Which is the Best Internet Security Software ?

There are many companies that will sell you security - But which do you need ? We selected 16 Security and Antivirus Products through their paces to see how the free packages measure up against commercial offerings.

Fundamentally, all security software is focused on the same job - keeping your data and applications safe from cyber-criminals. But there's a wide selection of software on offer, and a range of different approaches. Finding the ideal security software package means weighing up several variables.

Naturally, the first question to consider is how effectively a given program guards against malware. It should prevent as much malicious software as possible from installing and running on a PC or laptop - but it shouldn't be over-sensitive, producing "false-positive" alarms when a legitimate tool accesses system files or opens a network connection. A security suite that repeatedly asks for permission to run everyday programs is rather intrusive, and is arguably failing to do its job properly.

Another aspect to consider is the impact a package has on your system. Happily, the days when bloated security software could make a PC slow to a crawl appear to be well and truly behind us - we noticed no significant slowdown from any of the packages on test this month. But all security software needs to stay resident in memory, and its RAM footprint can be a significant consideration, especially for older PCs that might be functioning with only 1GB or 2GB of memory.

There are plenty of subjective considerations to factor in as well. When possible danger is detected, some may want a program that handles the threat silently and automatically; others will prefer a security suite that explains the situation clearly and provides options for handling it yourself. When it comes to adjusting a program's settings, a clear and usable interface is a boon - but the precise degree of control you'll want over the program will obviously depend on your personal preference.

Features vary too from package to package. Some security suites are loaded with custom firewalls, anti-spam agents, browser toolbars, password managers, system cleaners and even online backup systems. These features can be useful but in many cases a package that restricts itself to doing a few basic tasks well is all that's required.

At any rate, it's always essential to weigh up the value of a feature before paying extra for it in many cases, similar features can be found in free programs and services, such as the standalone AVG LinkScanner, the LastPass password manager. Piriform's CCleaner tool and the free Dropbox service.

Lastly, but obviously not least in the list of considerations, there's the price to think about. The headline prices for the commercial packages below are based on buying three-PC boxed copies from major online retailers; further options are usually available from publishers, should you need to protect large numbers of PCs in your dwelling.

Comparison 

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How we test ?

We award each product a mark out of six across five categories. The Performance score reflects the level of malware protection offered by each package. We test this using a Windows XP system (still the most common OS worldwide) to occess dozens of samples of real malware, served up online exactly as a real malicious site would try to. A package is counted as protecting us if it blocks the malware from reaching our system, or prevents it making changes to our system.

To test for false-positives, we run a range of legitimate but suspicious-looking applications, such as FileZilla FTP server and NirSoft SmartSniff network monitor. We count a false-positive if a package blocks the program outright, or asks us what to do.

The Performance score also factors in how long it takes each package to perform a quick scan, and how much memory it occupies: we quantify this by measuring system RAM usage two minutes after boot on a Windows 7 system.

The Features score reflects the range of features on offer, such as web protection or a gaming mode that suspends intrusive operations. The Ease of Use score reflects how attractive and usable each interface is, how clearly it communicates arising issues, and how easy it is to find and configure advanced settings.

The Value for Money score reflects how affordable each suite is, in light of how usable and effective it is. Where applicable, we base this on the price of a one-year, three-PC package at major online retailers. Naturally, free software can't be beaten on this count, but a commercial suite that offers great protection and useful features at a low annual price can still be a great investment.

Our Overall rating is an average of these scores, although due to rounding it may be slightly higher or lower than expected.

Conclusion :

Of all the suites, we found Trend Micro Titanium Internet Security 2012 as our Lab Winner. It is a Simple, Lightweight suite that offers great protection and useful extra features. But if you are looking for a free software, then we recommend AVG Antivirus Free 2012 - Heavyweight Suite, Plastered with Adverts - But great malware detection and web protection make it the best free option.

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It's time Apple built antivirus protection into its OS

Apple, allow me to introduce your left hand to the right. It might make it easier to communicate important facts to customers, such as whether or not OS X users should run antivirus software. The issue of Mac security popped up again with the arrival of Mac Defender, a fake antivirus package that fooled many Apple customers into handing over credit card details to remove imaginary security issues. Described as a tipping point in the Mac malware timeline, Mac Defender marks the point at which Apple needs to grow up, and shows what it needs to learn from Microsoft: give as much information as possible and protect everything.

Apple appears to be where Microsoft was in 2005 before it started to include Windows Defender with its operating systems, following two years' work on "Trusted Computing". Apple, by contrast, has its head buried in the sand, pretending the malware problem doesn't exist, despite security experts predicting a rising tide as the Mac becomes more popular.

