BitDefender Antivirus 2009

Ease of Use:

Most people want antivirus software they can install and forget and BitDefender does just that! In less than a half an hour, you can download, install, follow the prompts, re-boot your system and voilá, you're protected and can forget about viruses, trojans, spyware, worms, and malware. Nobody wants to spend time tweaking antivirus software when they could otherwise be getting work done or watching the latest videos on Youtube. We all want protection without the effort or expense and now we can have our cake and eat it too.

When tested right out of the box with the default setting, BitDefender did exactly what it was supposed to do. It scanned boot-up files, recently accessed files, packed files and incoming and outgoing emails. For those who want more aggressive protection, BitDefender can be enabled to scan HTTP blocks on port 80 and 443 for malicious ActiveX and JavaScript which is nice, but not necessary. Simple installation of the program using the default setting is recommended for the average user.

One of the best advancements in the latest version of BitDefender has been the increase in scanning speed. Softwin makes BitDefender capable of logging when files were last accessed, and if a clean file hasn’t been used since the last scan, BitDefender skips it. This has made scans much faster than they used to be, which is nice because scan speeds were BitDefender’s prior weakness.

Effectiveness:

You might think antivirus software that’s this easy to use and this inexpensive might not be as effective as products with bigger brand names and bigger price tags, but you would be wrong. AV-Test.org is among the most prestigious, independent research laboratories in the world for testing antivirus software. In recent tests, BitDefender received their highest rating for having removed 98% of all viruses and spyware in their rigorous tests. In addition, BitDefender has received the highest ratings for effectiveness by Virus Bulletin (VB100%) and AV Comparatives.org, and was certified by ICSA, Checkvir.com and West Coast Labs for its ability to detect viruses and virus replication while minimizing false positives (detecting viruses that are not there).

One of the key features BitDefender has developed is a virtual machine that runs invisibly in the background on your computer where it tests suspicious code, which is code that looks like a virus but doesn't currently match any of the known virus signatures. In this way, BitDefender can protect your computer from viruses no one has reported yet. In the same tests by AV-Test.org, BitDefender scored higher than Kaspersky, Norton, Computer Associates (CA) and McAfee on its proactive detection of viruses and other malware with this heuristic approach. BitDefender scans somewhat slower than some of its competitors, due (we believe) to this virtual machine running. Naturally, there's going to be a price for this type of protection, but other products like ESET's NOD32 have done a better job at minimizing it.

Although BitDefender is great at removing viruses and spyware, it excels at protecting your system from incoming viruses. The new BitDefender can actually strip viruses from your incoming HTML stream before the virus makes it to your browser. We think every new computer should be outfitted with this kind of protection.

Updates:

Virus signatures need to be updated regularly to maintain overall effectiveness. The heart and soul of antivirus software is recognizing malicious code and BitDefender does that primarily by matching code on your computer with known virus signatures.

BitDefender updates its virus signatures every hour unless you adjust it to a longer interval. Or if you are really into managing your antivirus software (does your photo appear in Wikipedia under the listing geek?), you can set it to “manual” and manually update the virus signatures and decide what other features you want updated. Otherwise, just sit back and know that your BitDefender is updating itself every hour, 24/7.

Feature Set:

In the spirit of “install and forget” software, BitDefender doesn't go in for the blinking red and green lights to notify you of its activity. Instead, a tiny red and black icon appears in the lower-right corner of your desktop, just above the system tray. This unobtrusive icon is the scan activity monitor. A green line indicates when files are being scanned for viruses and spyware. You can remove the monitor by going into the configuration settings.

The antispyware section of BitDefender includes Privacy Protection. This feature is disabled by default, but turning this feature ON is recommended. In the Advanced Setting link, you can enter your credit card numbers or other private information, and if any Windows application attempts to send these over the Internet, it stops and requires your active permission. Otherwise, BitDefender will refuse any program that attempts to send your personal information over the Internet.

BitDefender is the only antivirus software reviewed with a gamer mode. With gamer mode enabled, online gamers are protected without sacrificing much performance. Since online gamers are notorious for disabling firewalls and other protection to optimize performance, this could be a lifesaver for the family computer used for online gaming by members of your household.

Ease of Installation:

Here is where BitDefender really shines. Installation is easy and intuitive. BitDefender also easily and transparently removes any other antivirus software you might have on your computer. This is a requirement for effective use of your computer after installation. Two antivirus packages on your system do not give you twice as much protection, but rather play havoc with performance and diminish protection.

