On Jun 10, 2020, at 9:50 PM, Marty Hutchings <mhutchings152730@...> wrote:

I am using JAWS 2020 with Windows 7 and have several hot keys set up to quickly open applications like JAWS, but they have stopped working.  I noticed this when I had shut down JAWS and tried to restart it with Alt + CTRL + J and nothing happened.  I later discovered that none of my hot key short cuts were working.  What would cause them to stop working?

MalwareBytes claims that the latest 4.X releases can be used as an antivirus program (not the free, on-demand only version.) However, because they don't use standard definition or signature files I feel a bit jittery depending on it as my main security tool. Their reasons for why this is a nonissue are somewhat compelling and I realize that standard definition files are not the only way to protect a computer. Still I am not comfortable using it as my sole or even my primary security tool.

David Goldfield,

Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist

JAWS Certified, 2019

WWW.DavidGoldfield.org

Hi,

You can use malware bites, it is about 90% accessible, and mostly useable, and it is a very strong anti-virus software, most prefer it ove others. Yes windows defender is the most accessible, but if you want a better antivirus, that is accessible 90% of the time and is much more secure than windows defender, I would go for malware bites.

 

On Sat, Jun 6, 2020 at 8:20 PM david Jennette <dcjenn@...> wrote:

I sent this an hour or so ago but didn’t see it post to the list so I’m going to try again. Sorry if you all get the message a second time.

I’m wondering if windows defender is still the best antivirus software to use with jaws or if there are now other packages that are accessible now. I figured I’d ask because some time has passed and things might have changed. Thanks.

Hello Norma,

I’m not sure if you are aware but, these days if you are doing Zoom conferencing or any other form of online conferencing, you should make sure that Windows is up-to-date and the conferencing app/program you are using is up-to-date as well for security purposes.

I would highly recommend that you look into a new computer system if your Windows 8.1 cannot be updated.

Milton

Hi Milton,

I’m running Win 8.1 from a fresh install to an HP desktop which had Win 7 and was not eligible for an update to Win 10.I didn’t think about updating the Win 8.1. to 10, I will look into that possibility.

I will double check to see if Office 365 is up to date. I’m pretty sure it is, but thanks for the reminder, I will double check it.

Thanks for your note,

Norma

Hello,

I am not sure if this has been addressed but from seeing your response, Norma, Have you check to see if you are eligible for upgrading your Win 8.1 to Windows 10?

Have you check to see if you have installed the updates for Office 365?

I would try these steps and get updated to properly see that JAWS 2020 is then still giving you the problems you are describing.

Milton

Hi,

All I have to go on is problems that occur when using J2020 do not occur when using 2019. They include:

Even more sluggishness in outlook 365, esp. when replying to a message

In Word 365, Jaws says “normal” when I arrow up and down through lines whether they have text or not. I spent an hour with a FS tech trying to resolve this issue and we finally ended up restoring J2020 factory settings. Major PITA. J2020 was OK for a few months, and now it’s happening again. So I need to use J2019 when working in Word.

There are other issues which I can’t recall now. And I know I’m not the only one who’s expressing frustration with J2020 problems.

Regards,

Norma

Well…what problems are you having?

Is there any particular reason you feel your performance issues are related to jaws?

Hi and thanks. I’ll give 2020 a try with my Win 8.1 PC, but I’m not too optimistic. I can’t even get optimal performance using J2020 with Windows 10. But, maybe I’ll get lucky…

Get the latest version, if you can. You can always still keep older versions on the computer in case you need them at a later time.

Hi group,

I’d like a recommendation as to the version of Jaws which will give me optimal performance with Windows 8.1 pro.

Thanks,

Norma

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Hello Chris,


the Image program that is included  in Windows does not work in case of a harddisk failure.

I am looking for a solution that also covers such a problem.

Klaus


On 6/10/2020 12:50 AM, Chris Hill wrote:

I gave Up on them five years ago for an accessibility try image for windows instead

On Jun 9, 2020, at 17:38, Klaus Vielhauer <vielhau@...> wrote:

Hello,

at the install screen there is no speech and I had to stop.

Does anyone use this program successfully?

