Comodo AntiVirus

Comodo AntivirusRating: 55 Star Rating 

This post last updated: Nov 7, 2006

Version: 1.1beta

Description: Comodo promises to be a complete install-and-forget antivirus solution that it 100% free.  This is beta software, so before you install and use this software please read the rest of this posting.

I have been using this software for a while now and I must say I am satisfied with it, so far it seems to be delivering what it promises. However, I will say that this software is in beta and this sometimes shows in the form of unexplained crashes and quirky behavior.

This program feautures (a) real time protection, (b) incoming/outgoing email scan, (c) automatic updates, (d) virus scans on demand, and (e) it also promises powerful heuristic detection of unknown viruses (i.e. a type of smart detection whereby an unknown virus is identified based on its behavior).

Comodo also does not seem to require a lot of resources to run. This is good, as my biggest peeve about many antivirus programs is that they can be so resource intensive as to literally slow up a fairly decent spec machine (Norton and McAfee spring to mind). Happily, from both what I read as well as well as my experience so far, this software does NOT seem to be a resouce hog.

But I do have a number of complaints about this program, all related to the fact that this software is still a beta release.

For example, I have experienced a number of crashes upon downloading updates and have been unable to download email because Comodo seemed to be ’stuck’ in the process of scanning email. Also, on some (but not all) PCs I’ve installed this on I’ve noticed that there is an issue whereby Comodo is notrecognized by Windows Security center as an Antivirus program, and I really do not like to be stuck with an icon notification in the tray area asking me to install an Antivirus program. (Note: the Comodo support forums have confirmed that the Security Center issue will be addressed in the upcoming ver 2beta. Until then, you could simply live with it or go to Security Center and check the box that says “I have an antivirus solution that I will monitor myself”).

The other thing I don’t like about CAV is that the version I tested would not work with another antivirus program installed (in fact, my system would not boot at all and I had to go to safe mode to remove both of them and reinstall CAV). While having only one antivirus software might make sense in terms of resource utilization, etc, there are times when you would like to have two sources of protection for a layered defence.

Finally, despite the exciting things that this program offers, we will have to wait until the official release in the beginning of 2007, when the software will be submitted for comparison testing, in order to learn more about how it fares in relation to other antivirus programs.

Note: it seems that Comodo have had problems in the past that have given them a bit of a bad rap. Their software used to install a component to promote their other software that was impossible to uninstall, but this has been since removed. They were also having problems with some bug issues that largely seem to have been taking care of.

All in all I am expecting this program to be a major heavyweight contender to the title of “best free antivirus”, but we will have to wait and see. I am giving it the benefit of the doubt for now with a 5-star rating, keeping my fingers crossed that the non-beta will deliver what is promised.

More detailed feature list list from the Comodo Website | Comparison table from the Comodo Website

Download page here for latest version (you will need to sign up for your free registration code). The Developer’s Site.

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13 Comments so far

  1. vilas potade on November 28th, 2006

    Dear Sir,

    Thanks for offering free software. we will use and then submit our comments

    Thanks and regards
    Vilas Potade
    Nov. 28, 2006

  2. Gajanan on December 6th, 2006

    i like this webside very much

  3. sonu on December 6th, 2006

    This is a nice idea to offer free softwares for all, since some of the softwares we couldnt find or get, this website give a chance to download these softwares freely. Thanks
    for giving such a good opportunity.

  4. [...] Note: Comodo seems to have had problems with a component that came with their software that was difficult to uninstall, but that has since been removed (see my Comodo Antivirus posting). You will also have to provide an email address for them to email you your free activation code. I did this without problems, but you can use a service such as mailexpire to provide you with a temporary email address that will work as well. [...]

  5. Sachin Rathore on August 23rd, 2007

    ok

  6. sameer on August 24th, 2007

    its not clear that , from where to download the software,,,so make it more clear

  7. Dave on October 25th, 2007

    Antivirus - I used McAfee for a long time but found it a resource hog. Then the lastest version of its security suite made it virtually impossible for me to download my email so I uninstalled it. I ran Kaspersky’s online scan and it found one virus in my system. Then I dowloaded the trial programme, installed it on my system and ran it. It found nothing! Now, either one of them must be wrong. I subsequently ran my system through Symantec’s online virus scan and Trend Micro’s online scan and they found nothing. So, going on my experience with Comodo Firewall Pro, I decided to give Comodo Antivirus a go and I am pretty satisfied with it. Its easy to install, easy to use and not a resource hog. The European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research says, “A good anti-virus scanner will spot a ‘virus’ inside an ARCHIVEe” and the Comodo Antivirus did.

  8. Rahul on November 18th, 2007

    this is the most coolest website i have ever seen thank u so much

  9. Nick on December 29th, 2007

    I wished Comodo Antivirus would update their list for recognized applications, so that my submission request for the application on XP2 shown below will no longer appear at Reboot!
    Appl. mchinjdr v. sys from
    C.\windows\system32\drivers

    I find it annoying to allways having to attend to this request.
    Nick.

  10. Frank Ryan on January 18th, 2008

    Time to upgrade my antivirus

  11. [...] admin wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptTime to upgrade my antivirus. [...]

  12. dogi on February 6th, 2008

    Tell me pls how to download form freewaregenius.com.

  13. reedone816 on April 10th, 2008

    i had stopped using this antivirus for several months because it’s actually not a real-time protection! one of the good thing in this only its HIPS, while virus detecting is very lousy, most of the virus catched in my computer was not detected by comodo av.
    something i realize after several month using it and when my computer invaded by virus.
    so i switch to other free antivirus, avira personal, since avira is the second best rank in all av in february by av-comparatives.org. and i combine it with spyware terminator.

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