Comodo Internet Security 4 adds application sandboxing
Comodo receives much more recognition for their firewall software than they do for anything else they develop, but that hasn't stopped them from venturing outside their comfort zone.
In October 2009, they released Comodo Internet Security -- which bundled their popular firewall app with free antivirus defense. It was a good freshman effort, though their AV engine (developed in-house) wasn't quite mature enough to go toe-to-toe with other those from other antivirus providers.
Work has begun on version 4, however, and so far the beta version looks like it will be a substantial improvement. One feature I'm particularly interested in is sandboxing.
Comodo is not alone in introducing this feature -- Avast recently bundled something similar in certain versions of their latest release. It's only enabled in Avast's paid versions though, so Comodo could well be the only security suite or AV in which you'll find totally free, full-featured sandboxing!
In October 2009, they released Comodo Internet Security -- which bundled their popular firewall app with free antivirus defense. It was a good freshman effort, though their AV engine (developed in-house) wasn't quite mature enough to go toe-to-toe with other those from other antivirus providers.
Work has begun on version 4, however, and so far the beta version looks like it will be a substantial improvement. One feature I'm particularly interested in is sandboxing.
Comodo is not alone in introducing this feature -- Avast recently bundled something similar in certain versions of their latest release. It's only enabled in Avast's paid versions though, so Comodo could well be the only security suite or AV in which you'll find totally free, full-featured sandboxing!
So why am I interested? Sandboxing offers us an extra layer of protection for our computers. Untrusted programs can be forced to run in secure, virtualized space where they can't damage Windows, its registry, or important user data.
In Comodo IS 4, you can also force programs of your choosing into the sandbox. Want to make sure your loved ones are as safe as possible while browsing the web? Add their web browser to the sandbox. Not sure whether that new app you downloaded is totally trustworthy? Sandbox it!
I haven't played with the beta extensively enough to pass judgment on it, but I am excited about the direction Comodo is headed. CIS 4 could very well end up being an extremely competitive free antivirus app for Windows.
As I mentioned, CIS 4 is currently in the beta stage. If you'd like to test it out yourself, you'll need to head over to their forums and register -- here's the link to the beta thread!
Comments
11
Subscribe to commentsdmitr77Jan 24th 2010 2:51PM
One thing I wonder is if it works on Windows 7 x64. Sandboxing is one thing I miss in 64 bit. I know the extra built in protection but it's not the same.
3tearJan 24th 2010 2:58PM
+1
Sandboxie still doesn't work on 64bit Os' , so I'm also curious to see if comodo does/doesn't.
theampersandJan 24th 2010 7:40PM
Sandboxie 3.43 is going to get x64 support.
darwinsurvivorJan 24th 2010 7:00PM
It still amazes me that windows users are willing to install software on their machine that they trust so little that they feel the need to sandbox them.
If your software requires sandboxing to make you feel safe, find another application!
polobunnyJan 24th 2010 6:58PM
Nothing wrong with Sandboxing your browser, is there?
Lee MathewsJan 24th 2010 6:59PM
Oh, there's a nice, impartial attitude.
Inexperienced users on ANY platform can have trust issues with applications.
Difference is, Windows has at least 8 times as many inexperienced users as whatever OS you're using, so it's easier to pick on them.
theampersandJan 24th 2010 7:40PM
Great, another buggy Comodo product to render thousands of PC's unusable.
blasztaJan 24th 2010 8:56PM
Yup, there's something you should consider Lee..
I've been using Comodo Firewall for years, but I'm reluctant to recommend the full Internet Security to inexperienced users..
Once I recommend CIS to a friend and after several weeks, the OS can't boot and I end up reinstalling the whole OS.
Seems like Comodo doesn't test their products thoroughly before release it
octoberasianJan 24th 2010 9:50PM
I've used CIS for four years until last November when it blocked Windows Update from installing Microsoft's monthly Tuesday updates. It took me a few days to narrow down the problem until I figured out that it was CIS blocking Windows Update from installing anything. This is using 64-bit CIS in Windows 7 Ultimate x64.
To even make matters worse, CIS was recently updated the day after that Tuesday update but Windows Update would still be blocked from installing the update. It would sit at the shutdown screen where it says "Installing 1 of xx updates..." for an hour plus. It wasn't until I uninstalled CIS that the update finally went through.
As much as I like the program for protecting my computer, it gets nerve wracking when CIS blocks even basic Windows components needed for the OS to operate. Even whitelisting and allowing the Windows Update program to run in CIS did not fix the problem.
And, sadly, sandboxing would probably not work on 64-bit OSes. Even Avast 5 Professional states that the sandbox will only work for 32-bit OSes. It's because of that extra layer of kernal protection that Microsoft implemented since Vista and into 7. There's a lengthy explanation I believe on the Sandboxie website about it. If the poster above me is to be believed that 64-bit support is included then there might be hope.
Has anyone else got similar issues with CIS and Windows 7 64-bit whereby Windows Update would not install any update or has Comodo fixed this problem?
JonathanJan 25th 2010 5:43AM
I'm under Windows 7 x64, using Comodo 3.13 and till now hadn't any problem with windows updates. I'm using almost the default setting. I just didn't installed the anti-virus bundle with it.
GymJan 25th 2010 11:20AM
I had the same problem with eEye's Blink product, and it wasn't even free.