Internet security 2007 test

In addition to optimizing and improving gameplay, BullGuard has helpful cybersecurity protections, like a firewall, anti-phishing protection, and identity theft protection. Avira also has an excellent Safe Shopping browser extension which identified and blocked more phishing sites in my tests than most competitors. The extension is also very useful because it also blocks browser tracking, preventing companies from tracking your online activity and delivering ads based on your browsing habits.

One other cool thing about this extension is that it helps you find the best shopping deals online. Using the VPN, I was able to browse the web, stream video, and download files with minimal or no speed loss — which is pretty great for a bundled VPN. Avira has a lightweight cloud-based antivirus engine with perfect detection rates as well as excellent web protection. Avira Prime also has a VPN, a password manager, a game booster, system tune-up, and more.

Learn More — Avira Prime. Panda Dome Complete has a good malware scanner, an easy-to-use interface, and more additional features than most competitors. Panda Dome Complete offers good malware protection and is one of the most feature-rich internet security suites on the market — although not all of its extra features are that good. Panda detected most of my test malware, and I was impressed with its intuitive interface and unique features like the Rescue Kit.

Learn More — Panda Dome Complete. Kaspersky also has comprehensive parental controls, a good password manager, and a solid VPN — although the VPN is pretty limited. While Kaspersky offers good protection, I think all of its plans are a little bit too expensive when compared to competitors with a similar amount of features.

All Kaspersky purchases come with a risk-free day free guarantee. Learn More — Kaspersky Total Security. Malwarebytes Premium is an easy-to-use internet security suite for users looking for malware and web protection… and not much else. Malwarebytes also comes with a browser extension that prevents phishing attacks, blocks sites with malware including cryptojackers , and removes ads. Malwarebytes is a highly effective anti-malware program, but it lacks most of the additional features I want to see in an internet security suite.

The company offers a generous day money-back guarantee on both plans. Learn More — Malwarebytes Premium. Most of the products on this list are primarily intended for Windows although they all work well on Mac , so I decided to add one more that focuses on protecting Macs.

Intego has excellent real-time malware protection which blocked all of the Mac-specific malware samples I threw at it — including newer spyware samples that macOS antiviruses from competitors like Panda missed. I also really like the phishing detection feature, which blocked more suspicious sites in my tests than Safari or Chrome.

Internet security is important because of the huge amount of valuable data most users keep online, and the increasing number of hackers targeting unprotected online accounts. Without proper internet security protection , you could fall victim to one of these hacks, leaking banking info and credit card numbers, compromising social media accounts, and ultimately becoming a victim of identity theft and fraud.

Antivirus software protects against computer-based malware like viruses and trojans. Trending from CNET. Microsoft Virtual PC Free. Maintain custom applications during migration to new operating system. Security Task Manager Free to try. Display information about programs and processes running on your computer.

Trend Micro Internet Security Free to try. Protects your system against viruses and malware, keep your files safe from ransomware. PC Optimizer Free to try.

Optimize your PC so it runs smoothly and quickly. GhostSurf Platinum Free to try. Surf the Web anonymously, remove spyware, stop spam and clean your browsing tracks. Get the service pack update for Virtual PC Protect your USB flash drive with a password. Advanced SystemCare Free Free. In my quick comparative test I collected two dozen links to recent phishing fraud sites from actual e-mail messages and from phish-tracking Web sites. The phishing filter only blocked eight of them. By contrast, Norton Confidential blocked all but two of the same group.

I'm not impressed with the PC-cillin antiphishing feature. Data Theft Protection is meant to keep you from accidentally transmitting private information. It stores the specific data items credit card numbers, passwords, and so on in encrypted form. Like ZoneAlarm, it won't display them at all, not even to the administrator.

Also like ZoneAlarm, it lets you choose to block each item from leaving your computer via Web form, e-mail, or IM, and it lists specific Web-site exceptions for each item. So, for example, you could block your eBay password but put the actual eBay Web site on the exception list. If a fake eBay site gets past the phishing filter, you won't accidentally give it your password.

The presence of phone and address categories suggests you might use this feature to prevent children from giving out personal information. But it won't stop them—they can just use an unsupported browser, IM client, or e-mail program. Security suites are all starting to look alike these days. Some, like McAfee Total Protection, try for distinction by piling on features until the suite sinks under its own weight. Others, such as NIS , go the other way, leaving some modules to be installed only by those who want them.

Trend has cleverly moved its extra features to the Web, either as Web-based services or optional downloads. If you have a supported Internet-enabled phone, you can download and install Trend Micro Mobile Security, which protects against phone-based viruses and SMS spam. Not having a supported phone, I couldn't test this bonus feature. In any case, this type of threat isn't common. Remote File Lock beta is a twist on the usual folder-encryption utility.

Normally it's just an ordinary folder on the desktop, but if the computer is stolen you can lock it remotely through the trendsecure. No, it isn't locking the barn after the horse is stolen: The folder starts off locked at bootup and stays that way until it can get on the Internet and be sure you haven't put it in full lockdown.

The most interesting bonus is Transaction Guard, designed to protect private transaction data when you're using a public computer. You can use this only on a public computer that allows installing ActiveX controls—but that's exactly the sort of computer you'd expect to be infested. If you get through installation, it offers two forms of protection: Spyware Monitor and Secret Keyboard. Spyware Monitor kicks in when you're about to connect with a secure site, just like Norton Confidential's crimeware protection.

To remove found spyware, it links to Trend's online "Housecall" scanner. What if some goon installed a hardware keylogger, as happened a few years ago at Kinko's locations in New York?

He won't get your password as long as you enter it using Secret Keyboard. You "type" by clicking an on-screen keyboard and then paste the typed data into the password entry field.

Trend Micro Internet Security definitely improves on its predecessor, especially the antispam module, but it still has a ways to go. The online TrendSecure bonus features are flashy, but haven't reached their full potential. Still, it's a decent suite, and the low price for three installations may be tempting.

More security suite reviews:. Good 3. Bottom Line This suite's elements are steadily improving antispam did particularly well , though some still need work.

Trend's addition of online bonus services along with the suite's low price will make it attractive to some. Pros Antispyware blocked most installations, detected most malware. Antispam blocked most spam, with few false positives. Transaction Guard can protect even a remote computer. Cons Antispyware failed to remove many detected threats. Reports many innocuous programs as suspicious.

Problematic interaction with malware on two test systems. Firewall may need reconfiguration.