Author Topic: Agnitum (makers of Outpost Firewall and AV) has been acquired by Yandex (Read 26,931 times)

mwb1100 · « **on:** January 09, 2016, 07:21 PM »

I no longer actively use Outpost Security Suite, but from other posts on DC I think there are probably quite a few around here who might be using it.

It appears that about a month ago it was announced that Agnitum has been acquired by Yandex, a large Russian Internet company (described sometimes as the "Russian Google"). As far as I know, there haven't been any clear announcement about what this might mean for the future of Outpost firewall, anti-virus, or security suite software.

Some forum threads from outpostfirewall.com:

- http://www.outpostfirewall.com/forum/showthread.php?28041-Yandex-acquires-software-developer-Agnitum&p=209622#post209622
- http://www.outpostfirewall.com/forum/showthread.php?28042-Yandex-Agnitum-Just-some-info-from-Wikipedia
- http://www.outpostfirewall.com/forum/showthread.php?28050-Agnitum-Sold

cranioscopical · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2016, 08:26 PM »

Thanks for the info!

Curt · « **Reply #2 on:** January 09, 2016, 10:31 PM »

a little funny to realize I briefly was using Yandex 20+ years ago! Back then it was called Arkadia.

Quote from: Wikipedia on Yandex

History

Yandex's roots trace back to 1990, when Arkady Volozh and Arkady Borkovsky founded the company Arkadia, which developed MS-DOS software for use in patents and goods classification. Their software featured a full-text search with Russian morphology support. In 1993 Arkadia became a subdivision of Comptek International, another company founded by Volozh in 1989. In 1993-1996 the company continued developing its search technologies and released software for searching through the Bible and Russian classical literature.[15]

In 1993 Arkady Volozh and Ilya Segalovich, friends since their school days and by then working together to develop search software,[16] invented the word "Yandex" to describe their search technologies. The name initially stood for "Yet Another iNDEXer".[17] The Russian word "Я" ("Ya") corresponds to the English personal pronoun "I", making "Яndex" a bilingual pun on "index". Another pun is based on the yin and yang contrast (Russian: инь - индекс, ян - яндекс).

The search engine yandex.ru was launched on September 23, 1997 and was ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yandex

It will be interesting to see if Outpost will continue, or if it is too small a business for Yandex' big shoes.

Ennovy · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2016, 04:23 PM »

Please read Agnitum blog: http://www.agnitum.com/news/2016-01-14-yandex-acquired-agnitum-technology.php

Quote

To ensure further security of your computer, we encourage you to make use of a special offer. We offer all active Outpost license holders to exchange their Outpost licenses for Kaspersky Internet Security licenses free of charge. The migration offer is time limited. Visit the dedicated page to learn more about the migration program and exchange your license for free until January 31, 2016.

Here you can exchange your license: http://www.agnitum.com/migrate.php

jadinolf · « **Reply #4 on:** January 16, 2016, 08:35 PM »

Big disappointment on my part.

I really like Outpost but it is soon to become toast along with my 6 licenses.

I have no interest in Kaspersky.

Curt · « **Reply #5 on:** January 16, 2016, 11:02 PM »

a very big disappointment indeed

Quote

Agnitum terminates direct and partner sales of the Outpost product line. (...) Agnitum will provide antivirus base updates, bug fixing and technical support until December 31, 2016.

Too many lifetime keys, I suppose.

-----

Modified:

Quote

Your product license

OUTPOST SECURITY SUITE
LICENSE TYPE Personal Pack
LICENSE: Lifetime

will be exchanged for

KASPERSKY INTERNET SECURITY
LICENSE EXPIRES IN 2 YEARS AFTER ACTIVATION

ATTENTION!

2. Your Outpost key will be blocked after you confirm the exchange.

4wd · « **Reply #6 on:** January 17, 2016, 10:19 PM »

I've also got lifetime licenses for OSS but stopped using it a few years ago when the then current version was bogging down the system.

Also have no interest in Kaspersky but may as well take them up on the offer so I can have the benefit of yet another unused license

Ennovy · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2016, 07:16 AM »

Quote from: 4wd on January 17, 2016, 10:19 PM

I've also got lifetime licenses for OSS but stopped using it a few years ago when the then current version was bogging down the system.

Also have no interest in Kaspersky but may as well take them up on the offer so I can have the benefit of yet another unused license

+1

Edvard · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2016, 09:33 PM »

I fundamentally don't understand why people do this: buy up a tech company with a large customer base only to shut down the business without incorporating any of the technology/code into new or existing products or retaining staff. I mean... why?

Curt · « **Reply #9 on:** January 18, 2016, 10:23 PM »

-My guess is that Agnitums sold too many lifetime keys, and way too few short term keys. Yandex expect much more profit from their Internet browser's search engine (adverts)!

And just MAYBE the owners also have shares in Kaspersky?

4wd · « **Reply #10 on:** January 19, 2016, 05:13 AM »

Quote from: Edvard on January 18, 2016, 09:33 PM

... without incorporating any of the technology/code into new or existing products or retaining staff.

