Why Does Threatfire Need Updating?

Threatfire is the remarkable zero-day computer security tool that is designed to detect and block brand new exploits from causing problems on your system.

Available for Windows and Mac OS X, Threatfire is available in both free and paid flavors, and its success lies in its ability to protect zero-day vulnerabilities from being exploited. This is done by the addition of regular updates, providing your computer system with protection against threats that haven’t yet been discovered or confirmed by developers and security companies.

While running Threatfire on your computer will add an extra layer of protection, regular updates are required for it to remain a potent force.

Zero-day vulnerabilities are ones which standard anti-virus and malware security tools can find difficult to detect. They are known as “zero-day,” because there is no set timeframe between the release of a threat into the wilds of the Internet and the speed with which security software developers are able to provide fixes for these threats. As such, these types of threat can exist in the wild for some time before a solution is identified.

Usually, an update will be developed and sent out to users as quickly as possible after testing.

As there is a delay to standard anti-virus solutions receiving the updated profiles needed to detect new threats, Threatfire is able to bridge the gap between threats being released and security software companies rolling out updates to their software, thereby protecting your computer.

Threatfire utilizes rootkit detection as well as behavior-based protection which detects unusual actions by new software on your computer.

At this stage you might be wondering exactly why Threatfire requires updates. After all, if the software is capable of bridging the gap between new viruses becoming active and your security software being updated, why does Threatfire require updating?

The reason for the inclusion of updates in Threatfire is simple. The software is under constant revision in order to make it better. Additionally, the developers, PC Tools, provide updates to the software which provide the application with information about recent threats that have been uncovered and data for detecting these.

As you can see, despite the nature of the software being protection against zero-day risks, Threatfire requires updates from time to time. These are usually automated, but can also be instigated via the Smart Update button.

However, Threatfire updates sometimes fail to work. This is a known problem, and while largely extinguished, if you are running an older version of the utility you might still experience it.

Luckily there is an easy resolution: simply change your Windows system clock to reflect a different US-based timezone and then run the update again. Once done, reset your Windows time and the problem should be fixed!

Source: Author's own experience

PC Tools Support Forum, http://www.pctools.com/forum/showthread.php?62906-threatfire-smart-update-bug

Screenshot provided by author