The traditional protection scheme found on most computers involves an antivirus and a firewall. As expected, malware adapts quickly, and antivirus programs have been forced to become “antimalware” or evolve into the “antiransomware” category. However, one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect a computer is the dynamic blocking of unauthorized processes, and that is a job VoodooShield does quite well.
The first time we talked about VoodooShield was almost a year ago. Even then it was already what we could call a “veteran” program, but that doesn’t mean it has lost effectiveness; quite the opposite. The idea of blocking strange processes by combining a whitelist system and databases basically proposes protecting the user from themselves… and I think many NeoTeo readers know friends or family who need that kind of protection. Add to that the rise of new attack methods like ransomware, and turning the computer into a “sandbox” doesn’t sound so far-fetched. Windows tried something similar with its famous “User Account Control”, but today we find it showing simple warnings, and it’s very easy to disable.
VoodooShield places itself at the same level as any antivirus. The first time we said it doesn’t aim to replace it, and that’s still true a year later. The first thing to understand about VoodooShield is that its general operation is a matter of compromises. The program offers a slightly advanced mode that presents additional confirmations to the user, and although this makes it more robust, some convenience is lost. On the other side we find the automatic mode, which VoodooShield recommends for general use, but it reminds us that the possibility of a false positive or a process that manages to escape its surveillance is always there.
The latest version evaluated is 3.38, and despite carrying the beta label, it is stable enough for daily use. VoodooShield remains free as long as it is used for personal and non-commercial purposes. Paying its annual license activates additional protection parameters, and in essence unlocks the entire configuration menu, impossible to modify with the free build. Its price is 20 dollars per year, but everyone is invited to evaluate it at no cost.
