoft Defender, I can feel confident that if I suspect a file but nothing is found by the updated Defender, I can consider it safe and feel free ?

 

[hakaru_eitara]

part of software description in softpedia

A more precise detection tool​

Most online forums usually recommend sticking with Microsoft’s default Defender utility and using common sense when handling downloaded content from seemingly insecure sources whose offers sound too good to be true.

However, not all users are experienced enough to recognize malware-filled utilities whose file sizes are too small to possess the advertised content, such as only a few hundred megabytes worth of 4K movies. Certain types of viruses can cause false-positives in Windows’ built-in antivirus, which is where the tool at hand comes into play.

https://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/X-Sec-Antivirus.shtml

 

[cruisetung]

No need to download other scanning tools other than using MS built-in stuff, really, as long as you are not looking for and download/install cracked software. I haven't use anything from suspicious sites and never got virus and I just don't use any 3rd party scanning tools. Windows defender is enough for you.

 

[hakaru_eitara]

No need to download other scanning tools other than using MS built-in stuff, really, as long as you are not looking for and download/install cracked software. I haven't use anything from suspicious sites and never got virus and I just don't use any 3rd party scanning tools. Windows defender is enough for you.

Thank you .
One question more please
If I have two OS , full scan system via MS defender can also scan second OS as well as ?I know it's not access to registry of second OS but those system files and other parts .

 

[USAFRet]

I searched for tags like #firewall and #antivirus,

The only AV you need is Windows Defender!

 

[hakaru_eitara]

The only AV you need is Windows Defender!

Thank you . Could you please answer the last question:

If I have two OS , full scan system with Windows Defender can also scan second OS as well ?

 

[USAFRet]

Thank you . Could you please answer the last question:

If I have two OS , full scan system with Windows Defender can also scan second OS as well ?

It will scan whatever drives are in the system.

Which 2 OS's, and why?

 

[hakaru_eitara]

It will scan whatever drives are in the system.

Which 2 OS's, and why?

7 and 10
I switch to 10 now but not uninstall win 7 yet

 

[cruisetung]

You can scan all OS drives, The problem is some startup scripts/exe virus files only run at OS booting startup, so not 100% guaranteed.

 

[hakaru_eitara]

You can scan all OS drives, The problem is some startup scripts/exe virus files only run at OS booting startup, so not 100% guaranteed.

Yesterday I accidentally see an option that MS defender has 4 options , last one is MS Defender offline that restart system and maybe check during boot.
Is there any 3rd party scanning tool/AV/Malware removal you could suggest me ?
Thank you and I appreciate your kind help

 

[cruisetung]

I think I repeated several times that I don't use 3rd party scanning tools. So no suggestions.

 

[rgd1101]

no tool that is 100% if you keep downloading stuff from the internet.

 

[hakaru_eitara]

Thank you understand what you mean

no tool that is 100% if you keep downloading stuff from the internet.