Panda Cloud Antivirus is a free antivirus software for the Windows operating system that comes as a free and professional version which differ in functionality. Both versions offer antivirus protection that includes protection against trojans, viruses, rootkits and spyware and behavioral blocking against new and unknown threats. The pro version adds on top of that a behavioral analysis of running processes on the PC and automatic USB vaccination.
Cloud Antivirus uses a so called thin-client architecture offering several advantages over conventional antivirus solutions. Only the core files are installed on the system and local detection technologies are combined with cloud-based scanning to reduce PC resource usage.
One of the main pillars of Panda Cloud Antivirus is its real-time use of Panda Collective Intelligence, which is an online from-the-cloud system that automates the entire malware protection cycle; collecting new samples, analyzing, categorizing, creating detection and disinfection routines and delivering the protection to each node.
Thanks to this approach users do not need to worry about updating signature files anymore. In fact, detection of millions and millions of different malware variants is no longer limited by the size of a signature database, as Collective Intelligence can hold literally unlimited number of detections without consuming any memory on the users’ PC.
The interface of Panda Cloud Antivirus is best described as minimalistic which is a welcome change to the often overladen interfaces of comparable antivirus solutions.
The cloud based approach takes much of the usual updating process out of the user’s hand. The virus definitions are updated in the cloud taking that off the user’s back. When Panda Cloud Antivirus is started it will always make use of the latest definitions and data providing an Internet connection is available.
The antivirus software displays the status screen on startup which gives the user information about security problems if found on the PC. The button bar at the top leads to the scan menu, report window and recycle bin which contains previously neutralized files.
The only other option is the settings button at the lower left corner which leads to connection settings, autorun and USB vaccination and advanced settings for expert users.
It is possible to scan the whole system, an optimized scan that only looks at core files of the operating system and a custom scan that scans a specified local directory or drive of the computer.
Panda Cloud Antivirus runs in the background all the time protecting the PC with behavioral analysis. Files that are currently analyzed in the cloud are automatically blocked on the system for a maximum of 30 seconds. That’s ample time to receive the information from the cloud. The advanced settings offer to change that limit and other settings.
It is here for instance possible to add file exclusions which are then ignored by the antivirus software. Other options include the generation of an advanced log and disabling behavioral analysis and blocking.
Panda Cloud Antivirus Pro disables autorun on the computer by default which some users may want to change. The setting is available in the options. The same menu holds the option to automatically vaccinate USB drives which protects them when they are connected to other PCs and computers.
Interested users can download Panda Cloud Antivirus from the official website. Panda Security gave us 29 keys (30 actually but I used one) and we would like to give them to you in this giveaway. If you want one leave a comment below. Make sure you add an existing email address as it will be used to contact you if you have won a license in the draw.
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Never use Panda AV before… anyway count me in. Thanks Ghacks and Happy New Year. Cheers to all
I would like to try a cloud av for my ageing Pentium 4 machine!
Happy New year to Ghacks and all your readers
Thanks Martin, another great giveaway. Count me in
Yes, great giveaway! Count me in too
I do want one. Thank for counting me in.
I need anti-virus and would appreciate a licence please.
Wow what timing my current Panda Antivirus ran out a week ago :)
Wow great timing my current panda suite expired last week :)
Since i’ve never use panda before.
I would love to have my first try on the panda antivirus……
I want one. My mcafee license expired on 24th
I want one. I use the free version of Panda Cloud Antivirus.
Great!! Count me in, Thanks
I’m a fan of Avira, but willing to try Panda. Please don’t give the license to me if you think Avira is better than Panda.
Cheers n Happy New Year,
Trigonal
Hi, I want one of those :D – thanks!
What a present for the coming year!! Panda Antivirus Pro Rocks. Happy New Year to all & sundry!!!!
Please Ghacks, i realy need them, please :):):):):)
pls give me ,this is my last chance
I have used the free version for the last year on several home PC’s. It has not let me down and I recommend it to many others. I have previously used AVG and Avast but find Panda to be less intrusive and at least as good.
Wow, another great giveaway! Count me in.
thanks. hopefully I will get a key.
Dear Ghacks,
First off, on this final day of 2K10, let me wish everyone a Happy New Year and Thank You for all the information you make available. I look forward to your website daily.
I would like to have a license for the Panda antivirus because I have become the family geek that gets called in when there is a computer problem. I maintain computers for everyone from my 85 year old Mother to my 13 year old Grand Nephew and all the relatives and friends in between. All the time at no cost to them.
Usually it is some nefarious deviant that has crept into their computer system that is the root to all their problems. When cleaning or checking out a computer I will turn to Panda online scan because it is quick, thorough and one of the best out there and always have been.
To have a professional version of Panda and a USB vaccination available to help out the computer owners in my life would certainly make me a happy camper. And a free license would benefit numerous people instead of just me.
Thanks for all you do.
Best Regards,
Newt
I’m currently using free AV. Hope to win a license. Thanks & Happy New Year!
I already use the free version of Panda Cloud Antivirus, and I’d like to have behavioral analysis of running processes and automatic USB vaccination.
Installed Panda a couple of days ago. Was disappointed that I don’t have a key. Hopefully, I will get one this time. Thanks Ghacks.
It is a good product.
Please, I need the license key of Panda cloud Antivirus, Thanks.
Been using Panda for a while, please make my new year’s safer!!
I want one of Panda Cloud Anti virus Pro.
Thanks for great giveaway.
sure please enter my name for this giveaway. Thanks 4 it. Happy New Year and regards 2 all..:)
I like this giveaway…