Bit Defender uses about 60MB of hard disk space (new computers average about 200GB hard drive so it uses about .03% of your hard drive space), which is more than Kaspersky and NOD32, but about 1/3 of the space required for Norton AntiVirus.

Help/Support:

BitDefender does its job without you having to fuss or tinker with it. BitDefender is much like your car or phone, ready when you are. It works without you having to. You can rest assured, though, in the rare case when you may need some help, BitDefender offers good live support either over the phone or through live chat online.

Previously, BitDefender phone support required you to fork out money for a long-distance call to Europe. But the manufacturer, Softwin, has since issued a FREE phone support line for you to use (1-888-868-1873), making it cheaper and easier to get support when you need it.

For common issues, BitDefender offers a FAQs page. BitDefender can also be reached via email at support@bitdefender.com, and they have been very prompt and effective in answering questions.

Summary:

BitDefender is nearly everything you’ll want in easy-to-use, highly-effective antivirus and antispyware software. When BitDefender upgrades their tech support and improves their uninstall utility, they will have a nearly perfect product.

BitDefender received the “TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award” as the top antivirus software for its consistent high performance in protecting your computer, ease of use and installation. BitDefender is highly effective and offers trememdous value without making a dent in your pocketbook. For superior performance, protection, and price, we recommend BitDefender Antirvirus 2009.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009

Ease of Use:

Kaspersky has always been among the best samples of antivirus software on the market, but has been less than simple to use. With the release of version 7, Kaspersky dramatically improved their interface giving this software an interface that matches the quality of the overall package. Further improvements have been made for the 2009 version. From a geek’s perspective, Kaspersky's interface is probably the best of all the software reviewed. That being said, it may not be ideal for someone who's not interested in fine-tuning and tweaking their antivirus software. Every feature is configurable and controllable with intuitive and easy to use controls in Kaspersky Anti-Virus.

Effectiveness:

Kaspersky Labs has always been known for its ability to effectively detect and remove viruses as well as or better than any software program on the market. Like BitDefender, Kaspersky was able to remove over 98% of all viruses it encountered in the most recent objective tests of AV-test.org. Kaspersky is also certified by all of the major virus/malware testing laboratories. Tests confirm Kaspersky's effectiveness. It found every virus on the test computer.

Although Kaspersky is excellent at detecting viruses and malware, it could use some work in the detection of spyware. Independent tests by AV-test.org showed that Kaspersky allowed 8% of adware/spyware to go undetected. Furthermore, Kaspersky’s proactive/heuristic engine failed to meet the high standards set by BitDefender, NOD32, F-Secure, Panda and some others.

Like other software with proactive/heuristic engines to detect malware before their signatures are available, Kaspersky's scan is relatively slow. The time and resources demanded by these proactive/heuristic engines slows these scans, and relatively slow scans may be the price we pay for this level of protection. Of the antivirus software packages reviewed, only NOD32 (see “TopTenREVIEWS Bronze Award” winner) scored high on both proactive detection and scan speed.

Updates:

The best antivirus software packages provide virus signature updates on a routine basis. Both Kaspersky and BitDefender update their signatures every hour. That may seem like overkill until a new virus rapidly begins to spread around the globe and your antivirus software only updates every week. That may be too late for you! Since it does its updates automatically, you get the best protection with no effort on your part.

Feature Set:

Kaspersky's feature set is one of its strongest assets. While BitDefender’s interface is primarily an enable/disable feature set, Kaspersky is the software-tweakers dream with controls for nearly all of its features. Like most of the antivirus packages in our review, Kaspersky protects your computer from spyware as well as viruses. Scanning for both viruses and spyware simultaneously is far more efficient in terms of time and resources than stopping to do both separately. Like Bit Defender, “TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award” winner, Kaspersky scans email and port 80 traffic (port 80 is the port that receives web traffic and must be open while browsing the web) so that this excellent software can detect and block online viruses, Trojans, and various other malware before they can cause you trouble.

Kaspersky also has a proactive defense for your computer. Kaspersky watches for unwanted adware, dialers, rootkits, remote access utilities and locks specific registry keys that malicious code may target to damage your computer. Furthermore, Kaspersky now includes protection from viruses while using IM and ICQ.

