Topic: Free Anti-Malware from Microsoft for Azure Cloud Services and Virtual Machines

[Samker]

Free anti-malware software is not hard to find: even reputable vendors offer product at the low, low, price of $0.00 for client devices/

Microsoft is now doing the same for servers – or at least for virtual machines in its Azure cloud with a new offering called (deep breath now) Microsoft Antimalware for Azure Cloud Services and Virtual Machines.

There's nothing startling about the product, which Microsoft says can “identify, block and remove malicious software” and “provides real time protection from the latest threats, can perform on-demand scanning, and monitoring at no additional charge to Microsoft Azure customers”: http://blogs.microsoft.com/cybertrust/2014/11/03/microsoft-antimalware-for-azure-cloud-services-and-virtual-machines-now-available-for-free/
Microsoft also looks to be taking the product seriously, as its log files are consumable by HDInsight or another security information and event management product. That's if you choose to have the event logs stored in Azure storage, which does come at a cost.

The services is installed by default, but there is some action required to get the service running: you'll need to turn it on when creating a VM. Windows Servers 2008 R2, 2012 and 2012 R2 are supported, but not plain old 2008 and not Windows Server Technical Preview (for now).

Free anti-malware gives Microsoft an edge over other public clouds, many of which ask admins to install – and pay for - such software. Making security software a tick box option will therefore be welcome by many. Turning it on by default has the potential to make life even harder for crims, but is perhaps a bit too much to ask for.

(ElReg)

[devnullius]

I'd like to mention my new sweetheart 360Security... It's full product is free, even for servers. And comes with great addition to Microsoft Update: it has a GOOD list of optional patches otherwise not offered by Windows Update. I really really start to like this product. Despite 3 malware engines, false positives are within reason. Only thing that I don't really like (it has a great risk for auto-confirming virii) is that there is a 60 sec pop-up window when an unknown program needs internet access. By force of habit you will will press allow, without really thinking. It's an old, well known, cognitive error that antivirus makers should take into account. Ofcourse, you can tell the 360S not to warn again for that program...

http://www.360safe.com/

Peace!

Devvie

[Samker]

I'd like to mention my new sweetheart 360Security... It's full product is free, even for servers. And comes with great addition to Microsoft Update: it has a GOOD list of optional patches otherwise not offered by Windows Update. I really really start to like this product. Despite 3 malware engines, false positives are within reason. Only thing that I don't really like (it has a great risk for auto-confirming virii) is that there is a 60 sec pop-up window when an unknown program needs internet access. By force of habit you will will press allow, without really thinking. It's an old, well known, cognitive error that antivirus makers should take into account. Ofcourse, you can tell the 360S not to warn again for that program...

http://www.360safe.com/

Peace!

Devvie

Here is another AV from China - "Baidu Antivirus ": http://antivirus.baidu.com/en/

(*Product from No1 Search Engine in China - Baidu: http://www.baidu.com/ )


I discovered it accidentally, during publishing this Topic - Microsoft's advice to AV vendors: “We have to remember who the bad guys are": http://scforum.info/index.php/topic,9478.0.html
I noticed that Baidu AV is "Bronze Sponsor" in mentioned Conference (17th Association of anti-Virus Asia Researchers International Conference: Security Down Under"): http://www.avar2014.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=83858&

Maybe you will like this one as well?

[devnullius]

Maybe you will like this one as well?

Probably not - don't like the name, can't be any good XD

Devvie

[Samker]

Maybe you will like this one as well?

Probably not - don't like the name, can't be any good XD

Devvie

You disqualified it, just because of the name?

P.S.

Even "360Something" does not sound like anything special.

[devnullius]

It begins with a number! Representing a circle for full closure... Convincing enough for me 

[Samker]

It begins with a number! Representing a circle for full closure... Convincing enough for me 

Now I am convinced as well.

[devnullius]

Well, I installed Badu now too on my server... See how it goes

[Samker]

Well, I installed Baidu now too on my server... See how it goes

Now you have "Avira" AV on you server: http://antivirus.baidu.com/en/about.php

Keep us informed about your observations...

[devnullius]

Well, I installed Baidu now too on my server... See how it goes

Now you have "Avira" AV on you server: http://antivirus.baidu.com/en/about.php

Keep us informed about your observations...

360Something has an option to use this engine too. Performs better than the original, by the looks of it. Just a bit less false positives...