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September 21st, 2006, 14:29 GMT · By Codrut Nistor

Defend Your Computer!

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CyberDefender Free by CyberDefender Corp See editor's ratings     Request a review
Version reviewed: CyberDefender Free 1.0

CyberDefender Free safeguards your computer continuously, using CyberDefender's earlyNetwork early defense technology.


Download CyberDefender Free
Features:

Real time protection against threats
User friendly interface

I was talking yesterday about "this week's antispyware tool", but it seems I lied, so I must excuse myself. Anyway, I didn't do it on purpose, but I had to change my mind today when I encountered another virtual defender.

Today's antispyware program is called CyberDefender Internet Security, a new born that is currently labeled as being a 1.0 version. The version that I have here displays a lot of ads while running, and that's not such a good thing...but the installation kit has only 3.4MB, is very easy to setup and operating the program is a piece of cake. Let's find out more about the looks and the tools that we get with this, shall we?

After installing the program, it starts automatically to scan your system, which is good enough for me. Spares me from some additional mouse clicks...but let's check the interface before starting to dig in!

Only one word about the interface should say it all: excellent! The program's window has a menu with seven items that lead to the areas available for you, the icons are top-quality and the design looks up to date. The only bad part about the interface is the ads displayed...they simply don't fit in well, and sometimes have refresh problems, not to mention that they need a part of your bandwidth (for people still using dial up connections, this can be quite a problem).

The first of the seven screens that we have to check is called Scan and this is the place where you'll start each time you turn on this program. Here, you can check the scanning progress, summary and the current security settings, as well as access different links.

The Remove area has a self explaining name that says it
all. If you didn't notice while checking the first screen, then find out now that the items scanned by the program are the memory, files, registry and cookies. If you want to get details about an item, just click on it and check the information that appears inside the panel located to the right of the window.

Next, you can check the Alerts about items changed inside your Windows and monitored by the program, while the Restore area allows restoration of deleted spyware items.

The Options area is well organized and using it is as easy as possible. All the settings that can be changed are one mouse click away, so everything here is joy and happiness!

The System area allows you to check your start up items and remove unwanted ones. Here can be found the allowed threats and always quarantined ones.

At last, there's the Update area that lets you check the current signature database and program versions and update them, of course. Now, let's check the conclusions about this useful antispyware tool...

The Good

CyberDefender is a good looking product, well designed and effective.

The Bad

There's only one big, bad, and ugly keyword to be used in this section: "adware".

The Truth

If you don't have a problem with programs that display ads and get focus from your active window when changing the ad (this only happens when you keep the main window open, not when the program runs minimized), then go for it! Anyway, you can try it, like it, and then pay 39.99$, but the ads will still not be removed...it's your choice!


Here are some snapshots of the application in action:

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EDITOR'S RATINGS:

User Interface: (4/5)
Features: (4/5)
Ease of use: (5/5)
Pricing/Value: (4/5)
Overall: (4/5)
  Final verdict: Very good

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK:

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READER COMMENTS:


Comment #1 by: Kristopher on 18 Sep 2008, 02:15 GMT reply to this comment

I hate this program, it made my computer keep restarting every time i turned it on and logged on. Then, after it restarts, I log on again, and it restarts AGAIN!!! Help me!

(this is on my other pc)


Comment #2 by: patrick on 26 Nov 2008, 17:26 GMT reply to this comment

this isn't an antivirus tool or a spam stopper. This is a huge annoying marketing application. Believe me, there is nothing free about this software. Plan on buying it right at the beginning because either you will buy it or you will hate it, and there is no "in between". I did not get the chance to demo it because it wanted me to pay immediately just to use it.


Comment #3 by: S.A on 20 Jan 2009, 20:50 GMT reply to this comment

FREE????? BS, there's nothing free about it.


Comment #4 by: Andi on 24 Mar 2009, 23:23 GMT reply to this comment

What are you people saying!?!
Program is absolutly freeware.
There is a CyberDefender Early Detection Center for $29.99
Free version is: CyberDefenderFREE
Advertising companies who put his adds in the program pay instead of you!
CyberDefender Corporation don't mind who is payng as long it is paying for traffic!!!
I don't mind for an Add in the small corner of program,anyway i'm open it rearly,only when I wan't to manualy perform a scann.
This is the BEST freeware security suite,only thng that is mising is FIREWALL but that is not a problem becouse good freeware firewall is easy to find! Comodo for instance.