They are incorporating the technology and retaining staff ... just not for the good of the Outpost customer base. It will be for the good of the Yandex Browser customer base.

Quote

In December 2015 Yandex acquired Agnitum software technology. Agnitum’s R&D has provided security software solutions for over 15 years. These technologies will now be used to protect users of Yandex Browser.

As agreed by both parties, Agnitum’s software developers, quality engineers and virus analysts were offered an opportunity to join Yandex team and continue their work in St Petersburg office of Yandex.

Agnitum experience will contribute greatly to the development of Protect active security technology that ensures online safety for Yandex Browser users. Protect encompasses several technologies: ID theft protection, Secure Wi-Fi feature, suspicious site blocking and virus scanner.

Edvard · « **Reply #11 on:** January 19, 2016, 07:58 AM »

Aha, the picture is clearer now. Still, not good news for Outpost users.

I have used the Yandex browser and found it to be not much different from the Chromium it's based on, but maybe things like this will make a difference. Also, YES, they have a stake in Kaspersky. From the Wikipedia page:

Quote

The browser checks webpage security with the Yandex security system and checks downloaded files with Kaspersky anti-virus.

So Kaspersky is integrated?

Either way, I've used the Yandex search engine before, and have been pleased with the results. Maybe I'll give the browser a second try...

Innuendo · « **Reply #12 on:** January 23, 2016, 04:03 PM »

I'm sad to see Agnitum go, but I got my money's worth out of my lifetime license that I bought 8 or so years ago. Anyone have any suggestions regarding a replacement security suite that has a firewall component that's as leak-tight as Agnitum's was?

40hz · « **Reply #13 on:** January 23, 2016, 04:24 PM »

Lifetime key. Yours or ours - whichever comes first.

Jibz · « **Reply #14 on:** January 23, 2016, 05:04 PM »

Very disappointing .. and not sure what I am going to do with 3 Kaspersky licenses.

4wd · « **Reply #15 on:** January 23, 2016, 10:39 PM »

Quote from: Innuendo on January 23, 2016, 04:03 PM

Anyone have any suggestions regarding a replacement security suite that has a firewall component that's as leak-tight as Agnitum's was?

At the time I was running OSS the only other firewall with almost as fine grain control was Comodo Internet Security Suite - I have no idea if that is still the case though.

It's too bad that these Internet Security Suites don't allow you to uninstall parts you don't require or at least stop them from using resources, you could continue to use just the firewall component then.

Dormouse · « **Reply #16 on:** January 24, 2016, 03:45 PM »

Another disappointed Outpost user.

I used Kaspersky once, but found it too intrusive and slow.
I might try it, but can't imagine I will continue after the 2 years are up.
Don't know what the best alternatives are now.
Maybe the 2 years will be enough for me to be fully Android & Linux. And a Windows machine without internet access.

mwb1100 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 24, 2016, 08:25 PM »

I switched over to Webroot SecureAnywhere a while back before the recent Agnitum news. It seems to work OK for me - as far as I can tell it gives a decent mix of protection without being too intrusive. Ffor a couple of years I've gotten annual 5 device licenses at $30 from this link: http://www.webroot.com/us/en/home/affiliates/wsc-29 ; (an affiliate link, but not mine - I have no idea whose it is).

I'm also running lifetime licenses of MBAM and AdGuard. AdGuard seems to have a perpetual $40 deal (even though the page claims the deal is ending in a few days) for lifetime licenses for 2 machines here: https://stacksocial.com/sales/adguard-premium-lifetime-subscription

jadinolf · « **Reply #18 on:** January 24, 2016, 11:46 PM »

I am, sad , like so many others but I've given up whining and crying.

I'm staying with Outpost Firewall Pro until they pull the plug on it and if I am still around (i'll be 82) I'll worry about it.

I see I am repeating myself.

Carol Haynes · « **Reply #19 on:** January 28, 2016, 06:37 PM »

I have given up using anything other than built in security software ... most of it seems to do very little to combat online threats these days which mostly seem to be drive by and don;t get picked up by commercial packages.

I use MSE (on windows 7) and Windows Defender on Windows 8 (and 10 if/when I bother to upgrade)
The built in firewall
And Malwarbytes AntiMalware (lifetime licenses).

IME the latter is the only one that seems to pick anything up these days.

4wd · « **Reply #20 on:** January 29, 2016, 12:12 AM »

Quote from: Carol Haynes on January 28, 2016, 06:37 PM

I have given up using anything other than built in security software ...

Same here except I use it because of the lack of performance hit.

Quote

The built in firewall

With the addition of WFC for outgoing connection control.

Quote

And Malwarbytes AntiMalware (lifetime licenses).

With Website Protection turned off because it's more annoying than useful.

Innuendo · « **Reply #21 on:** January 30, 2016, 08:08 PM »

Quote from: 4wd on January 23, 2016, 10:39 PM

At the time I was running OSS the only other firewall with almost as fine grain control was Comodo Internet Security Suite - I have no idea if that is still the case though.

