Pros:
Very easy and quick install. Easily set-up and configured. Works right out of the box for most people.
Works on everything from Windows 98 up to Windows 7 (x32 and x64 editions). I haven't tried it with Windows 8 yet.
Completely freeware so there are no ads, nag screens or pop-ups asking you to upgrade to a pro edition.
Clam Sentinel gives the much loved anti virus ClamWin real time protection!
It's effective and it's free.
Cons:
The user interface is extremely utilitarian and somewhat ugly.
Summary:
I already have real time protection on my computer but wanted something dedicated to USB storage devices. I tried all of the anti virus software made for this purpose but none of them did the job for me. Then I got an epiphany! lol.
I simply installed ClamWin and set it to update it's virus database once a day. Then I installed Clam Sentinel and under advanced settings I excluded my hard drives from being scanned. Now it just sits quietly waiting for me to plug a storage device into an USB port. When I do, it automatically recognizes it and ask if I want to scan the drive for viruses. Regardless if I choose to scan or not, it monitors and protects those devices (flash drives, external HD's, etc...) in real time until I unplug them. With this method it never uses resources it doesn't need or conflicts with other security software. Perfect USB anti virus!
Review details
- Interface
- Features
- Ease of use
- Value
- Recommend to a friend? Yes
- Posted Oct 08, 2013 for v0.97.8
No quick scan And the full scan takes many hours. Scanning speed isn't everything, but there is no real-time protection and I doubt many users will make much use of a program that takes so long to do a scan.
I can reload my operating system and virtually eliminate any chance of having any viruses on my computer ..And do it in less time than it would take to do a scan with Clamwin.
I would recommend any of the more popular free anti-virus programs over Clamwin. (Including the programs with no real-time protection). You're more likely to actually use them if they have faster scans.
Review details
- Interface
- Features
- Ease of use
- Value
- Recommend to a friend? No
- Posted Jul 02, 2013 for v0.97.8
ClamWin is a free and Open Source Antivirus. It is currently under development and its latest version is 0.97.4. It is based on ClamAV engine. It is being used by over 600.000 users on a daily basis according to the official website. It does not include a real-time scanner, but there is an additional program called Clam Sentinel which uses ClamWin's virus definitions and which enables real-time scanning and can notify you about any changes made to your computer including system registry modifications, new files discovered, modified files, etc.
I don't really like its interface too much. It just seems too minimalistic to me, because I like many advanced options to be available to the end user. Aside from that, it is not too bad and it is very simple for an average PC user.
Although I am disappointed for not having a real-time scanning included, it does its job pretty well. It is not a resource hog and it can run pretty fast on average Pentium III.
One of its major downsides is that it is possible to delete its virus definitions in a few very simple steps. Without its virus definitions, ClamWin is pretty much useless and you have to download them trough the Internet.
It is very easy to use and its interface is very simple.
It is a free Antivirus solution and completely Open Source and that is one of the things that I like.
Overall this is a good Antivirus. It is worth to try it. I would like to see that this Antivirus becomes more advanced in the future.
Review details
- Interface
- Features
- Ease of use
- Value
- Recommend to a friend? Yes
- Posted Apr 07, 2012 for v0.97.4