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.
This post last updated: Nov 7, 2006
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
Version: 1.1beta
Download page here for latest version (you will need to sign up for your free registration code). The Developer’s Site.
Samer Kurdi
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