La Piazza

Published by José Manuel Bernal, October 27th 2010

We are happy to announce that we just released Panda Cloud Antivirus version 1.3.

This new version of Panda Cloud Antivirus has been made possible thanks to our large community of users and specially to our Support Forum Trusted Mods who have helped a lot of users and gathered enough feedback to incorporate major improvements as well as many different bug fixes. All new features have been included in both the Free and Pro Edition.

If you have Panda Cloud Antivirus 1.1.0, 1.1.1 or 1.1.2, you will get the upgrade automatically and transparently.

If you don’t have Panda Cloud Antivirus installed yet you can download it from www.cloudantivirus.com

What’s new at the latest Cloud Antivirus version?

The new Cloud AV version includes:

• Malicious Web & URL Filtering. This feature blocks websites that push malware, exploits and drive-by downloads. It is available both in Free and in Pro Editions and is installed by the toolbar. Unlike similar solutions, this web filtering works at a low level so it works under all browsers: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, etc.For those of you that didn’t install the toolbar but would like to install the Web & URL Filtering, you can download it from here and install it manually.

• Unified Recycle Bin and Quarantine. Previously the Recycle Bin handled suspicious detections and the Quarantine handled deleted malware detections. This has been unified into a new Recycle Bin for ease of management. This is included in both Free and Pro Editions.

• Automatic and transparent upgrades to new product versions, previously only available in the Pro Edition, this is now available in the Free Edition as well. All users of Free Editions versions 1.1.0, 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 will automatically and transparently upgrade to the new 1.3. See notes below for the upgrade schedule.

• No more nagging advertising. After listening to many of you we have decided to turn off the nagging advertising popups prompting to upgrade to Pro Edition. If you want to support Panda Cloud Antivirus and wish to get the Pro Edition, you can do so from here, but we won’t bug you anymore from the popups.

• Hot updating of behavioural blocking rules. In order to increase protection on the fly against new vulnerabilities and attacks and to fix false positives, hot updating of behavioural blocking rules allows faster response time in both the Free and Pro Editions.

• Immediate notifications of virus detections. Previously if Panda Cloud Antivirus encountered multiple viruses, it would delay its traybar notification and show them grouped. This behaviour has been changed so that the notifications are shown immediately.

• Suspicious detection counter. Under the statistics window there’s some new counters for the different types of heuristics and behavioural detections.

• New versioning format. Unified versioning format in GUI and other parts of the program.

• Many bugfixes as reported by users in our support forum:

1. Fixed issue with Windows 7 Start menu slow-down.
2. Fixed Panda traybar icon disappearing.
3. Fixed “you are not connected to the Internet” message when there is connection.
4. Fixed issue when Free Edition users can activate behavioural analysis.
5. Fixed slow-down and conflicts while playing Allods Online and AION.
6. Fixed cloud-response time configuration which defaults to 30 seconds.
7. Fixed constant accesses to the floppy disk drive.
8. Fixed BSOD issue after install.
9. Fixed bug while exporting an empty report to TXT/CSV.
10. Fixed Conficker detection.
11. Fixed BSOD while compressing malicious PDFs.
12. Fixed translation errors.

Panda Cloud Antivirus version free and Panda Cloud Antivirus version paid

The basic version will remain free, and those who wants to buy superior version with more features and tech support can pay for the Pro one for 29,95.

Panda Cloud Antivirus Support Forum

I’d like to encourage anybody who needs help to contact me or any other moderator through our support forum. I am sure we can be of great help to answer any questions you might have.

You will have a whole support team available to you, including the following moderators: intrepid44, Shadowman, swejuggalo, Ibrad09, GoneToPlaid, budee and kilps. Also, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their great job.

Take part in the forum and tell us your opinion!

Note: More information in Panda Cloud Antivirus Blog

Published by José Manuel Bernal, June 8th 2010

My name is José Manuel Bernal and, like William Diggiglio, I am one of the Panda Cloud Antivirus forum moderators.

I have some very good news to share with you. We have made available a new version of this cloud-based, lightweight, free antivirus, the fastest detecting new threats.

What’s new at the latest Cloud Antivirus version?

The new Cloud AV version includes:

• Behavioural blocking. Proactive, signature-less, protection against malicious actions typically used by malware. Generic blocking of malicious PDF/DOC/XLS/PPT/WMV/etc. droppers. Compatible with both 32 and 64bit Operating Systems.

• Behavioural analysis (PRO only). Runtime analysis and blocking of running processes. Compatible with 32bits Operating Systems as well as for 32bit processes under 64bit systems.
• Advanced configuration. Ability to turn on/off and tweak each technology and exclusions.

• Self-protection of the AV processes and configurations.

• Automatic upgrades (PRO only) to new engine versions and new features automatically and transparently.

• Improved offline protection. Default deactivation of Windows Autorun.

• USB vaccination (PRO only) Automatic vaccination of USB memory keys and hard drives.

• Ability to run alongside other AVs and Anti-Spyware. Can now be run alongside other security tools and scanners.

• More languages. Added 9 new languages. PCAV is now available in a total of 20 languages.

Are there two versions: free & paid?

