Several unique terms and phrases describe the features of software we review on this site, some easier to grasp than others. This list briefly defines terms relevant to Anti-Virus Software.

Ratings

Ease of Use

Is the product easy to use even for a novice? How easy is it to navigate through the product?

Effectiveness

How effective is the application at protecting your computer from harmful viruses or worms?

Feature Set

The feature set of a software is the amount of different features that the product has. Does the product contain all the features that are required to perform its function?

Ease of Installation

How easy is the program to install? Were there many errors that occurred? Is the complete program in one package or do you have to download additional parts off the Internet.

Help/Support

Is the Help documentation helpful or does it still leave unanswered questions? Is it easy to find yourself around the help document.

Features

ICSA Certified

The ICSA is an independent organization that has a set criteria for certifying anti–virus software. To find out more about the criteria that is being test or the organization, click here.

VB100% Certified

The Virus Bulletin 100% is an award given to antivirus software that detects all current “in the wild” viruses during both on–demand and on–access scanning in Virus Bulletin’s comparative tests and generates no false positives when scanning a set of clean files.

W.C.L Level 1 Certified

The West Coast Labs Checkmark level 1 & 2 certifications are given to antivirus software that detects all current “in the wild” viruses, generates no false positives, prevents virus replication and disinfects all of the viruses that can be disinfected.

W.C.L Level 2 Certified

The West Coast Labs Checkmark level 1 & 2 certifications are given to antivirus software that detects all current “in the wild” viruses, generates no false positives, prevents virus replication and disinfects all of the viruses that can be disinfected.

Scanning Capabilities

On-access Scanning

Your files are scanned when you receive them and when you try to access them.

On-demand Scanning

You can determine which files and when to scan for viruses. It’s like manual scanning but you can be more specific and scan a file at a particular time. Simply right–click on the filename.

Scheduled Scanning

A scheduler allows you to set a schedule for when and possibly how the program is going to scan your hard drive for viruses.

Heuristic Scanning

Heuristic scanning is used to detect newly-made viruses. In other words viruses that have recently been released.

Manual Scanning

Manual Scanning is the ability to start a scan of your hard drive at any time.

Script Blocking

Script Blocking technology monitors Java and VBS scripts and alerts users of virus-like behavior. They stop these viruses before they can infect a system without needing virus definitions.

Scan Compressed Files

Scans zipped (.zip) or other compressed files that are usually obtained through emails or downloaded from the web.

Auto-Clean Infected Files

The anti-virus program will automatically clean or fix files that are infected.

Quarantines Infected Files

If a file is suspected of being infected with a virus, it moves the file to a "quarantine" area where you cannot accidentally access it.

Email Protection

The anti-virus software scans files received through incoming emails on a POP3 account?

Instant Messaging Protection

The anti-virus software scans files received through instant messaging (MSN Messenger, AIM, Yahoo Messenger)?

WebMail Protection

The anti-virus software scans files received through webmail (AOL.com, MSN.com, Hotmail.com, Yahoo.com, etc..)?

Updates

Automatic Definition Updates

The program automatically updates virus definitions or DAT files. A virus definition is basically the formula that the software uses to determine if a file is infected by a specific virus.

Automatic Program Updates

The program automatically checks and installs software updates.

Manual Definition Updates

You can manually check for virus definition updates.

Manual Program Updates

You can manually check for software updates.

Other Features

Password Protect Settings

Prevents the Anti-Virus settings from being modified by other users.

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