The FAQ on x64 "support" and x64 "NATIVE" applications. I will keep updating the thread with latest info when available.
Last update: May 18, 2008 - 14:41 EST
NOTE by Brink : Even though some of these programs use processes that run as 32 bit instead of 64 bit does not mean that they are not compatible with the 64 bit version of Vista or that they are not safe to use. It just means that they are not completely true 64 bit programs if they use 32 bit processes. That's all.
NEW FEATURE: for easy reading updates only, I put them in red. Once per week, I will clear the old red text.
COMPLETE SECURITY SUITE (AV, FIREWALL, ANTISPYWARE, etc.)
BitDefender 2008 - a TRUE x64 bit app. $24.95 - 59.95 1 user / year.
Kaspersky Security 7.0 claims x64 support and runs on Vista x64, but is a *32 bit application. It also "calls home" by port-scanning your gateway. Scary. $79.95 3 users / 1 year.
Sophos Business and Sophos Home claims x64 support and runs on Vista x64, but is a *32 bit application. $332.50 (complete suite) $247 (computer security) $190 (antivirus) 5 users / 1 year. Home version $ ?? (anyone know?)
NOD32 SUITE / ESET Smart Security (authorization required) claims x64 support and runs on Vista x64, but is a *32 bit application. (Reported as a true x64 app, yet to verify, waiting for link.) I just downloaded the "64 bit" version again. And as before, it is the identical product I downloaded before. The ESET GUI runs on x64, however, the kernel, ESET SERVICE, runs as *32. A little disappointing as I favor this suite for its power, ease of use, and minimalistic resource hogging.
AVAST claims x64 support and runs on Vista x64, but is a *32 bit application.
AVG claims x64 support and runs on Vista x64, but is a *32 bit application.
eTrust (CA) ??? Anyone know? TBD.
MS Live OneCare ??? Anyone know? (Reported as "assumed" 64 bit.) TBD.
McAfee ??? Anyone know? TBD.
Norton ??? Anyone know? TBD.
FIREWALL (standalone)
Lavasoft Personal Firewall 3 - a TRUE x64 bit app. $29.95 1 user / 1 year. ** Beware, although this is a x64 bit app, it EATS MEMORY. Devours it. Running it for about a week, with no reboot, on a 4 GB RAM system, I couldn't launch VirtualPC. Checking the task manager, I noticed this firewall ate 2.5 GB. Ouch. Cycled networking, cycled the firewall, size went down to normal. I guess it's a serious bug. Too bad, since I really like this firewall. But, considering it's 30 bux and chewes through memory like a mulcher through branches, I've decided to give COMODO another try, even though it's a pain in the royal to configure (YET FREE!).
COMODO - a TRUE x64 bit app. $FREE / forever. This is one of the BEST firewalls I have used. When enabled in complete control, it has quite a learning curve. However, it blocks EVERYTHING, and allows total control of your system. For example, with an empty configuration, it asked 5 questions for TaskManager to be launched. It asked 3 questions for the START menu to come up. Extremely thorough and an "ultimate control tool." I love it. One of, if not THE BEST. And, it's free.
Sunbelt Personal Firewall (formerly KERIO) not YET available.
Zone Alarm x64 (no longer available).
ANTISPYWARE (standalone)
Ad-Aware 2007 - claims x64 support and runs on Vista x64, but is a *32 bit application.
AVG Antispyware Guard - claims x64 support and runs on Vista x64, but is a *32 bit application.
Sunbelt CounterSpy - claims x64 support and runs on Vista x64, but is a *32 bit application.
Last update: May 18, 2008 - 14:41 EST
NOTE by Brink : Even though some of these programs use processes that run as 32 bit instead of 64 bit does not mean that they are not compatible with the 64 bit version of Vista or that they are not safe to use. It just means that they are not completely true 64 bit programs if they use 32 bit processes. That's all.
NEW FEATURE: for easy reading updates only, I put them in red. Once per week, I will clear the old red text.
COMPLETE SECURITY SUITE (AV, FIREWALL, ANTISPYWARE, etc.)
BitDefender 2008 - a TRUE x64 bit app. $24.95 - 59.95 1 user / year.
Kaspersky Security 7.0 claims x64 support and runs on Vista x64, but is a *32 bit application. It also "calls home" by port-scanning your gateway. Scary. $79.95 3 users / 1 year.
Sophos Business and Sophos Home claims x64 support and runs on Vista x64, but is a *32 bit application. $332.50 (complete suite) $247 (computer security) $190 (antivirus) 5 users / 1 year. Home version $ ?? (anyone know?)
NOD32 SUITE / ESET Smart Security (authorization required) claims x64 support and runs on Vista x64, but is a *32 bit application. (Reported as a true x64 app, yet to verify, waiting for link.) I just downloaded the "64 bit" version again. And as before, it is the identical product I downloaded before. The ESET GUI runs on x64, however, the kernel, ESET SERVICE, runs as *32. A little disappointing as I favor this suite for its power, ease of use, and minimalistic resource hogging.
AVAST claims x64 support and runs on Vista x64, but is a *32 bit application.
AVG claims x64 support and runs on Vista x64, but is a *32 bit application.
eTrust (CA) ??? Anyone know? TBD.
MS Live OneCare ??? Anyone know? (Reported as "assumed" 64 bit.) TBD.
McAfee ??? Anyone know? TBD.
Norton ??? Anyone know? TBD.
FIREWALL (standalone)
Lavasoft Personal Firewall 3 - a TRUE x64 bit app. $29.95 1 user / 1 year. ** Beware, although this is a x64 bit app, it EATS MEMORY. Devours it. Running it for about a week, with no reboot, on a 4 GB RAM system, I couldn't launch VirtualPC. Checking the task manager, I noticed this firewall ate 2.5 GB. Ouch. Cycled networking, cycled the firewall, size went down to normal. I guess it's a serious bug. Too bad, since I really like this firewall. But, considering it's 30 bux and chewes through memory like a mulcher through branches, I've decided to give COMODO another try, even though it's a pain in the royal to configure (YET FREE!).
COMODO - a TRUE x64 bit app. $FREE / forever. This is one of the BEST firewalls I have used. When enabled in complete control, it has quite a learning curve. However, it blocks EVERYTHING, and allows total control of your system. For example, with an empty configuration, it asked 5 questions for TaskManager to be launched. It asked 3 questions for the START menu to come up. Extremely thorough and an "ultimate control tool." I love it. One of, if not THE BEST. And, it's free.
Sunbelt Personal Firewall (formerly KERIO) not YET available.
Zone Alarm x64 (no longer available).
ANTISPYWARE (standalone)
Ad-Aware 2007 - claims x64 support and runs on Vista x64, but is a *32 bit application.
AVG Antispyware Guard - claims x64 support and runs on Vista x64, but is a *32 bit application.
Sunbelt CounterSpy - claims x64 support and runs on Vista x64, but is a *32 bit application.
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