Huge decrease in Intelli-Signatures

[blec]

I am probably a bit late with this post but whenever I download a new version of SD5 it starts with database 5.08490e. Smart update restores the missing signatures.

[AChen]

Originally Posted by blec

I am probably a bit late with this post but whenever I download a new version of SD5 it starts with database 5.08490e. Smart update restores the missing signatures.

This is correct. By downloading the trial version/starter pack of SD, users will receive the evaluation packed signatures. Only subscribers can download the remaining signature database via the Smart Updates.

[Loz_Whale]

Originally Posted by AChen

This is correct. By downloading the trial version/starter pack of SD, users will receive the evaluation packed signatures. Only subscribers can download the remaining signature database via the Smart Updates.

Anthony, I am currently using the starter pack version of SD with 182,249 signatures. Can you clarify what the extra signatures registered users receive via smart update, which I am not able to, are used for. Are these extra 400,000 approx signatures used for the anti-virus part of SD or are they used for spyware detection?

Thanks

[AChen]

Originally Posted by Loz_Whale

Anthony, I am currently using the starter pack version of SD with 182,249 signatures. Can you clarify what the extra signatures registered users receive via smart update, which I am not able to, are used for. Are these extra 400,000 approx signatures used for the anti-virus part of SD or are they used for spyware detection?

Thanks

Hi Loz_Whale,

The extra 400,000 signatures are part of the SD (malware) database and the AV database is separate to this.

[Loz_Whale]

Originally Posted by AChen

Hi Loz_Whale,

The extra 400,000 signatures are part of the SD (malware) database and the AV database is separate to this.

Thanks for clarifying that for me :-)

I think it might be to PC Tools benefit if they made it clear to people opting for the free version of SD via google that they are not receiving 100% of the signatures and thus, I assume, wont be able to detect/remove 100% of spyware on their PCs.

My understanding, before you clarification, was that the difference between the paid and free versions was that some on the on guard facilities were not available which didn't overly bother me but I assumed that any spyware that had slipped through would be picked up by my SD hard drive scans.

If my understanding is correct and that spyware may be going undetected on my PC, even after SD hard drive scans, I will seriously consider renewing my previous SD subscription. If you advertise this limitation I'm sure more customers would feel the same way.

[AChen]

I have raised this issue and will get back to you shortly

[Splinter hell]

I also use spyware doctor starter and I update my signatures using smart updater and I get some updated signatures but the smart updater won't receive the full 400,000 + database signatures.Am I correct.

[Chippa]

Originally Posted by Splinter hell

I also use spyware doctor starter and I update my signatures using smart updater and I get some updated signatures but the smart updater won't receive the full 400,000 + database signatures.Am I correct.

Thats correct To get the full database access, you'll need purchase a subscription for SD.

I like your avatar

[jrandall1]

Originally Posted by AChen

Hi Loz_Whale,

The extra 400,000 signatures are part of the SD (malware) database and the AV database is separate to this.

Then I agree with Loz_Whale that the text that describes the limitations of the Trial and Starter versions of SD and SDwAV should in all fairness clearly state that the Malware database is limited and thus the Starter Edition does not detect and clean 100% of malware on the user's computer and that the Trial version does not detect 100% of malware on the user's computer.

This brings up the BIG question -- What exactly has been left out, other than the obvious ~400K fewer malware signatures in the trial/starter editions What is the real importance of fewer signatures? What threats, classes of threats, type of threat, risk level of threats, etc., are trial/starter edition users missing? Are we really only 1/3 protected?

Thanks.

[AChen]

Originally Posted by jrandall1

Then I agree with Loz_Whale that the text that describes the limitations of the Trial and Starter versions of SD and SDwAV should in all fairness clearly state that the Malware database is limited and thus the Starter Edition does not detect and clean 100% of malware on the user's computer and that the Trial version does not detect 100% of malware on the user's computer.

This brings up the BIG question -- What exactly has been left out, other than the obvious ~400K fewer malware signatures in the trial/starter editions What is the real importance of fewer signatures? What threats, classes of threats, type of threat, risk level of threats, etc., are trial/starter edition users missing? Are we really only 1/3 protected?

Thanks.

There is no specific category of signatures that are excluded from trial users. Trial/Starter users get updated signatures that focus on currently active threats, while registered users get the full set of signatures that detect all threats known to us, some of which may be old threats, or rare threats. A full set of signatures is also important for certifications where they often use very old threats.

So the effectiveness is not a function of the signature count but rather varies by the types of threats a user may come across. We are currently doing some research into optimising this so that we do not have such a large signature count difference.