Invitation - Webroot SecureAnywhere BETA (Desktop app)

[WRPaul]

Hello,

Webroot is looking for users interested in using our SecureAnywhere software (desktop app) on the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. After successful internal testing we’re interested in feedback on any potential conflicts or compatibility issues that may arise on a wider test bed.

We think you will find our security software extremely well suited for Windows8, as the solution is less than 700KB in size and extremely light on resources.

To sign up for the app, please go to our Free Beta Signup page -Webroot Cloud AntiVirus Beta Registration

We really appreciate your help in making Webroot SecureAnywhere ready for Windows8.

If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me or visit our own forum to see what others think of our Windows8 version.
Windows 8 Compatibility Beta - Webroot Community


Best Regards,

Paul
Webroot

 

[GMan]

Hi and welcome.

So potential beta testers of this product can understand well before they run this software, perhaps these questions can be answered about it.

Does this software disable the excellent antimalware security already present in the Windows Firewall and/or Windows Defender services upon Windows 8 install?

If so, what, if any, are the advantages of disabling security solutions already present and active on all Windows 8 machines that have perfect stability?

The reason I ask these is because it seems Webroot is responsible for bsods in the past: https://www.google.ca/search?comple...+SecureAnywhere+bsod&btnG=Google+Search&gbv=1

and Microsoft's solutions already included in the OS can not cause them under any circumstances whatsoever.

 

[WRBetaSupport]

Hi GMan,

Thanks for the welcome!

The Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus program (WSAV) does not disable Defender. However, Defender disables itself when it detects certain 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] party AVs, including WSAV. In these cases it appears the Defender service is set to Manual start.

The WSAV solution is completely cloud based and quite unlike any definition based solution. The installer size is small (~650 KB) and so is its memory footprint (~4 MB idle/~12 MB scanning). Best of all, WSA is designed to run alongside other security solutions including Defender, Norton, McAfee, Trend, Avira, Avast and AVG. So, you can run WSAV standalone and receive full protection or you can run it in conjunction with other solutions. It’s your choice. The old maxim “You cannot run two AV products on the same system” does not apply with WSAV.

Any BSODs reported since the WSA release in October 2011 have been corner cases and are quickly resolved by our development team.

If you choose to test WSAV in the Windows 8 environment, we welcome any feedback you care to provide. We strongly encourage feedback to the Windows 8 Compatibility Beta - Webroot Community forums so that other WSAV testers may benefit from your insight and observations.

Best Regards,

Brad
Webroot

 

[GMan]

Excellent reply. Thank you.

I learned something about how Defender disables itself here. Never would I have thought MS designed it like that and I've even stated in a post not too long ago as such. I'm very skeptical about that claim, but I will have to take your honest word for it until I can find out for myself as fact. (I count your word as fact for now until I see documentation.)

Do you know the algorithm or precise footprint Defender looks for to disable itself? Because it can't possibly have known this beta exists since Defender was created prior to it....unless there is some kind of code the 3rd party product passes to it maybe?

Good luck with the product success. Glad to hear that the team is quick with resolving the bsods. That's important for sure.

 

[WRBetaSupport]

You are very welcome and thanks!

 

[GMan]

After thinking this over for the day, I am in serious doubt as to the claims of "Defender disables itself when it detects certain 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] party AVs, including WSAV".

I highly doubt that Microsoft engineers designed Windows 8 to say to itself - "hey, this or that company's product is now present, so ours should now and will now cease to function." Never before have I known Windows services to react and change startup type based on installed software.

So unless this paragraph can be addressed, I'll have to continue my long held belief that the 3rd party software in question runs a command to change the default Windows behavior upon install:

"Do you know the algorithm or precise footprint Defender looks for to disable itself? Because it can't possibly have known this beta exists since Defender was created prior to it....unless there is some kind of code the 3rd party product passes to it maybe?"

If I'm right, I'm protecting users from the incorrect statement. If I'm wrong, I'll be sincerely glad to learn about it.

 

[WRBetaSupport]

Hi GMan,

Microsoft provides the following information about Defender and 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] party AVs for the Win 8 Consumer Preview:

“….Windows Defender will silently turn itself off so that the antimalware app you choose can help protect your PC”

Here is a link to the Microsoft “Antimalware apps for Windows 8 Consumer Preview” page where this information is found:

Antimalware apps for Windows 8 Consumer Preview - Microsoft Windows

Also, I can assure you that since our WSA program is designed to work alongside other AVs, it would never try to disable another product. It simply does not need to.

I hope this information is helpful and please let us know if you have any other questions or comments!

Best Regards,

Brad
Webroot

 

[GMan]

Thank you very much. Seems this is new behavior for Windows 8. I am glad I challenged the claims because if I had not, I would be thinking incorrectly and making incorrect claims myself because of it.

Very much thumbs up here.

I have caught makers of other antimalware solutions in false claims and am quite enthused that this is definitely not the case here.

I don't endorse 3rd party antimalware solutions but because of everything in this thread, you have won over my trust entirely and honestly...I think our little conversation here is only going to help your product in the end.

So with that, best regards! Thanks for the education there. + rep given.

 

[WRBetaSupport]

Hi GMan,

Thank you very much for your positive response to my post. We really appreciate it.

I can state with confidence that Webroot strives for honesty and transparency whenever we communicate with our customers and the general public. If that makes us different, then all the better!

Best Regards,

Brad
Webroot