Panda Software recently released Beta version 1.9 of its popular free Panda Cloud Anti-Virus product. This beta specifically aims to test the product's ability to intercept network traffic. In the final 2.0 release, that capability will be used to provide cloud-based firewall protection.

Cloud Antivirus is a separate product line from Panda's more traditional Panda Antivirus Pro and Panda Internet Security. The 2012 editions of these products will be released in the next few weeks.

The company needs plenty of individuals to test this beta, so they're giving away prizes for the best testers. On August 1, Panda will award 10 $100 Amazon gift certificates to the most active beta testers. Here "most active" means those who have submitted the most reports of bugs that hadn't been seen before. Other active beta testers will receive licenses for the Pro edition of Panda Cloud Antivirus.

Panda's blog post announcing the beta notes that at present network interception applies to HTTP and POP3 traffic. The program does include a Process Monitor that can track each process's participation in HTTP Web traffic, and even allow per-process blocking. However, "no traditional firewall functionality is provided in the beta, only interception."

The company wants testers to exercise the new features by running all types of Web-aware applications, "browsers, web apps, peer-to-peer apps, email clients, media streaming, etc." In particular they want testers to perform their normal daily operations and note any slowdowns, conflicts, crashes, or other problems.

In order to qualify for possible prizes, testers must report found bugs in Panda's CloudAV Support Forums. Brand-new bugs get brand-new topics in the forum; reports of existing bugs should tag on to existing topics. To join the beta test, download Panda Cloud Antivirus Beta 1.9. You will have to register, but registration is free.