Entered CNET Catalog: 09/17/2005
SKU: ETRAV70RT01
Manufacturer: CA
CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 02/10/2006
CA eTrust EZ Antivirus 7.1 is a reliable virus fighter that costs a few dollars less than industry-leading McAfee VirusScan 2006 and Norton AntiVirus 2006. We particularly like its new interface, which is vastly better than that of its ugly, hard-to-navigate predecessor. In CNET Labs tests, EZ Antivirus's scan speed was second only to PC-cillin Internet Security 2006's, although it proved a laggard in the iTunes 6 and Sorenson Squeeze 4 deep-scanning tests (see CNET 2006 antivirus performance test results page). But unlike its competitors, eTrust won't detect and remove spyware, a serious omission given that spyware is a serious threat to home and business users. eTrust EZ Antivirus 7.1 is best for users who already have firewall and spyware protection and who simply want a no-frills virus buster that won't cripple system performance.
EZ Antivirus's new face-lift is its best feature. The cryptic icons and old-fashioned, Explorer-style folder tree of version 6 are gone. Version 7.1 offers a sleek, tab-and-button UI that makes it easy to schedule scans, manage file updates, and tackle other basics. The large, clickable buttons are clearly marked--Scan My Computer, Schedule Update--and make it a breeze to change settings without first browsing the manual. One minor gripe: version 7.1 comes with a security center dashboard screen designed for use with the eTrust Internet Security Suite, which includes firewall, antispam, and spyware protection. The security center is unnecessary, however, for EZ Antivirus, and serves only as a reminder that other eTrust security tools aren't purchased or installed.
Aside from the new look, the internal workings of CA eTrust EZ Antivirus haven't changed much. eTrust still offers excellent real-time protection against viruses, Trojans, and worms. You can schedule regular, unattended scans, too. Or course, these features are standard fare for antivirus software, and we'd like to see eTrust's features beefed up a bit going forward. For instance, EZ Antivirus scans only inbound e-mail, whereas its competitors scan both inbound and outbound messages. (Outbound scanning is useful for blocking worms in outgoing messages.) Spyware detection is essential, too--and a firewall.
eTrust's support offerings are comprehensive and include Web (Netscape and Internet Explorer only; no Firefox support), e-mail, chat, and phone assistance. The first three options are free and are your best bet; unfortunately, phone help is the most expensive we've seen at $49.95 per incident. Our experiences with online chat were favorable. Wait times were a couple of minutes, tops, and the technical-support reps seemed up-to-speed on the features within eTrust EZ Antivirus 7.1.
User opinions
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User Rating: 
1/10
Don't use it.
Pros: CA does occasionally detect viruses. They are typically old ones, and outnumbered by the ones let through, but it does work.
Cons: Catches few viruses. Resource hog. Poor design.
Searching online, I've found that CA regularly tests as the worst of the major antivirus programs in speed and detection, and I believe it. I've had to download multiple free virus scanners in order to clean up the messes CA lets through.
Don't waste your money on this. Get something reliable instead.
User Rating: 
9/10
Great Product - Love it!!
Pros: Easy to use
Cons: I find none
User Rating: 1/10
Worse than getting a virus!
Pros: I get to test the demo for free before opening store pkg.
Cons: Destroyed my system speed (likely ate all 1Gig of my RAM)
Through all my testing of utilities over the years, I've come to expect them to be "RAM hogs" but this latest 2007 offering from CA sets a new record for eating so much RAM that is slowed down my test system to a point where it ran slower than a 10 to 15 year old computer running Windows 3.1 edition. For the record, this software was tested on an AMD64-3700 with 1Gig of DDR400 RAM.
BOTTOM LINE: I've seen viruses have less of an affect than CA Anti-Virus 2007 does. Took about 30 seconds to install and 14 minutes to uninstall due to the damage it caused.
User Rating: 
2/10
It's better than no protection at all...maybe
Pros: It was free with my ISP.
Cons: False sense of security
The bottom line is that CA eTrust EZ may be free from my ISP, but in my opinion it is nothing more than a false sense of security.
User Rating: 9/10
EZ Antivirus has saved me problems for several years!
Pros: Easy to use, Automatic updates regularly, Annual Price is reasonable.
Cons: Don't like the new Suite they force you to download now when all you want is the virus protection.
User Rating: 2/10
I've been had $100 for unfit childish toy!
Pros: CA sleeps on past recognition
Cons: Now finds easier con-artist behavorism strategies:=>
While trying to resolve this issue, CA techelp appear to have given up my personal ISP email address to their "Partners/Associates" DigitalRiver and I now receive SPAMVERTIZEMENT for "Corel" bargains.
I will return all CA softies and file a formal complaint at the store head office as well as at the BBBureau.
CA fix their management strategy so that none can be reached in North America but only in "Law-Loose" countries such as India's free toll number.
SCAMMER type of behavior! DigitalRiver Alias server is located on TWTelecom where a known & recognized malware distribution website is also located : www.mirasearch.com speudo toolbar. A google search confirms the latter. If proofs are required, I can provide!
User Rating: 
5/10
easy to use
Pros: easy to use and on resources, good looking interface,detects some of the virus. excellent customer support
Cons: not as good as other av that are for free.
User Rating: 9/10
This one is really the best and my favorite.
Pros: It does not bog down your system like norton can
Cons: Outbound scanning if you don't schedule regular systems scans.
I get 200-300 emails a day and EZ antivirus does not bog down my system like Norton did. I have never had a virus slip though even though EZ antivirus has caught as many a 50 virus in a single day. Norton by contrast was a resource pig that slowed down my system.
User Rating: 9/10
Excelent Antivirus that comes in a suite to include a firewall and spyware protection
Pros: Not Available
Cons: Not Available
User Rating: 9/10
Small footprint, simple setup
Pros: Not Available
Cons: Not Available
I don't care how long these programs take to scan my computer. That's something that can be scheduled to run automatically when the computer is not in use. It makes no difference to me if one program is a few seconds faster than another. I also don't care if the program includes a firewall or antispam component. Microsoft provides these free, either as part of XP or as an add-on, and my router includes a hardware firewall as well. Besides, this is something where more is not necessarily better. Running redundant programs of this nature that operate in the background competing for the same system resources can have unexpected consequences and is unadvisable.
What I do care about is a program that has a small footprint, that uses the fewest system resources, and that has the least impact on system performance, and is also unobtrusive, and does its job effectively with without fuss or bother, and that is EZ Antivirus by Computer Associates.
W. E. Benet
www.WEBenet.com
User Rating: 
8/10
Firewall and Anti-pest is available.
Pros: Not Available
Cons: Not Available
Support has been great, but... its handled directly from our internet provider, so its not really a fair comparison
I would definitely reccomend CA EZArmor. If your internet service offers it gratis, don't hesitate to switch.
User Rating: 8/10
faster than the others
Pros: Not Available
Cons: Not Available
Version 7.0 was awful. 7.1 works.