I've never heard a lot about Comodo's security suite. The extent of my knowledge was that it was the only firewall (other than Agnitum's) that will pass 100% of leak tests. I decided to poke around it a bit this morning & the results surprised me. I knew they had a paid tier and a free tier. I figured it was like all the other security software publishers in that the free tier was a stripped down or limited version of the paid product.

No, it's not. Turns out the free version is the full-on complete product and not limited in any way. The paid version just gets you tech support and expert-assisted virus/malware removal. Comodo's trying to build up its brand name and reputation in the security community (and sale SSL certificates) so part of their strategy is giving a complete security suite for free.

I've installed it and wow, it's comprehensive. I don't necessarily mean that in a good way, either. There are settings to alter nearly every single way the suite behaves. If someone doesn't know what they are doing they'll leave their system completely exposed while mistakenly thinking that their system is protected. What's worse is that the default settings are a balance of "totally locked down" and "not bothered by prompts" that I would not have necessarily have chosen as it's a little too lax, IMHO.

I'm going to give it a go for a few days, but I'm a computer security geek & playing with stuff like this gives me great joy, but before anyone else decides to install this, please keep in mind that this thing has a 648 page PDF manual. That's six hundred forty-eight pages. Get too overzealous & strict with your settings and your PC is not going to boot.

If you want to get an education (or already have one) this might be a fun ride, but for the Click Next-Next-Next-Done crowd it will mostly end in salty tears.

Quote

It's too bad that these Internet Security Suites don't allow you to uninstall parts you don't require or at least stop them from using resources, you could continue to use just the firewall component then.

I will give the Comodo guys credit for their installer. They list the different modules: AV, firewall, hardened browser, and their GeekBuddy expert service. One can pick and choose what to install and what to leave out. I went with just the AV and firewall. It's going to take some serious fiddling around to decide if the suite is worth keeping or not, though.

If this doesn't pan out I think I'm going to try 4wd's solution of MBAM and WFC.

4wd · « **Reply #22 on:** January 30, 2016, 11:46 PM »

Quote from: Innuendo on January 30, 2016, 08:08 PM

The extent of my knowledge was that it was the only firewall (other than Agnitum's) that will pass 100% of leak tests.

I actually went from using Comodo to using Agnitum because the number of alerts Comodo generated started to drive me nuts

Quote

If this doesn't pan out I think I'm going to try 4wd's solution of MBAM and WFC.

That's going to depend on what you expect of WFC, it is just a frontend to Windows Firewall with Advanced Security (WFwAS), so if you're used to the almost geek-like control that Outpost and Comodo gives over connections then you are going to be really disappointed. I just wanted something that would notify me of outgoing connections and give me the option to temporarily/permanently ban them.

My review of an earlier version (it's currently 4.6.0.0) is over here.

Innuendo · « **Reply #23 on:** February 04, 2016, 02:53 AM »

Well, Comodo didn't last long on my system. Soon as I installed it LAN transfer speeds tanked. I turned off *everything*...firewall, AV, HIPS, etc. and the speeds were still bottlenecked. Soon as I uninstalled it (didn't even have to reboot) and the speeds miraculously returned. Searches on the internet only led to old 2007 era threads with promises that the problem had been fixed. Not exactly helpful...

So committed I was to giving Comodo a fair shake I did a complete reinstall of Windows thinking maybe some remnant of Agnitum's software was the cause. No such luck. Reports say v9 is in alpha so maybe I'll give that a try when it's released.

Meanwhile, I shall read 4wd's review of WFC & ponder my next move.

TheNewtonian · « **Reply #24 on:** July 23, 2017, 11:43 PM »

Quote from: jadinolf on January 24, 2016, 11:46 PM

I am, sad , like so many others but I've given up whining and crying.

I'm staying with Outpost Firewall Pro until they pull the plug on it and if I am still around (i'll be 82) I'll worry about it.

I see I am repeating myself.

I am a long time user of Outpost Security Suite. Apart from the Antivirus part which I have turned off, it is still running fine as a very good firewall. Probably the best. So for me the good news is I can solve my problem quite easily. I have downloaded the Bitdefender Free Antivirus. With that and its excellent reputation and the excellent reputation of the Agnitum Outpost Firewall I am doing fine. If others out there can confirm this is working for them then there is a good solution. Until someone makes a better firewall then I am staying with the Outpost one. There is no reason for it to stop working. It doesn't need any maintenance. Its great. And so were the guys at Agnitum. Really dedicated to their product. People used to look at me strange when I tell them I use a Russian Firewall, lol. Probably the best people to make one. Anyway at the end of the day when you want to get out of a business like that and you have spent years developing and perfecting your security technology it is like cashing out of the casino or the investment one may have in a house. It just sits there and grows in value irrespective of the subscription income. I guess Agnitum felt it was the time to take a big bonus cheque. Good luck to them - they deserved it. I was well protected for many years. Respect to them.