Thanks

Klaus

On Tue, Jun 9, 2020 at 02:26 PM, Dan Longmore wrote:

Windows Defender is a strong anti virus program and while paid ones may have stronger points

Dan, what follows is not a criticism of what you've said, which is 100% accurate, but an addition.  Any other product, paid or free (at least potentially), may do better than Windows Security does with a given thing.  That's shown time and again in formal tests where each and every major security suite product changes position, often from the last test to the current one, because one of the things tested that's given more weight than others improves in one product while staying the same in others.

This is one reason why any statement that product X is better than product Y, without any qualifications, and regardless of the product, is nothing more than an opinion.  You need to be able to identify what it is that's better, and why, between X and Y across all significant dimensions, how you weight those, and that product X is better across a majority of them before you can declare it better with any objectivity.

I can, and have, given my subjective opinions about what I like best, but that does not make it "best for all users and situations."  I generally try to describe what my criteria were.

So, I'll repeat myself, as I've posted this before.  But the closest thing you (any you) are going to find that are at least somewhat objective measures of the effectiveness of a given security suite across multiple dimensions/functions is to look at the reports from testing labs, and not just the latest one, but going back at least a year, preferably two, to see how the various products have changed places over time, and how the different testers weight things differently such that one declares suite X superior to suite Y while another says just the opposite, but both place them in the top tier of products.  There are no simple declarations with regard to security software.

See the most recent plus the last several years of historical test results from:

AV Test

AV Comparatives

SE Labs  (Reports Page)

MRG Effitas  (360 Protection Testing Category)

This article from Quietman7, a security expert at BleepingComputer.com, makes for interesting reading, too, and directly pertains to the sorts of testing referenced above:  Reflections on Antivirus/Antimalware Testing & Comparisons

 
--

Brian - Windows 10 Pro, 64-Bit, Version 1909, Build 18363  

The purpose of education is not to validate ignorance but to overcome it.
       ~ Lawrence Krauss

For me, I’m very happy with the ESET suite of products. I’ve never been a victim of Malware or any other virus. While free is nice and Windows Defender works well enough, I’m very glad o take the extra protection I  very happy with ESET.

From: Brian Vogel <britechguy@...>
Sent: Tuesday, June 9, 2020 1:27 PM
To: main@jfw.groups.io
Subject: Re: Antivirus software.

On Tue, Jun 9, 2020 at 02:26 PM, Dan Longmore wrote:

Windows Defender is a strong anti virus program and while paid ones may have stronger points

Dan, what follows is not a criticism of what you've said, which is 100% accurate, but an addition.  Any other product, paid or free (at least potentially), may do better than Windows Security does with a given thing.  That's shown time and again in formal tests where each and every major security suite product changes position, often from the last test to the current one, because one of the things tested that's given more weight than others improves in one product while staying the same in others.

This is one reason why any statement that product X is better than product Y, without any qualifications, and regardless of the product, is nothing more than an opinion.  You need to be able to identify what it is that's better, and why, between X and Y across all significant dimensions, how you weight those, and that product X is better across a majority of them before you can declare it better with any objectivity.

I can, and have, given my subjective opinions about what I like best, but that does not make it "best for all users and situations."  I generally try to describe what my criteria were.

So, I'll repeat myself, as I've posted this before.  But the closest thing you (any you) are going to find that are at least somewhat objective measures of the effectiveness of a given security suite across multiple dimensions/functions is to look at the reports from testing labs, and not just the latest one, but going back at least a year, preferably two, to see how the various products have changed places over time, and how the different testers weight things differently such that one declares suite X superior to suite Y while another says just the opposite, but both place them in the top tier of products.  There are no simple declarations with regard to security software.

See the most recent plus the last several years of historical test results from:

AV Test

AV Comparatives

SE Labs  (Reports Page)

MRG Effitas  (360 Protection Testing Category)

This article from Quietman7, a security expert at BleepingComputer.com, makes for interesting reading, too, and directly pertains to the sorts of testing referenced above:  Reflections on Antivirus/Antimalware Testing & Comparisons

 
--

Brian - Windows 10 Pro, 64-Bit, Version 1909, Build 18363  

The purpose of education is not to validate ignorance but to overcome it.
       ~ Lawrence Krauss

Hi. I'm actually surprised that MalwareBytes is still maintaining the

1.7 branch. While it's true that some future versions may have had some

accessibility challenges the 4.x version which I last tried three months

was reasonably accessible. It might be worth installing it to see how

well it performs, considering that its capabilities have certainly

improved since V1.7.

