New version of GFI’s VIPRE Antivirus Premium — now called VIPRE Internet Security 2012 — has been released
I’ve been using versions of VIPRE since it was first released. Initially, VIPRE Antivirus+Antispyware was the program that grew out of Sunbelt Software’s CounterSpy (which I also used). Then, they combined their firewall product into it to make VIPRE Antivirus Premium. VIPRE Antivirus continued to be available as an antivirus/antispyware (only) program option.
Now, it’s grown again with the addition of anti-spam functions and has been renamed VIPRE Internet Security 2012, in other words, current users of VIPRE Antivirus Premium are licensed for VIPRE Internet Sec. They’re still retaining the antivirus/antimalware program as a separate VIPRE option.
VIPRE Internet Security 2012 and Vipre Antivirus are both available with licenses for 1, 2 or 3-to-10 computers.
- VIPRE Antivirus 2012‘s license pricing is: 1 computer $39.95 USD, 2 computers $49.95, and “3-to-10 computers” (Home Site License) $59.95.
- VIPRE Internet Security 2012‘s license pricing is: 1 computer $49.95 USD, 2 computers $59.95, and “3-to-10 computers” (Home Site License) $69.95.
As in earlier versions, I found VIPRE Internet Security 2012 to be fast — I’m able to continue to use my computer to do anything I like while VIPRE is doing a full scan.
Installing the upgrade from VIPRE Antivirus Premium was simple. If you aren’t using VIPRE, just go to GFI’s VIPRE Internet Security 2012 or VIPRE Antivirus 2012 web pages and download it for a 30-day trial.
If you’re already using VIPRE, you should have received a popup notice from VIPRE that the new version is ready to be installed. If you declined that, or if you didn’t get the notice (I didn’t on several computers), just download the trial and install it. The trial is the full program and will recognize that VIPRE is already installed
The interface has been updated, and seems a little more friendly. The more powerful controls are available via the programs tabs and links within them. In other words, making the changes many users might consider are easy, while the more advanced users have their tools easily available, too.
First, let’s take a look at the main user screen in VIPRE Internet Security 2012. This is the starting point in VIPRE and also provides a summmary view of VIPRE’s settings.
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The Scan tab provides controls to do an immediate scan — whether you want to do a quick scan, a deep scan of everything, or a limited scan, such as for a single file, single directory or single hard drive.
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Note the "Scan Options" link at the bottom of the Scan screen, which provides more choices, such as scheduling.
The Firewall tab provides the link to change the firewall settings. This is where you would define your local network as trusted (assuming you want to trust the computers on your home network) in order to share files and printers.
You’re also able to open individual ports or add specific programs (such as UltraVNC, which I use for remote control of my other home network computers) to the programs allowed through the firewall.
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The Manage tab allows you to see the history of what VIPRE has found and stopped. You’re able to delete or unquarantine items that VIPRE has quarantined.
You’r ealso able to change VIPRE’s handling of specific programs, if you want specific programs to be always allowed despite the handline VIPRE would otherwise do.
For example, when I initially started using UltraVNC, VIPRE did not object. However, after one particular signature update, VIPRE started treating it as an unwanted program. All I had to do was to label it as "Always Allowed" to solve my problem.
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The Tools tab has some great included tools. First, there’s a Secure File Eraser that works with both Windows 32-bit and Windows 64-bit versions.
Even better, you don’t have to open VIPRE and move to that screen in order to erase the files — if you put a check in the checkbox, you’ll get an option on the right-click menu that allows you to erase the file(s) and folder(s) you’ve selected.
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The following images show the various programs that VIPRE will clean using its History Cleaner function, which is available on the Tools screen.
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Try the 30-day free trial VIPRE Internet Security 2012 or VIPRE Antivirus 2012 or read more aboutVIPRE Internet Security 2012 or VIPRE Antivirus 2012.
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