The problem isn't simply that there are now more Macs in circulation, making the platform a juicier target for cyber-criminals. The security scare is compounded by Apple customers themselves. Spoon-fed stories about the safety of the platform, consumers have become blase about the dangers. One security expert we spoke to said that although Apple represents only 10% of the PC market, Mac owners are perhaps ten Limes more likely to "fall for" scams such as Mac Defender, because they haven't had years of attacks to encourage a sense of skepticism - unlike Windows users.

So what is Apple telling customers about how to deal with security? The message seems to be don't bother with it, largely. "Mac OS X doesn't get PC viruses. And its built-in defenses help keep you safe from other malware without the hassle of constant alerts and sweeps," the company shouts in bold at the top of its security page. "Every Mac ships with a secure configuration, just turn your Mac on and start working. When you need to be aware of something, it will let you know."

Except when it doesn't. Apple took three weeks to acknowledge Mac Defender, instructing support workers to wash their hands of the issue. "AppleCare does not provide support for removal of the malware. You should not confirm or deny whether the customer's Mac is infected or not," the company dictated in a leaked internal memo.

The only admission Apple makes of malware threats is a footnote on its security page: "Since no system can be 100% immune from every threat, antivirus software may offer additional protection." It's a bit like saying condoms "may" help prevent the spread of STDs on college campuses.

Looking for more definitive advice, I headed out to the Apple Store in Regent Street, posing as a potential customer. "I have Kaspersky on my Mac," confided the sales assistant - we'll call him C*r*s to spare the helpful expert from a run-in with Apple's secret police.

"It's hard for Macs to get viruses, so criminals are trying to panic you into getting some kind of bad software,"said one of my friend. "To be honest, I've got a firewall and a Kaspersky program, so now I feel that no-one can trick me. You're talking about a pretty expensive machine, so you'd want to protect it."

A support worker on Apple's helpline was less forthcoming, saying only that "we don't recommend installing security software, but you can if you want to for your own peace of mind".

And what about Apple itself? Does the company really trust its own OS so much that it sees no need for corporate-wide antivirus? Some security experts believe it does use security software, but the company wouldn't tell us either way.

So it's mixed messages all around. Until Apple actually puts function before marketing fluff and follows Microsoft's lead with built-in anti-malware protection, the security threat is only going to get worse.

Security experts have told us that it's actually no more difficult to write malware for Macs than it is for Windows machines - it's just that there's a smaller pool of virus-writing talent plying its trade in OS X. That could change with the release in underground cyber-crime forums of a DIY crime-ware kit for Macs that could allow almost anyone to write code to steal passwords and inject code into websites. And with Mac users seen as more affluent than the norm, there is plenty of motivation.

As we wait for Apple to respond to the growing threat, and in the absence of guidance, the best example comes from the sales staff of Apple. If it's important enough for my friend, then it should also be important for customers.

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Norton 360 v5 Complete Review

Symantec has recently released its most complete anti-virus package yet with the jam-packed Norton 360 version 5.0. We try to make it through all its features.
 

Norton 360 V5.0 includes a really long list of features, the most we’ve seen yet from a security package. In addition to the traditional threat scanning, reputation scanning is also present, examining and setting trust levels for running programs. Emails, IMs and even Facebook wall posts can also be scanned to check for malware carrying links. As we’ve seen with Norton’s Internet Security 2011, the new range of Norton products installs blazingly fast, with 360’s full installation completing in just a few minutes. Norton 360 v5.0 now features a smoother user interface (UI), divided into easy to understand categories, enabling users to access PC security, identity protection, backup and PC tuneup options with a single click.

Performance boosters

Anti-virus packages are often thought of bloated and tardy, but Norton 360 does its best to get rid of this stereotype by including a number of performance boosting features. Norton Insight for example identifies trusted files that do not require scanning. We saw this in action with 59% of our programs marked as ‘trusted’, relegating only 41% to be scanned regularly.

Features
 

Norton 360 v5.0 includes a ton of security enhancing features, such as Norton’s Download Insight technologies, helping to block malware and determining whether or not certain files are dangerous before you download them. Norton Safe Web will advise users which of their search results are safe to click, while banking and shopping can also be done without stress as Norton’s anti-phising technology keeps your login details secure. Backup options to hard drives and other local media, as well as online storage are also available, with every copy of 360 v5.0 including 2 GB of online storage. Norton also helps to keep your PC as fast as possible with a number of tuneup applications, such as Smart Startup Manager, Diagnostic Report, File Cleanup, Registry Cleanup and Disk Optimisation included.

Conclusion

With strong, discreet protection services, a wide feature list and even PC tuning software, Norton 360 v5.0 is the most comprehensive anti-virus software we’ve come across yet.  

