bertieboy said:
I've seen a couple of fairly negative reviews of AOL which has put me
off. The Kaspersky is (AIUI) a cutdown version of their own program, no
heuristics. There was also criticism of AOL's attitude that they will
use email addresses.
AVS is KAV 6 MP0 (KAV 6.0.0.303 hotfix e) with an AOL skin. If you
install KAV 6 MP0 without the Web AV module and the PDM modules (AAA,
AIC, RG, OG), you have a KAV installation that is _identical_ to AVS
(without the toolbar, of course). AVS and KAV 6 MP0 _both_ use the same
engines, including heuristics, and signatures. Other than AOL's greenish
skin, there is _no_ difference.
Just don't install the AOL Security Toolbar. Most people consider it to
be spyware. And the email address that you give to AOL? I don't know.
They will use it, of course. That is how you get your AVS activation
code. Same as with every other software vendor in the world. Now whether
AOL sells lists of these addresses or not, your guess is as good as mine.
Trust me, the KL developers are too busy to strip down KAV, and then fix
all of the problems associated with doing that. There is _no_ AVS
support team, only KAV 5 & 6 (MP0, MP1, MP2) support. AOL's own software
still includes McAfee products. And so why did AOL pay KL to do this?
Obviously a marketing stunt. Beyond that, I really don't know.
I use KIS/KAV. If I did not, at this time, I would use AVS. You cannot
beat the price. And what the hell? Using a Windows box, I have already
made a pact with the devil anyway. [bg]
Ron