Microsoft Forefront Security Software hits public beta

The public beta for Microsoft's new security software, Forefront, is now open.  Get it here http://www.microsoft.com/forefront/default.mspx

Microsoft Forefront Client Security delivers unified protection from current and emerging malware, so you can feel confident that your business systems are better protected against a broad range of threats. Through a single agent, Forefront Client Security provides real-time detection and removal of spyware, rootkits, and other emerging threats, as well as traditional attacks such as viruses and worms.

Uber volunteer Dustin said he'll install it for us tonight so we can begin testing.  One app tightly integrated into Active Directory to handle all malware ... sweet!  I'm going to assume that Microsoft will give us charities a nice discount once Forefront comes out of beta ... and thus we'll say farewell to Symantec and Webroot.  Actually, we're already saying goodbye to Webroot Spysweeper and switching to the free Microsoft Defender.  I was planning to dump Symantec in favor of AVG or Sophos next year ... but will now wait to see how Forefront pans out.

For home users I'm still recommending the free AVG anti-virus product and free Microsoft Defender.  I've installed that combo in many many homes and it works great.

I'm sure someone will comment about how macs don't get malware ... so let me just say that once it becomes profitable to infect a mac it will happen.  If/when we get a mac for our dept, I'll be looking for anti-virus software to slap on it.  Which raises a good question ... who are the leading anti-virus providers for the mac platform?

Comments

[Kevin]

Check out Intego VirusBarrier http://www.intego.com/virusbarrier. I've been running it for a while and have no complaints - nor infections. Course I didn't have any before I ran Intego either ;->

[Scott Gagon]

I'm a big fan of Avast! for home use. I tried AVG, but the interface turned me off for some reason. Also Avast! throws in some basic firewall protections without being as intrusive as ZoneAlarm or even the built-in Windows Firewall. I haven't looked to see if it supports Vista yet as I don't even plan on looking at Vista till it's been out for a few months (my general rule is to wait for the first Service Pack).

[Sam]

My school (Purdue West Lafayette) gives us Mac users McAfee Virex and I hate it. It's slow, clunky and doesn't work half the time. It can never update its virus definitions and always just says there has been an error. When I try to update them manually (which I have to since they have been last updated 3 months ago... whoops!) it takes me a few tries before they finally install.
It's also very slow. Takes about 4-5 hours to scan my mac and I have a paultry 60gig iBook G4.