Prices 

Rs. 1,400 for 1 user 1 year
Rs. 2,799 for 3 users 1 year 

Let us know your experiences with Norton products in the comments below.

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How to : Use your PC without Antivirus

In your operating system, there are many inbuilt tools that

you can use to help ward off evil software, too. All browsers today, for instance, provide some security tools, including anti-phishing filters or lists of Web sites that are known carriers of harmful software. Use these features -- they won't affect the speed. Common sense is your biggest defense.

First thing : you should have some kind of antivirus protection on your PC, especially if you surf the Internet or trade files with anyone. There are plenty of people, though, who hate antivirus programs -- and with good reason. Most of them are resource hogs, slowing down your computer; many of them throw up more false positive warnings than legitimate ones, slowing down your work and annoying you in the process. These days, most are leased on a yearly basis, meaning you must pay up every year in order to keep your antivirus signatures updated.

All of that adds up to some pretty painful medicine to have to swallow to potentially rid your PC of some malicious software. Can you possibly just say "NO" to antivirus software? The short answer is, "YES, you can." But to remain virus and spyware free, you'll need to adopt some precautions -- and stick with them. 

Use Clean Software

An antivirus-free computer should start and stop with legitimate, clean software. That means avoid/stop using copies of programs that are downloaded through warez sites or on newsgroups, borrowed from friends through file sharing, or found on shareware and freeware sites.

Remember that being without an antivirus program often means living without on-demand scanning, so a file you download online isn't as easy to check for viruses as it would be if you had an antivirus program installed. Still, plenty of people can and do assemble systems solely with commercial, off-the-shelf applications, and you can, too.  

Run Remote Virus Scan

 

If you have more than one PC, you can install antivirus software on one while leaving the other machine without antivirus software. If the two machines are over a network -- home or office -- then you should be able to map the drives of one computer onto the one with antivirus software installed and check individual files or entire drives through your network connection.

Or you could take advantage of free online virus and spyware scanning tools. Trend Micro's House Call (http://housecall.trendmicro.com) and Eset's Online Scan (http://www.eset.com/onlinescan) will perform a scan of your computer right from the Internet. Such scans might not remove any viruses or spyware found, but they will at least tell you how clean your computer is. 

Use built-in protections

Antivirus protection might not yet be a built-in feature of Windows and other operating systems, but security has long been of concern to everyone who uses computers, and the result is that you'll find some malware protection already built in to the computer you're currently using.

Before your computer even loads your operating system, it launches the code found in your system's BIOS (basic input-output system), which initiates the hardware in your PC and enables your operating system to identify the components you have. Within the BIOS of most PCs -- accessible by pressing F2 or Del during bootup -- is an optional boot sector protection mechanism. Enable this, and you'll protect against boot sector viruses without ever installing a single antivirus tool.

From within your operating system, there are tools you can use to help ward off evil software, too. All browsers today, for instance, provide some security tools, including anti-phishing filters or lists of Web sites that are known carriers of harmful software. Use these features -- they won't slow you down.

Free Operating System tools

In addition, there are free tools available that are less obtrusive than most antivirus packages. Microsoft provides Windows Defender for free on Windows Vista, and it's available as a free download for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

Windows Defender's focus is on spyware, which can be among the most dangerous types of malicious software, since its primary purpose is to track what you do and, in some cases, steal personal information. 

Safe Browsing

Common sense will go a long way toward keeping your computer safe if you don't use antivirus software. Stay away from sites that are frequent carriers of spyware. These include, ironically, many sites that purportedly sell anti-spyware software.  

A list of such sites is at the Spyware Warrior Rogue/Suspect Web Sites page (http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm#sites). Porn and gaming sites are also to be approached warily if you have no spyware or antivirus protection.  

Use Care When Reading Email

Delete any e-mail message from an unknown source if it contains an attachment. The majority of malware contracted through e-mail comes in the form of attachments that the sender tries to get the recipient to open.

Just say no. The large majority of viruses are contracted from unsolicited e-mail, so use an e-mail application with a built-in spam checker, if at all possible. Sometimes viruses are carried in Word documents from friends or colleagues who are not aware that the files are protected.

In such cases, without an onboard antivirus tool, it makes sense to run the file through one of the free online scanners mentioned earlier. Do this before you open the file.

The payoff for all of this caution should be well-known to anyone who has watched with chagrin as an otherwise speedy and trouble-free computer was made to feel like yesterday's technology after the latest bloated antivirus software was installed. Less really is more, if you can get away with it. And for those intrepid computer users with a survival plan, doing without antivirus protection can be a giant step in the right direction. 

If i've missed any precaution, please drop a comment about it.

 

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