Myths about Dr.Web Anti-virus

They say, that in a computer scanned by the Dr.Web Anti-virus another antivirus program can find viruses.

To explain why this could happen, you should understand what code is considered by Dr.Web as a virus. By viruses the developers of Dr.Web mean only runnable (operable) computer codes which may damage a computer. The damaged, non-operable codes are not included into Dr.Web virus database, but such codes are often included into virus databases by other av-vendors. We do not strive to supplement our virus database with non-working signatures (virus entries), which only make its size bigger, but give no real protection to users. Besides, the message on the computer screen that a "virus" was found may only threaten a user. If the code cannot be run, it is not a virus, it is not a Troj - it is nothing and is not included, as a rule, into Dr.Web virus database.

If a user suspects a file or files are infected, he may send them for analysis to Dr.Web Anti-virus Laboratory.

They say, Dr.Web cannot be installed on notebooks, as it is too resource-consuming for notebooks.

Notebooks are the same computers as desktops. But they have less operating memory, less powerful processors. That is why people often think an anti-virus protracts a notebook's operation much more than a desktop's operation. Another feature of all notebooks, they slow read information from hard drives - this is their weak point. Consequently, the scanning of hard drives by an anti-virus takes a little more time, which is natural.

There is a myth that Dr.Web Anti-virus does not check critical parts of the system and startup files.

This is a myth. The Dr.Web scanner and SpIDer Guard (XP and Me) scan boot sectors of drives, as well as startup files and cure them, if necessary.

There is a myth that Dr.Web Anti-virus is not reliable enough as it does not cure viruses in archives.

Each anti-virus program has its own unique concept of building of av-protection. Dr.Web does not cure viruses in archives, but this does not decrease the level of protection it provides comparing to other similar programs on the market, which is constantly proved by numerous Virus Bulletin awards. Dr.Web perfectly detects viruses in archives and with SpIDer Guard constantly enabled such a virus has no chances to get outside the infected archive and infect a system. Besides, one must know, that there are a few programs which can cure all viruses they can detect in an infected archive! To "cure archives" means to cure all archives where a program can detect viruses. It is not only to cure or delete the infected file inside the archive, the archive should be packed back to make its content accessible for a user. In most cases such "re-packing" is impossible without licenses of the archiver’s algorithm. If the av-developer says he can cure acrhives - ask him to show all these licenses!

There is a myth that Dr.Web Anti-virus has no option to set several scanning tasks at a time.

This is not true. One can run several GUI-scanners simultaneously and scan simultaneously several partitions of the hard drive. This will result in considerable increase of scan time.

There is a myth that monitoring in Dr.Web Anti-virus cannot be terminated during the operation of resource consuming applications.

This is a myth. In SpIDer Guard XP, SpIDer Guard Me, SpIDer Mail the monitoring can be temporarily terminated. In SpIDer Guard XP this option is enabled by default. In other modules the ini-file should be configured accordingly.

There is a myth that Dr.Web Anti-virus does not have an option to specify actions for all types of threats.

This is not true, there are such setting options for each types of malware:

• curable viruses;
• incurable viruses;
• adware;
• dialers;
• joke programs;
• riskware;
• hacker tools.

There is a myth that the function of a system scanning before installation implemented in Dr.Web Anti-virus does not safeguard installation of the anti-virus on the already infected machine

This is not true. In the already infected system most viruses can be disinfected by Dr.Web during scanning of memory and startup files during the installation. Additionally, before scanning, during the installation procedure, the virus databases can be updated – and this is the installation routine. Thus, installing Dr.Web, a user receives the latest available add-ons to the virus database, and not those burnt onto a CD with distribution.

There is a myth that Dr.Web Anti-virus does not have a behavior blocker

This is partially true. What can be called parts of a behavior blocker in Dr.Web are:

• virus activity control function in SpIDer Mail;
• virus activity control function in SpIDer Guard Me;

In addition to it, Dr.Web has a powerful heuristic analyzer which gets constantly perfect and is being changed almost with every add-on.

There is a myth that Dr.Web Anti-virus must have a firewall because some other av-vendors deliver firewalls too.

Firewall and antivirus – are programs of very different nature. A simple example. You will hardly ask a director of a tank plant why they do not manufacture warships, though both are means of war. Anti-virus performs its definite functions, analyzes objects on the drive and in the computer memory. Firewall analyzes packages transferred on the network. None of anti-virus programs contains a firewall, though one can find a firewall in the box with anti-virus of the same developer, but it does not mean this firewall is inbuilt into the anti-virus.

Some vendors offer firewalls together with anti-virus for better protection but firewall is not an obligatory components of the anti-virus. Anti-viruses, fiewalls and anti-spyware programs are absolutely different types of data security programs.

There is a myth that Dr.Web Anti-virus does not support Windows 98, Me, NT 4.0

This is a myth. Dr.Web Anti-virus supports all versions of Windows - 95 OSR2 (some AV-vendors have long refused to support them) /98/Me/NT4.0/2000/XP/2003, including server platforms . Besides, Dr.Web supports MS DOS, PC DOS, OS/2.

There is a myth that Dr.Web Anti-virus cannot restore a system after infection.

It is true if we speak about the situation when system files were damaged by a virus. But to restore system files is not a function of an anti-virus. For this there are special backup programs and standard system restoration tools inbuilt into Windows. Indeed, several AV-vendors often say their anti-virus can restore system after infection, but we do not know what they mean.

There is a myth that Dr.Web Anti-virus cannot check messages received via IMAP "on the fly" regardless the mail client used.

This is a myth. 11.05.2006 updated version of SpIDer Mail was released. Now Dr.Web checks messages via IMAP\NNTP “on the fly” regardless the mail client type. At present Dr.Web is the only program which correctly processes such mails.

There is a myth that Dr.Web’s virus database is updated only once a week

This is a myth. A user can check the frequency of "hot" add-on release and its content here. This myths was born because in addition to hot add-ons Dr.Web releases weekly add-ons. virus databases of Dr.Web for Windows are set to be updated hourly by default.

There is a myth that Dr.Web’s virus databases is the most compact because old viruses are excluded from it that is why it is so compact and the scanning speed is so high.

This is not true. We never delete old viruses from the virus database. And the best proof of it is successful participation in the comparative reviews of the most authoritative magazine Virus Bulletin. The anti-virus programs are tested on the collections where viruses of almost all generations are kept.

Know a myth about Dr.Web? Write about it!

Your name:
E-mail address:
Enter the string from the picture:
Your myth about Dr.Web: