To protect your computer against viruses and hacking attempts you have to install security software. This page will list all sofware that is known to be compatible with Windows Server 2008. If you are using an application that isn’t listed here or if you are aware of an application that absolutely doesn’t work, please add a comment with the <Application Name>, <Version: Home, Business, …>, <Computer Architecture: 32bit or 64bit>, <Website>, and eventually <Known Compatibility Issues>!
More (non) working applications can be found in the Applications Compatibility section at the forum.
* Because some security software only works on x64 or only x86, the architecture has been added. The * means that I don’t know if only x64, x86 or even both are (not) working. Please confirm it!
Security Software Compatibility
| Application Name | Website | 32bit Compatible | 64bit Compatible | Issues | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eset Nod32 AntiVirus v3 Business Edition | http://www.eset.com/ | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| Agnitum Outpost Firewall Pro 2008 | http://www.agnitum.com/ | Yes* | Yes | - | - |
| Agnitum Outpost Security Suite Pro 2008 | http://www.agnitum.com/ | Yes* | Yes | - | - |
| Sophos Anti-Virus | http://www.sophos.com/ | Yes* | Yes* | Could slow down your system. | - |
| Avast! 4 Antivirus Home Edition | http://www.avast.com/ | Yes* | Yes | Won't install on Server OS. See comment | See forum |
| AVG Antivirus Free and Paid | http://free.grisoft.com | Yes | Yes | Won't install on Server OS. | Anon has the solution! (addition) |
| Avira Personal Edition Premium 8.0 | http://www.free-av.com/ | No* | No | See comment | - |
| Avira AntiVir Personal | http://www.free-av.com/ | Yes | Yes | Won't install on Server OS. | See Comment or forum |
| Symantec Endpoint Protection v11 | http://www.symantec.com/ | No | Yes | See comment. In x64 only install AntiVirus. | - |
| Trend Micro OfficeScan | http://www.trendmicro.com/ | Yes* | Yes* | - | - |
| AVG Anti-Virus Network Edition | http://www.grisoft.com/ww.business-security | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| Symantec Corporate Antivirus 10 Corporate Edition | http://www.symantec.com/ | Yes | Yes | 10.1.x is not compatible | x64 version may need msi patching |
| Kerio WinRoute Firewall | http://www.kerio.com/ | Yes* | Yes* | - | - |
| Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0.1.325 | http://www.kaspersky.com/ | Yes* | Yes | Won't install on Server OS. | See Comment |
| PC Tools AntiVirus 4.0 Free Edition | http://www.pctools.com/free-antivirus/ | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| Look 'n' Stop Firewall | http://www.looknstop.com/ | Yes* | Yes* | - | - |
| PC Tools Firewall Plus Free Edition | http://www.pctools.com/firewall/ | Yes* | No | - | - |
| ClamWin Free Antivirus | http://www.clamwin.com/ | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.5/8.7i | http://www.mcafee.com/us/enterprise/ | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| Kaspersky Internet Security 7 | http://www.kaspersky.com/ | Yes | Yes* | Won't install on Server OS. | See Comment |
| Comodo Firewall Pro 3 | http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/ | No | No | Many, see comment. Installs, but won't offer any security. | - |
| Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6.0 for Windows Server Enterprise Edition | http://www.kaspersky.com/ | Yes* | Yes* | - | |
| Eset Nod32 AntiVirus/Smart Security v3 Home Edition | http://www.eset.com/ | No | No | Won't install on Server OS. | Use Business Edition (see comment) |
| Spybot - Search & Destroy | http://www.safer-networking.org/ | Yes* | Yes | - | - |
| BitDefender Internet Security 2008 | http://www.bitdefender.com/ | Yes* | Yes | - | - |
| ZoneAlarm Free | http://www.zonealarm.com/ | Yes | No | Conflicting experiences: comment, comment and comment | - |
| ZoneAlarm Antivirus v7.0 for XP | http://www.zonealarm.com/ | No | No | Won't install on Server OS. | - |
| ZoneAlarm Antivirus v7.1 for Vista | http://www.zonealarm.com/ | Yes | No | Won't install on Server 2008 x64. | - |
| Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 | http://www.kaspersky.com/ | Yes | Yes* | - | See Comment |
| Eset Nod32 Smart Security v3 Business Edition | http://www.eset.com/ | Yes | Yes | Note when using in combination with Hyper-V. | - |
| Trend Micro Internet Security 2009 | http://www.trendmicro.com/ | Yes* | Yes | - | - |
| Twister Anti-TrojanVirus | http://www.filseclab.com/ | Yes | Yes* | - | - |
| Malwarebytes Anti-Malware | http://www.malwarebytes.org/ | Yes | Yes | See Comments | - |
| Spyware Doctor v6 | http://www.pctools.com/ | Yes | No | Won't install; see comment | - |
| Spyware Doctor v5.5 | http://www.pctools.com/ | Yes | Yes* | - | - |
| SUPERAntiSpyware v4.1 | http://www.superantispyware.com/ | Yes | Yes* | - | - |
| BitDefender Antivirus 2008 | http://www.bitdefender.com/ | Yes | Yes* | Could slow down Windows Server 2008. | Apply MSI Fix. |
| CA Anti-Virus 2008 | http://www.ca.com/ | No | No* | Won't install on Server 2008. | - |
| Avira Antivir Server Edition | http://www.avira.com/ | Yes | Yes* | - | - |
| Ikarus AntiVirus | http://www.ikarus-software.at/ | Yes | Yes* | - | - |
| Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009 (8.0.0.357) | http://www.kaspersky.com/ | Yes | Yes | Won't install on Server 2008. | See forum and x86 comment. |
| BitDefender 10 Free Edition | http://www.bitdefender.com/ | No* | No | Rootkitscanner and the shell integration doesn't work. | - |
| Agnitum Outpost Firewall Pro v6 | http://www.agnitum.com/ | No | No* | AFW.SYS could not be loaded. | - |
| Moon Secure Antivirus | http://sourceforge.net/projects/moonav/ | Yes | Yes* | - | - |
| ZoneAlarm Internet Security 7.1 for Vista | http://www.zonealarm.com/ | Yes | Yes* | - | - |
| ThreatFire AntiVirus | http://www.threatfire.com/ | Yes | No | - | - |
| Microsoft Forefront Client Security | http://www.microsoft.com/forefront/clientsecurity/ | Yes* | Yes | - | - |
| Agnitum Outpost Firewall 2009 | http://www.agnitum.com/ | Yes | Yes* | See comment | See Comment |
| Avast! 4.8 Antivirus Server Edition | http://www.avast.com/ | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| Rising Antivirus Free Edition | http://www.rising-global.com/ | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| CA eTrust Antivirus v7.1.192 | http://www.ca.com/ | Yes | Yes* | - | - |
| Sunbelt Vipre v3.1 | http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/ | Yes* | Yes* | Deep Scan with Anti-Rootkit Detection hangs the machine. | - |
| Jetico Personal Firewall v2 | http://www.jetico.com/ | Yes* | Yes* | - | - |
| Avira Premium Security Suite | http://www.avira.com/ | No* | No* | See comment | - |
| Eset Nod32 v4.0 Beta 1 | http://beta.eset.com/ | Yes* | Yes* | Won't install | See forum |
| SpyWare Blaster v4.1 | http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/ | Yes* | Yes | - | - |
| McAfee VirusScan Plus 2009 | http://www.mcafee.com/ | No* | No | See comment. | - |
| PeerGuardian 2 RC1 | http://phrosty.phoenixlabs.org/pg2-rc1/ | Yes | Yes* | See comment. | - |
| Windows Live OneCare for Server | http://onecare.live.com/ | Yes* | Yes* | - | - |
| Panda Antivirus Pro 2009 | http://www.pandasecurity.com/ | No | No | - | - |
| F-Secure Anti-Virus 2009 | http://www.f-secure.com/ | Yes* | Yes* | - | - |
| Zemana Antilogger | http://www.zemana.com/ | Yes* | Yes* | - | - |
| G DATA InternetSecurity 2009 | http://www.gdatasoftware.com/ | Yes* | Yes | - | - |
| BitDefender Total Security 2009 | http://www.bitdefender.com/ | Yes* | Yes | - | - |
| F-Secure Internet Security 2009 | http://www.f-secure.com/ | No* | No | Won't install | - |
| Eset NOD32 2.70.39 | http://www.eset.com/ | Yes* | Yes* | - | - |
| Microsoft Forefront Client Security | http://www.microsoft.com/forefront/clientsecurity/ | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| Zonealarm Internet Security 8.0 | http://www.zonealarm.com/ | Yes* | Yes | - | - |
| Online Armor | http://www.tallemu.com/ | Yes* | Yes* | - | - |
Panda Antivirus Pro 2009 does not work on server 2008 (both x64 and x86)
McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.5
works on SVR2008 32-Bit Standard.
PCTools Spyware Doctor v6
works fine on SVR2008 32-Bit Standard (german)
No Problems to install with Serial.
No Problems to run the application.
You may include Windows Live OneCare for Server(http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-ca/server/default.htm) in your list of anti-virus programs. I am going to install it and will make further comments later.
I really suggest that people check out a program called Zemana Antikeylogger. All AV’s and almost all HIPS are totally ineffective against keyloggers, and Zemana’s product is superb for this.
They are currently giving a free 1 year license with the code BETA_10.
It can be found at http://www.zemana.com/list/list.aspx and works great in Server 2008.
Well Guys I tried F-Secure For Virus & Anti Maleware Working Fine But I Have no Idea About Firewall Because I Did Not Try Yet, If Any of You Know About Which Firewall Is Working Good Let Me Know For Running Win2k8 As Cable Internet Server.
AVG Anti-Virus Network Edition works on Windows Server 2008 x64. I have tested it.
On Windows Server 2008 R2 if you use AVG any outbound rules you set in Windows Firewall will not work.
(I set up a profile to block all outgoing traffic and then added rules to allow individual apps such as IE. These worked fine before AVG was installed and after it was uninstalled.)
I don’t know if this also applies to Windows Server 2008.
P.S. This was the 64bit version and I used the AVG (cough) modification. AVG itself appeared to work fine.
Spybot – Search & Destroy works very fine on x86. No problems so far.
10 years online and I’ve never been infected. Hell, I didn’t even have an infected file on my PC’s until last winter (email attatchment – but I knew it was suspicious).
I don’t even know why I bother with antivirus anymore.
You might as well just use a rescue CD and scan.
Mhh.. for me AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition don’t work properly ;(
Every time the Virus Scan is at its end, the Computer Crashes with a Kernel_Stack_Inpage_Error.
MfG Pyromane
G-Data Internet Security 2009 x64 http://www.gdata.de – no problems so far!
Spyware Doctor is now 64bit
The newest Comodo Internet Security installed without any problem on server 2008 R2.
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/download_firewall.html
Updater for Avast! in C# with registry user rights trick:
FreeTextHost: AvastUpd.cs
Arris: I putted the code on FreeTextHost for tidiness and to have the right quotes. Thanks for your comment!
I think AVG are wise to the work around to install AVG Free on Server 2008 – that is the modded files supplied by Tomass installed for me but now fail to update…
Maybe they are blocking the serial for that particular file?
Anyway, rolling your own; using the up-to-date Free edition .exe with regedit and a hex editor still installs and updates AOK
Updates Avast! program modules in addition to antivirus databases:
http://freetexthost.com/by1xkjd4fg
avast! Server Edition v4.7 works on x64 Enterprise.
Sorry for the double post — I meant v4.8 and here’s a screenshot:
http://i43.tinypic.com/71qzrr.png
AVG 8.5 just released, and the same exact method that Anon said above works on it just fine for Server 2008
http://www.win2008workstation.com/wordpress/2008/03/08/security-software/#comment-2002
Arris: Updated your post
will Tomass be nice enough to create the custom installation package for this one as well AVG 8.5
BitDefender Total Security 2009 x64 installs and works flawlessly
PC Tools Free Antivirus DOES NOT work on x64. It claims it does not work on 64-bit during install.
ZoneAlarm definitely ruined my Windows 2008 install. It even ruined it twice. First the computer couldn’t reach the login screen, the second time it ruined my network. There was no way I would get the network to work again except reinstalling Windows.
Another way to install Kaspersky Antivirus / Internet Security or any other .msi that gives an error about incompatible OS can be found here:
http://maxbarrass.blogspot.com/2008/09/installing-kaspersky-internet-security.html
The link uses Orca from Microsoft to remove the Incompatible OS error messages from the .msi.
