Thread: Comodo Internet Security

Comodo Internet Security has both a firewall and an antivirus utility in its free package. While we can't speak for the firewall's effectiveness (we didn't test that feature), its antivirus component leaves much to be desired.

After downloading the package, you can install the antivirus app, the firewall, a 30-day trial of Comodo' s LivePCSupport, or any combination. We installed only the antivirus portion. Considering its test results, you probably won't want to install it on your Pc.

Only PC Tools Antivirus (which purposely fails to detect what PC Tools considers spyware) and the not-ready-for-prime-time ClamWin did worse than Comodo's 74.6 percent malware detection rate. Letting one out of four invaders go unnoticed just doesn't cut it. Como do also neglected to catch some samples in the WildList test, a low-level baseline that uses known malwarej most antivirus apps catch all of the WildList set, but Comodo missed a lot. Worse, Comodo issued tons of false positives" flagging 62 pieces of harmless software as malicious. The next worst app, ClamWin, produced 6 false warnings; and some rivals had none.

The installation also leaves a bad impression. By default it installs a Hopsurf browser toolbar, and it prompts you to change your search engine to Ask.com and your home page to Hopsurf.com.

Also annoying is the program's Defense+ layer of security, which feels like a throwback to an age when security tools repeatedly prompted you to decide whether a program could take a certain action. Such protection can be effective if you're willing to deal with countless interruptions and risk making a bad decision, but you'd probably end up disabling it instead.

Our experience with Comodo Internet Security's antivirus component leaves us little reason to recommend it. Other free apps are much better .