David Goldfield,

Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist

JAWS Certified, 2019

WWW.DavidGoldfield.org

On 6/6/2020 7:00 PM, David Griffith wrote:

> I have heard a lot about how Windows Defender has improved.  So much so I

> abandoned the ESET Smart security subscription I had because of

> deteriorating accessibility.

> I have however kept my old 1.7 version of Malwarebytes going and resisted

> program upgrade to maintain accessibility although I let the virus database

> keep up to date.

> Thank goodness I did. During the last week Malwarebytes identified a Trojan

> on my laptop that Windows Defender  was completely oblivious of despite my

> performing a complete Windows Defender scan after the Malwarebytes alert.

> I turned to Windows Defender as Initially Malwarebytes was struggling and

> failing to quarantine this Trojan threat.

> On investigation it had infected   one of the plug-in directories of

> Videoland VLC. Uninstalling VLC did not succeed in removing the offending

> files and predictably trying to delete  these files manually also failed as

> Windows identified them as being used by another process.

> Eventually a full scan by Malwarebyte was able to remove this trojan from my

> registry in memory and I was finally able to also delete the offending VLC

> directories as a failsafe.

> What was more concerning was the fact that Windows Defender was completely

> unaware of this problem and failed to react.

> David Griffith

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: main@jfw.groups.io <main@jfw.groups.io> On Behalf Of david Jennette

> Sent: 06 June 2020 23:37

> To: jfw@groups.io

> Subject: Antivirus software.

> 

> Hi. I've asked this a few years ago but I figured it's time to ask again do

> to things changing. I'm wondering if Windows defender is still the most

> accessible antivirus software or if there are others now that work well with

> Jaws. Thanks.

> 

> 

> 

> 

>

> 

I gave Up on them five years ago for an accessibility try image for windows instead

On Jun 9, 2020, at 17:38, Klaus Vielhauer <vielhau@...> wrote:

Hello,

at the install screen there is no speech and I had to stop.

Does anyone use this program successfully?

Thanks

Klaus

Hi, David.

As others have already said Microsoft Defender/Windows Security is certainly accessible. In my opinion its interface isn't necessarily the most intuitive but all controls are well labeled and the program is easy to learn, particularly if you explore it thoroughly.

Kaspersky Antivirus has some accessibility with NVDA on its task manager and settings screens, with poor accessibility on the program's main screen. When using JAWS accessibility on the main screen is just about nonexistent when attempting to navigate with tab and shift+tab. For best results I'd recommend using the touch cursor if you use JAWS. When using NVDA object navigation will be almost essential, particularly on the program's main screen. Its installer went from being 100% accessible in 2015 to 100% inaccessible in later versions. However, installing it is definitely possible if you know how to make use of your screen reader's OCR functions since all you really need to do is to keep pressing enter to activate the Next button. At one point the installer downloads most of its components and you'll need to use OCR to know when this process has completed. Again, your screen reader's OCR features will be your friend during this process. Alternatively, you can use an app or service on a smart phone to assist you with this such as Seeing AI, Envision AI, Be My Eyes or AIRA. AIRA has the additional benefit of allowing an agent to remotely access and control your computer using Teamviewer, if needed.

I wrote a review of using Kaspersky with NVDA on my blog. While the post was written several years ago it's still fairly accurate as Kaspersky, for better or worse, has not changed very much in the past five years.

Symantec Endpoint Protection is extremely accessible. However, I think this program may be more for corporate users and I don't know how the Norton products for home users are doing these days when it comes to accessibility. I first used Norton Antivirus in 1999 and, like many programs from that time, it used standard controls and was 100% accessible. Around 2000 or so the interface changed to more of an HTML environment and so it was very different but still accessible. It has been years since I've used a Norton product.

MalwareBytes, as of a few months ago when I last tried it, was reasonably accessible as long as you use tab and shift-tab to navigate with it.

David Goldfield,

Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist

JAWS Certified, 2019

WWW.DavidGoldfield.org

Hi. I’ve asked this a few years ago but I figured it’s time to ask again do to things changing. I’m wondering if Windows defender is still the most accessible antivirus software or if there are others now that work well with Jaws. Thanks.