You can do it yourself, so you won’t have to run any fishy scripts or apps and it works perfectly!
Just tried to install the latest version of Comodo (CIS_Setup_3.8.65951.477_XP_Vista_x32.exe) from http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/download_firewall.html and I still get the “The Installed Operating System is not supported by COMODO Firewall Pro.” error.
Any help much appreciated!
DB
pctools AV does not work for On-access scanning in Windows 2008 x64. The website indicates only support for 32-bit anyways. So we should probably update the compatibility sheet.
avast! Server works on x64
I can happily report that Rising AV installs (and updates) fine on Server 2008 R2 w/Hyper-V (64-bit, of course).
…I might add, Rising AV is free!
I see references in here to R2. I have not found R2 yet and I looked through the MS websites. I have found RC2 which states this is a Release Candidate. I think some of my install problems might be related to an older version Win2008.
Arris: Most people are still working with Windows Server 2008 RTM, however there are already people who are working with the beta of the successor of Server 2008 named Windows Server 2008 R2. The RC2 you found is the 2nd Release Candidate of Windows Server 2008, so a beta version before the Release To Manufacturer (RTM).
ClamWin Free Antivirus works correctly on Windows 2008 64x edition. I am using it successfully for a couple of months already. No issues.
Notice:
After a clean install of Vista SP2 & Server 2008 SP2 with Outpost Firewall 2009 being the first application installed…
Agntium Outpost Firewall 2009 crashes explorer.exe (event id 1000 /shell32.dll) upon right click on folder in navigation pane (EVERYTIME 100% fail) & sometimes upon right click of normal files.
**Solution: Install WITHOUT Web Control & Anti-Spyware Modules
Also Agntium Outpost Firewall 2009 installation throttles Phenom II quad core performance as if it has TLB issue. Reduces processor bandwith to about 300kbs versus 1600-1800kbs (Tested with phenomII 920 2.8ghz). Upon uninstall, processor functionality is returned to normal. I havent found any workaround to this issue yet.
Arris: Thanks for your feedback!
Just thought i’d add that I have PC Tools free antivirus & intelliguard installed & running, without a hitch on Enterprise Edition Server 2008 x64.
I did want to install F-Secure Internet Security, but when I tried it said that it could not be installed on a windows server OS…Can anyone point me in the direction of a workaround for this??
Thanks,
NOD32 2.70.39 works OK !!!
Microsoft Forefront Client Security AntiVirus work on both 32-bit & 64-bit Windows 2008 Enterprise Server ***Tested & Confirmed***
Arris: Thanks for your comment, added it to the list!
Zonealarm Internet Security 8.0 installed and run OK on Winserver 2008 x64.
It warned before installation that is not intended for server OS, but installed without any problems and so far runs OK.
I have been trying out an excellent program called Online Armor. It comes as a freeware Firewall as well as a Firewall +HIPS (which is what I am using). I’ve tested it against many things in my malware collection (including a selection of keyloggers and screen capture trojans) and it has performed superbly.
It runs pretty light at a RAM burden of less than 20,000K with minimal CPU usage. The only problem I’ve encountered has been with Firefox 3.6alpha1 (won’t always let it connect). Other than that it is great!
What about f-Port
http://files.f-prot.com/files/windows/fpav-windows-x86-sc-en.zip
Hey yall….finally got a blog up about my server experiences….files and resources available! themadhacker-schism.blogspot.com
The newest version of comodo (3.10 i think) works fine without any problems on my 32bit system
BitDefender Total Security 2009 can’t be installed on WinServer 2008 64bits. ‘not the OS’. Can’t do the MSI trick neither because it just have only one EXE file to install. Any ideas?.
Sphinx Win7/Vista Firewall control works great with the Windows Server 2008 Firewall. Tested with Server 2008 Standard x86
I’m using CA e-Trust Antivirus v8.1 x64. Works just fine right out of the box.
I just installed A-Squared AntiMalware (by Emsi Software and it’s running fine.
Sorry- I should expand on the above about A-squared. The current version is 4.0, and has the A2 antimalware engine plus Ikarus AV. On most reputable Malware tests sites A2 ver 4 is usually in one of the top spots (along with Avira and G-Data).