Comment #5 by: Andi on 24 Mar 2009, 23:31 GMT reply to this comment

Softpedia Editor's Review put 4 stars on this product and for me this is good enough!!! Or maybe you guys think that you are smarter?

Comment #5.1 by: Jim on 16 May 2009, 03:17 GMT

Websites such as this one make money as affiliate sellers of such software. Giving it less than ideal rating would mean less or no sales.

We aren't splitting the atom here. It is simple business. Read the REAL reviews from actual customers and then decide. And if you do end up downloading it come on back here. Someone will be more than glad to contract to help you remove it.


Comment #6 by: heTroll527 on 15 Apr 2009, 19:28 GMT reply to this comment

I heard an add for this on the radio and wondered if it was a scam or actually something useful. I happen to be in a great position to test this because I had just installed Vista and the machine was completely clean. Hadn't even been on the internet yet. Downloaded and installed and did a spyware scan. Much to my surprise it found 11 spyware. I now understand why they claim to find more spyware then ANYONE else, well because they find spyware that doesn't exist. I even went through and looked up all the ones the claimed to find and no where on my computer were anything that would lead you to believe that spyware was there. COMPLETE SCAM!!!!


Comment #7 by: Jim on 16 May 2009, 03:14 GMT reply to this comment

This program embeds itself into your ini files. This will make it REALLY hard to delete (if you are silly enough to download it) once you realize just how weak it is.

There is a high pressure upsell when something fails and you have to contact tech support. For things you don't need. But they will do everything they can to convince you otherwise.

It misses a lot of things Trend picks up. And the program does not interface with Outlook Express. This means that one of the things you will pay for (email scanning) will not work.

It slows your PC down and going to their website post purchase is like watching nothing but the commercials on tv. You cannot get the answers without the live tech support. And, as mentioned above, that live support will upsell you.

The bottom line is simple; avoid this one. There are better ones out there that are REALLY free and will do a WHOLE lot more!

Comment #7.1 by: Bill on 01 Apr 2011, 20:10 GMT

I agree with almost evry thing in this review.
I've had it 1 week and it slows down Outlook to slower than a snail.
Almost ready to cancel within the 30 day window.


Comment #8 by: Jenn Mills on 25 Jun 2009, 01:07 GMT reply to this comment

This is the worst product I have ever come across. Every machine I put this on instantly had problems. The last computer crashed and when rebooted couldn't find the hard drive anymore. Stay far far away from this.


Comment #9 by: james on 02 Jul 2009, 18:58 GMT reply to this comment

Is this the same as what is offered at Supercleanpc.com...? Its also by CyberDefender.


Comment #10 by: Andrea on 24 Mar 2010, 21:29 GMT reply to this comment

I bought the program for 39.95 and it didn't do much for my system. Trying to cancel was a nightmare! The first person I spoke to kept me on the phone for over 45 minutes trying to resolve my issues by offering to fix my computer for $150. I kept telling him I just wanted to cancel. Finally, he told me he couldn't cancel and gave me a different number! The girl at that number couldn't help me either, just tried to sell me more stuff for another 30 minutes before directing me to the final number where I had to go through more of the same. She said she would cancel but I never got my refund. I steeled myself and called again only to find out that she had only cancelled my auto-renewal. (I didn't even realize that I had that!) So, after another 35 minutes, I THINK I may have finally cancelled. Buyer beware!


Comment #11 by: robin on 29 Apr 2010, 20:15 GMT reply to this comment

Cyber Defender is a SCAM!!! You do not get what you paid for and will be giving the run around. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!! I had more problems dealing with this software and company to last a lifetime. DON"T DO IT


Comment #12 by: David Wesner on 22 May 2010, 03:48 GMT reply to this comment

I have always believed that honest software comes with an UNINSTALL program that works!! This still holds true.
What can we then say about cyberdefender? It is almost impossible to remove! Windows (VISTA) CANNOT remove it. Don't trust it, don't buy it. AVG has a free version that is honest!!! I will have to wipe my hard drive to get rid of it. I have heard that CD is itself a trojan, and I now believe it.

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