Dr.Web Explained

Dr.Web is a software suite developed by Russian anti-malware company Doctor Web. First released in 1992, it became the first anti-virus service in Russia.^[1]

The company also offers anti-spam solutions and is used by Yandex to scan e-mail attachments. It also features an add-on for all major browsers which checks links with the online version of Dr Web.^[2]

Dr.Web has withdrawn from AV tests such as Virus Bulletin VB100% around 2008 stating that they believe that virus scans on viruses are different subject from that of real world malware attacks.^[3]

Critics, reviews and reliability

Staunch anti-adware policy led to software developers complaining that Dr.Web treated their virus free applications as a "virus". When developers tried contacting Dr.Web to resolve the issue, developers received no response.^{[4] [5]}

Notable discoveries

Flashback Trojan

See main article: Trojan BackDoor.Flashback. Dr.Web discovered the Trojan BackDoor.Flashback variant that affected more than 600,000 Macs.^[6]

Trojan.Skimer.18

Dr.Web discovered the Trojan.Skimer.18, a Trojan that works like an ATM software skimmer.^[7] The Trojan can intercept and transmit bank card information processed by ATMs as well as data stored on the card and its PIN code.

Linux.Encoder.1

See main article: Linux.Encoder.1. Dr.Web discovered the ransomware Linux.Encoder.1 that affected more than 2,000 Linux users.^[8] Linux.Encoder.2 which was discovered later turned out to be an earlier version of this ransomware.

Trojan.Skimer discovery and attacks on Doctor Web offices

Doctor Web received a threat supposedly from the Trojan writers or criminal organization sponsoring this malware's development and promotion:^[9] On March 31, 2014, after two arson attacks were carried out on Igor Daniloff's anti-virus laboratory in St. Petersburg,^[10] company received a second threat. Doctor Web released a statement that the company considers it its duty to provide users with the ultimate protection against the encroachments of cybercriminals and consequently, efforts aimed at identifying and studying ATM threats with their ATM Shield.^[11]

Awards

• 2008: anti-malware.ru website conducted a test for the treatment of active infection, only Dr.Web scored the maximum possible number of points (15) and received Platinum Malware Treatment Award.^[12]
• 2009: anti-malware.ru website conducted a self-protection test of antivirus products, only Dr.Web scored the maximum possible number of points (38) and received Platinum Self-Protection Award.^[13]
• 2009: anti-malware.ru website conducted proactive protection test, Dr.Web took the second place and received Silver Proactive Protection Award.^[14]
• 2010: Platinum Self-Protection Award from Anti-Malware.ru.^[15]

See also

• Antivirus software
• Comparison of antivirus software
• Comparison of computer viruses

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dr. Web LTD Doctor Web / Dr. Web Reviews, Best AntiVirus Software Reviews, Review Centre . Reviewcentre.com . 2014-02-17.
2. Web site: Web . Doctor . Dr. Web LinkChecker :: Add-ons for Firefox . Addons.mozilla.org . 2013-10-07 . 2014-02-17.
3. Web site: Doctor Web: statement on Virus Bulletin comparative reviews. news.drweb.com. 2015-11-03.
4. Web site: Drweb and false positive. Malwarebytes Forums. 20 December 2014 .
5. Web site: PDFsam Basic issue report. PDFsam Basic issue tracker.
6. News: Apple Snubs Firm That Discovered Mac Botnet, Tries To Cut Off Its Server Monitoring Infections . Forbes . April 9, 2012 . April 10, 2012 . Greenberg, Andy.
7. Web site: Trojan.Skimer.18 infects ATMs. news.drweb.com. 2015-11-27.
8. News: Encryption Ransomware Threatens Linux Users . Forbes . November 6, 2015 . November 16, 2015 . Dr.Web.
9. Web site: Dr.Web - ATM Trojans – Doctor Web and ATM Trojans. antifraud.drweb.com. 2015-12-09.
10. Web site: ATM Skimmer Gang Firebombed Antivirus Firm — Krebs on Security. krebsonsecurity.com. 29 September 2015 . 2015-12-09.
11. Web site: "На карте – ваши деньги"! Банкоматные троянцы угрожают вам, а их распространители – поджогами и физической расправой сотрудникам компании "Доктор Веб". news.drweb.ru. 2015-12-09.
12. Web site: 2008-10-21 . Тест антивирусов на лечение активного заражения (октябрь 2008) . 2024-06-18 . Anti-Malware.ru . ru.
13. Web site: 2009-01-16 . Тест самозащиты антивирусов (январь 2009) . 2024-06-18 . Anti-Malware.ru . ru.
14. Web site: Тест проактивной антивирусной защиты (март 2009) .
15. Web site: 2010-09-12 . Тест самозащиты антивирусов (сентябрь 2010) . 2024-06-18 . Anti-Malware.ru . ru.