F-Secure refreshes online PC Health Check

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 26 November 2009 01:16

Business IT - Security

Online security checkers have been around for a while, but there's a new kid on the block: F-Secure's Health Check 2.0.

Several security software vendors offer online Windows PC security checks that can identify issues without having to purchase or install software.

A new version of F-Secure's Health Check uses Java technology rather than ActiveX, so it works with Firefox as well as Internet Explorer.

Other changes include support for Windows 7, checking for automatic backup software, and optimisation for 'minilaptops' (netbooks?).

Health Check looks to see whether security software is installed and up to date, and that Windows and other commonly-attacked pieces of software are current. It does not check for malware.

"F-Secure Health Check checks the status of security solutions running on the computer. More than one million people have already used the free tool and our data shows that a third of its users either haven’t installed an antivirus, firewall or antispyware, they are outdated or turned off," said F-Secure Labs vice president Mika StÃ¥hlberg.

"Out-of-date or nonexistent security software leave users wide open to malicious software and exploits," added Ståhlberg.

"Wide open" is probably hyperbole, as out-of-date security software still protects against what it knows about, and various security companies have reported the prevalence of old exploits.

Please read on for one user's experience with Health Check 2.0.