Reviews Software & AppsReview - Antivirus and Internet Security Roundup

Review - Antivirus and Internet Security Roundup

Written by Marc Roberge | 08 February 2010

A guide to choosing the right antivirus or security solution for your Windows PC.

With all types of security products on the market, how do you decide which one is right for you? Start by answering the following questions:

Can you afford to lose your data? (YES!) If you are just using your computer for simple everyday activities, don’t store any important files and do not venture on the Internet much – you still need protection, although it might not be necessary to purchase the most comprehensive suite on the market. In fact, you could probably fare quite well with a free antivirus solution and a similar free firewall solution. Your system may eventually become infected and require a cleaning or reformatting, but since you have no critical data and little to no money invested in software, you’re likely still ahead of the game.

(NO!) If you have important files and data on your computer that you simply cannot afford to lose, a security suite, no matter how comprehensive, simply isn’t enough on it’s own. In addition to a solid security product, you will need to look into data backup solutions (be they in the form of CD/DVD, external drive or online storage).
How much can you realistically afford to spend? If you answered no to the last question, chances are a free solution will not be feasible for you. To be fair, there are a few free antivirus software available that outperform many popular products available for sale. However, a standalone antivirus product does not afford complete protection and should be complemented with firewall and spyware components as well. You can find and install adequate free firewall and spyware tools to your arsenal, but they will likely not be from the same provider, won’t be integrated and can be a bit of a chore to manage.

In the end, you are further ahead to buy a fully integrated solution with only one product to update, manage and monitor. Some security suites are available as an integrated fee to your monthly ISP bill. This is the case with Bell. Their security suite is decent although it does report more than it’s fair share of false positives (reports a benign file or site as infected or dangerous) and at $10/month ends up costing you more over the year than products that are far superior.

Prices and product offerings vary. I will discuss these in further detail below.
How many computers do you need to secure? Some vendors offer multi-license versions of their security suites at reasonable prices. Why buy 3 separate licensed suites at $30/ea, when you can get a 3 PC license for $50?
Do you enjoy tweaking and training your AV/Firewall solution or do you prefer to install it and, other than the occasional click, pretty much forget it’s there? Some suites are designed for simplicity of use while offering effective protection. Other products allow for a lot of user input and configuration.
Which is more important to you: computer performance or security? Some suites may offer more tools than you need. Some are so loaded with features that they actually impact your PC’s performance. Whether these suites offer better protection is debatable, but it’s easy to be swayed into thinking they do.

Free Antivirus, Firewall and Spyware solutions!

If you answered “Yes!” to question 1, then you needn’t go any further. Free solutions abound and will likely provide all the security you need.

Top Picks:

Product type	Product	Link
Antivirus	BitDefender Free
Firewall	ZoneAlarm
Spyware	Spyware Terminator

Other great free products:

Antivirus	Firewall	Spyware
AVG	Comodo	SpyBot S&D
Avast	Outpost	Ad-Aware Free
PC Tools Antivirus	PC Tools Firewall+	PC Tools Spyware Doctor
Avira Personal Edition	Sunbelt Firewall	IoBit 360 Free

Complete security solutions!

If you answered “No!” to question 1, then you need help selecting a suite that is best suited to your needs. Read on…

While there are dozens of security solutions on the market they are not all created equal. Below, you will find a list of our top 5 recommended security suites. Our ratings are based on the following factors:

Detection, removal and reporting.
Performance of scan engine and real-time protection monitor.
Ease of use and configuration.
Price.

Rank	Product	Price	Features	Link
#1	BitDefender Internet Security 2010	$49.95 – 3 PCs	Highest rated security suite. Includes Antivirus, AntiSpyware, Firewall, AntiSpam and Parental Controls. The fastest scan engine with the least impact on system performance. In addition, you get coverage for up to 3 computers for only $49.95.
#2	Kaspersky Internet Security 2010	$79.95 – 3 PCs	Excellent detection. Includes the same great features as BitDefender. Protect up to 3 PCs for $79.95.
#3	Eset Smart Security 4	$59.99 – 1 PC	Excellent detection. Same features as other suites listed.
#4	Trend Micro Internet Security Pro	$69.95 - 3PCs	Excellent detection. Fast scan engine. Nice added features like the network monitor. Protect up to 3 PCs for $69.95.
#5	MacAfee Internet Security 2010	$49.99 – 3 PCs	Best Malware detection. Same features as the other suites.