Especially private users are reluctant to afford paid anti-virus software for their home computer. Instead, they trust free service providers, who in turn finance themselves in various ways. In addition to free basic protection, a premium version is often offered, which provides more sustainable and better protection. Other companies have recently started selling collected data to third parties. This has caused uncertainty and outrage among many users. On the other hand, companies often have no choice and have to purchase a paid version within the scope of the license offered. Clam Antivirus offers a free counter model here, which is intended to provide greater protection for your own company server.
ClamAV uses the advantages of Cloud Computing
ClamAV is an open source antivirus program that sees itself as a reliable antidote to threats such as Trojans, malware or viruses. One advantage of the application is that it can be used offline, since all important virus definitions are downloaded from the network beforehand. Therefore, if there is no Internet connection, a virus scan can still be performed, which usually reliably detects and destroys all threats. This Database is updated several times a day. The application is particularly suitable for the Linux and Mac operating systems. A Windows version is distributed under the name ClamWin. The virus definitions come from both ClamAV and the Immunet Project. In this way, ClamAV exploits the advantages offered by cloud computing result. In the Immunet Project, all data of the individual users converge, whereby new virus threats are quickly detected. These daily updates ensure that the database is always up to date. Meanwhile, similar service providers are also taking advantage of the benefits offered by cloud computing. The free virus protection program is particularly helpful if an e-mail server is operated. The built-in phishing filter carefully probes whether a phishing attack is hiding among the incoming e-mails. The virus scanner clamscan is operated via a command line editor, which is why its use can seem a bit intimidating for laymen at first. However, there are now a variety of graphical interfaces from which to choose.
Fast virus scanner on Open Source basis
The virus scan shows that ClamAV usually works extremely fast and delays rarely occur. If you would like to extend the software, you will find the website of the provider a variety of third party tools that can be integrated quickly and easily. Since the standard version is not a real-time scanner, this functionality can be created with the Third Party Tools. The software has been criticized several times because of its low recognition rates, which was a problem for ClamAV especially in the beginning and has been partially fixed in the meantime. Another point of criticism was the handling of the software in the free basic mode. Detected viruses and malware were only quarantined, but not finally removed. This was only done with a paid Plus variant. Ultimately, the intention was to promote the Immunet Project and thus improve the expansion of the service. In 2014 ClamAV was then taken over by the company Cisco. ClamAV is still a reliable service provider, but there is no longer no alternative.
[affilinet_performance_ad size=468×60]No longer unrivalled
Among users of Linux distributions ClamAV still enjoys a good reputation despite all criticism and is often used as an alternative to paid antivirus programs. However, the advantages that existed at the beginning compared to comparable competing products have now largely been caught up with. Almost all major virus scanners now rely on cloud computing. ClamAV was not really able to catch up with these competitors due to the still rather mediocre detection rates. It is therefore worth considering whether an entrepreneur might not prefer to switch to a paid service when it comes to protecting his own server. Because in the event of damage, this not only attacks the financial substance of the company, but it also and above all damages its reputation. It is precisely the trust of the customers, which one has usually fought for, that one does not want to lose through such an incident. If you want to protect an e-mail server with an antivirus program free of charge, ClamAV is still a viable solution.
