[Trainer-talk] Antivirus Software

Mon Mar 11 13:42:35 UTC 2013

This is a great discussion. It has always frustrated me that as a
screen reader user I feel I have to choose between a better rated
antivirus software package or one that I can use effectively as a
blind person.
In today's world of malware, security breaches, virus hacks and
downright malicious software it's important that as persons using
assistive technology we don't allow ourselves to get left behind,
when it comes to making good choices about our antivirus
protection.
One of the reasons I wrote my second message on this topic, was
to indicate that research on which antivirus packages were highly
rated should be part of the process one should include when
choosing an antivirus package.
I try to first look at how a particular antivirus package is
rated and what measures are used to rate the packages. Then I
investigate how it might work with my screen reader and lastly I
investigate the cost effectiveness of my purchasing a particular
package.
One thing I'm guilty of, is not investigating the quality of
antivirus software frequently enough. I've noticed that although
in 2010 Microsoft Security Essentials was one of the top rated
antivirus packages it is no longer rated high in the list.
Microsoft has been quoted as saying that it only keeps its
security features up to minimal protection for those who won't
purchase security software.
Each year websites like consumer report, PCMag, and Pcworld
publish reviews and lists with antivirus ratings and reviews. I
usually either recommend that persons asking me which antivirus
software to install, look at such reviews and research the facts
of which package is the best rated and fitted for their computer
usage habits. If the individual is a student and needs assistance
with this process, I have been known to work it into a lesson on
doing research on the internet.
Like some of you have mentioned, I have been guilty of putting
more weight on, which antivirus software works best with my
particular screen reader. However, with the increase on more
malware, viruses and wide spread security holes; over the last 5
years, I have altered my behavior and what I pass along to
others. I suggest that they start by researching which antivirus
software is going to protect their computer most first and then
look at other factors, such as screen reader compatibility.

-----Original Message-----
From: Trainer-talk [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of David Goldfield
Sent: March 11, 2013 7:39 AM
To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology
Subject: Re: [Trainer-talk] AntiVirus Software

Caroline,
Thanks for your comments.  Given the importance of antimalware
software I actually think that this rates as one of today's most
serious accessibility issues.  I may write to someone at the NFB.
Lately, they've not hesitated to do battle with companies or
organizations which are presenting problems regarding
accessibility or the lack thereof.
Maybe this is something they might be willing to tackle.

Caroline Congdon wrote:
> David, very well said in my opinion. I've used ESET's security
suite
> for several years, but recent versions have been a lot less
> accessible. I've switched to MSE, only because of the
accessibility,
> but I've also been reading the reviews on how it hasn't been
passing
> tests lately, and it concerns me. I'd absolutely love to go
back to
> ESET, but there are several things that I can't do with it
anymore. I
> won't use Norton or MacAfee because, when configuring computers
in the
> past that were running these packages, I found them to be
extremely
> system-intensive. Also, I won't recommend anything that I
wouldn't use
> myself. If I won't use it, how does that make me look if I
suggest it to someone else?
>
> Caroline
>
>
> --
> Caroline Congdon
> Director of Student Services
> Access Technology Institute
> 520-300-7859 ext. 1
> caroline at blindtraining.com
> www.blindtraining.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trainer-talk [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
> Of David Goldfield
> Sent: Monday, March 11, 2013 7:08 AM
> To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology
> Subject: Re: [Trainer-talk] AntiVirus Software
>
> I don't know how many will be in agreement with my views on
this but I
> think that this is an important topic and I'm glad it is being
> discussed.  It's important, not only for trainers making
> recommendations for their students/clients but it's important
for all
> of us who use computers, particularly Windows-based computers.
> Blind people, in general, tend to use antivirus packages which
are the
> most accessible and not necessarily the ones which are
top-rated.  For
> a while many of us were using AVG as it was amazingly
accessible
> during the 7.5 days.  It even allowed you to reassign keyboard
shortcuts for many commands.
> Version 8 changed the interface but it was still usable.  As of
last
> year the latest version, while somewhat usable, had some
alterations
> which made it even less so.  Then, I started hearing about more
and
> more people using Avast and then that package became unusable.
Now
> everyone is using Security Essentials.  I have to agree that
it's
> highly accessible although sometimes one of the buttons gets
misread
> as the home button when it's really something else.  Yes, it
seems to
> be low on resources and, for a while, was highly recommended.
> However, reports are coming out that it has failed some
antivirus
> tests.  On one hand this type of negative exposure is a very
good
> thing as it will likely force Microsoft to make improvements to
ensure
> that it doesn't continue to fail these tests.  However, blind
computer
> users tend to stick with what works and, when the solution no
longer
> works, move on to another which is accessible.  What is really
needed
> here is some serious and dedicated advocacy on the part of
blind or visually impaired computer users.
> They should go out of their way to contact antimalware vendors
to let
> them know what accessibility issues exist in their products and
to let
> them know that the user will be forced to go to a competitor if
these
> issues cannot be resolved.  It would be wonderful to be able to

> recommend top-rated security software to our clients but very
often
> these recommendations would prove difficult for many screen
reader
> users. I have to admit I'm totally guilty of this.
> It's easy for people like us who know our way around screen
readers to
> just adapt to flaky accessibility or to switch to something
that works
> but I think that needs to end.  Given the current news on MSE I
feel
> awkward in recommending it to anyone but I also know that it's
likely
> the most accessible choice out there at the moment.
> Jeanine Lineback wrote:
>> I use Microsoft Security Essentials on my netbook because 1.
It's
>> free 2. It doesn't take as much system resources as some other

>> antivirus software and 3. It works with my screen readers
better than
>> most other programs.
>> I have found it to work very well for me.
>> I use MacAfee on my home computers because I get a license as
part of
>> my Uverse subscription. It also work better than some with my
screen
>> reader. It doesn't work as well with a screen reader as
Microsoft
>> Security Essentials though.
>> Hth
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Trainer-talk [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
>> Of Michael D. Barber
>> Sent: March 10, 2013 2:40 PM
>> To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology
>> Subject: [Trainer-talk] AntiVirus Software
>>
>> Hello:   I would like to know what kinds of antivirus programs
>> you folks are
>> using and why.  Right now, we use Esset Nod32, but I don't
exactly
>> like the way it works with screen readers.  I've used
Microsoft
>> Security Essentials which seems to work nicely.  It's free,
but I've
>> heard others say they don't trust it because it's from
Microsoft.
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm looking forward to your thoughts.
>>
>>
>>
>> Cordially,
>>
>> Michael D. Barber
>>
>> (515) 771-8348
>>
>>
>>
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