Ad-Aware gets an antivirus cousin

December 17, 2008 Software Review

Lavasoft Anti-Virus Helix is Lavasoft’s first full-fledged antivirus application, pursuing the tracks of the company’s popular adware and spyware-sniffer, as well as a lesser-known file shredder, firewall and registry cleaner.
Lavasoft Anti-Virus shares the most favorite components of antivirus apps: malware blockers, detection, scanner, malware removal and protection from e-mail viruses and Web threats. Also offering full system scanning and, in addition, lets you pick from predetermined scans or create a profile to scan a smaller portion of your PC, i.e. “C” drive.
Lavasoft’s new antivirus app pasted the test: It beeped when encountering a wary file and wouldn’t move until being ignored, deteleted or quarantined.
You can do any number of things with the data, including print, save, and send reports. However, it could use an internal browser to look up information online about discovered threats.

Extra’s: Entering expert mode, you’ll be able to turn rookit scanning, scan outgoing e-mail messages, specify MIME types to block (any area of an e-mail where malware can snag a ride).
Biggest problem of this application is that you have to manually discover and add STMP e-mail and specific MIME detail points. Anit-Virus Helix is much less user-friendly in visual appeal, navigation and organization compared to Ad-Aware and others in Lavasoft’s family.