Yes, the basic version will remain free, and those who wants to buy superior version with more features and tech support can pay for the Pro one for 29,95.

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José Manuel Bernal introduces himself: I have a degree in Computer Science and joined Panda Security as an intern just after completing my studies. I am currently working as Issues Resolution Manager. I love technology and music.

Published by Yolanda Ruíz, May 12th, 2010

I have to confess that one of the things I like most is sleeping… and lying in bed. I take advantage of the weekends, not just to switch off the alarm clock, but also to have breakfast in bed, watch the TV a bit and just laze about… It was during one of these moments when, on one of the national television channels, I saw there was a report about ‘Cloud Computing’. Watching it, I tried to put myself in the position of someone who knew nothing about technology…

To start with, the cloud was depicted as, well… a cloud. They explained that now, thanks to cloud computing, our information no longer has to be stored on our computers because now it is in the cloud. And that was it, with no explanation of what the cloud really is.

But the best was yet to come; let me try and summarize what was put forward: “We don’t have to worry about carting around laptops or investing in large, expensive computers at home, because now everything is in the cloud…” :0 That’s right: just use the fridge.  Why buy a computer when you can connect to Facebook with your microwave?

I was amazed… but once again, there was more to come. As part of the documentary, they talked to a well-dressed guy responsible for security at Google, who explained: “Until now, users had to be specialists in security, to know what an antivirus was and how to install it on a computer… Now, with cloud computing, users don’t have to worry about anything, because we protect their information”. Of course! If we no longer need computers, why are we going to bother with an antivirus! Over 10 minutes he explained why a lack of security would cease to be an issue, because thanks to Google, the whole concept would disappear…

And now, I think it’s time to stop joking. I fully agree that cloud computing is a major step forward and delivers many advantages: It frees up resources on computers, it minimizes the need for storage capacity, it allows information to be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection and browser… But -with respect to Google and those responsible for the documentary- I’m afraid I cannot agree with the assumption that security concerns will disappear.

I could write an extensive essay on the thousands of reasons why security remains necessary and why it is still essential to have a good protection suite (and I’m sure my fellow technicians could add another thousand reasons more), but for the sake of brevity, I would offer the following points:

• Even though our information might be stored in the cloud we still have to connect to it via a computer. And from whatever computer we access, there could be keyloggers or Trojans stealing our login credentials and passwords, which could then be used to access all accounts in the “cloud”…

• Increasingly, transactions and transfers of all types take place online and these are verified with passwords, which remain vulnerable.

• We are human, and therefore curious by nature. How can Google say that we are not going to be victims of phishing –for example- sent via email, perhaps even Gmail?

• And most importantly, what happens if the databases of these ‘cloud companies’ are hacked, and our digital identities stolen and sold on the black market…?

• Etc, etc, etc…

Truly, I feel that there is common sense lacking when this type of information is transmitted through an international documentary that has no doubt been broadcast in at least several countries. Not only is it ignoring reality in favor of transmitting a false sense of security, but it would also seem to benefit cyber-mafias who are always on the lookout for new victims who either don’t worry about security or simply don’t know what the risks are.

The security of Internet users will improve when we all work together to promote greater security, not just through developing better security systems or more effective technologies. This involves improving the awareness and training of users, and helping them adopt patterns of behavior that will make them less vulnerable. Anything else just reminds me of snake oil salesmen: “A panacea to cure all ills!”.

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Thanks to our development of advanced security technologies we can offer the first free, cloud-based antivirus, Panda Cloud Antivirus.

Posted by William Digiglio, March 2010

Hello,

I would like to introduce myself, My name is William Digiglio. I was born on March 5, 1965 in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, which is a very  small town in the United States. 

Primarily, I am employed in Corporate Security. When I am not working, I enjoy being outdoors fishing and camping. I also enjoy NASCAR racing and like to catch a race or two if I can.

I am the single father of 16 year old twins, one boy and one girl. Since they were raised in the computer age, I find that my computer knowledge is always being tested with them. Some of you may know me as Intrepid44 on the Panda Cloud Antivirus Forums. I am also known as Bill Digiglio on Twitter.

My very first computer was an old Compaq, which at the time was running Windows 95, needless to say it was very slow.  My initial interest in computers was born when my trusty old Compaq computer was fried by a virus. For the last 15 years I am dedicated to educating not only myself but others in the latest computer threats and Antivirus solutions that are available.

Since most of the people I aid with Panda Cloud Antivirus had never had an antivirus software, I have found that Panda AV is a valuable tool that is not only easy to learn but easy to use.  This is also where I start the educational process with them so that they may learn the different security precautions that are a necessity in today’s computer age. 

When I am in the Panda Cloud Antivirus Forum I encourage anyone who would need guidance to ask not only myself or whoever is on for assistance. I am sure that we can come up with a solution to your problem. In the mean time I will continue to update my own education so that I may be of assistance to others.

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Panda Cloud Antivirus Free Edition is a free antivirus based in the cloud, light and fast against new threats.

From Panda Security we can only conclude by saying, not only  to William but all our moderators, thanks for your great contribution to this great family.