Kaspersky, in its ever-vigilance against viruses and other malware, now helps you create a rescue disc in the case that your computer is hit by some malicious code that makes your system unbootable. Although this effort to prepare users for the computer equivalent of Armageddon is commendable, the process is tedious and difficult. If you downloaded your operating system or the system disc is lost or unavailable, this feature will be unavailable to you.

Ease of Installation:

Kaspersky is among the easiest pieces of antivirus software to install. Its rather compact 50MB file downloads quickly and installation and activation are a snap. After rebooting, Kaspersky was on the job protecting our test computer. One complaint is that Kaspersky did not automatically remove the antivirus software already on the test computer. This is bound to lead to problems with the average user. Invariably, some will unknowingly end up running two antivirus programs and problems will ensue. With two antivirus packages running, computers run more slowly and error messages become an issue. On a positive note, Kaspersky does come with its own uninstall utility and after running it, no traces of it were found still in the registry. Some of the other antivirus manufacturers should take note: How much confidence can customers have in you, if you don't even know how to completely remove your own software?

Help/Support:

Software should be intuitive and easy to use, and if you still have a question, the software manufacturer should have excellent help/support to resolve your issues quickly and easily. Software should not be a source of stress, but instead, should make your life easier and simpler. When a question does arise, Kaspersky has devoted adequate resources to address them. Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009 provides context-sensitive in-program help files. This is a great idea, and some of the other software developers should do likewise. In addition, there are active user forums and FAQs available online. Finally, you can email or call a toll free number for live technical support.

Summary:

Kaspersky is among the best antivirus software packages on the market today. It’s highly effective, has a great interface, and it’s easy on computer resources. Kaspersky is an excellent choice and was barely edged out by BitDefender, receiving the “TopTenREVIEWS Silver Award.”

Webroot Antivirus 6

Ease of Use:

This antivirus software is perfectly designed for home users and those who do not know much about security software and security threats. The software includes well thought out menus, easy to understand icons, and the layout is organized and logical.

Configuring this antivirus software is easy, it has powerful default or recommended security shields, so it really can configure itself, if you do not want to have to figure out which of the 17 shields to run. It is also simple to command quick or deep scans as needed. However, if you want to configure a customized sweep, that option is available too.

Effectiveness:

Webroot Antivirus successfully keeps computers free of malevolent viruses and other malicious applications. And it has the awards and certifications to prove it. This antivirus software has received the VB100 award (Virus Bulletin) 39 times for detection of 100% of all viruses in the wild. It is also has received the West Coast Labs checkmark certification for detection and disinfection of 100% of in the wild viruses. Webroot Antivirus is also ICSA Labs certified. It is not just TopTenREVIEWS that recommends Webroot security software; the Spy Sweeper part of this package has received PC Magazine’s Editors Choice recognition eight times.

Updates:

Frequent updates are absolutely necessary since new threats emerge constantly, Webroot Antivirus and AntiSpyware offers updates automatically and regularly, even hourly if needed. It also has the ability to detect “suspicious” behavior so it can protect your computer well before new menaces hit the official threat list.

Feature Set:

Webroot Antivirus with Spy Sweeper offers almost everything that a full security suite does, it monitors internet activity, scans emails, performs full system scans and it is constantly updated.

This antivirus software includes 17 kinds of shields, 13 of which are included in the recommended setting. These powerful shields include web browser protection, network shields, Windows systems shields, start-up protection and email attachment scanning. This software has the ability to protect computers from common threats like viruses, adware, spyware, Trojans, malware, keyloggers, worms, rootkits, browser hijackers and cookie trackers.

Beyond the “always on” protection it also includes three different types of scans, a quick sweep, a full sweep and a customized sweep option. The quick sweep quickly scans through locations that unwanted programs are often found, the full sweep is a once per week scan that looks deep for spyware and viruses, the customized sweep can be configured to only scan or not scan specific drives, files or file extension types.

This software is updated constantly, every hour or less if needed, it can be set to automatically update or can be updated manually. It will also tell you when the last update occurred. In addition, Webroot Antivirus offers alerts and news that relate up-to-date information about the newest threats.

Webroot Antivirus also has a feature called gamer mode, which can pause scheduled scans and alerts while you are playing a game or watching a movie, so you can enjoy your entertainment uninterrupted.

Ease of Installation:

This security software downloads quickly and in most cases can run in the background without slowing down other processes. However, we would recommend that this software be installed on a PC that exceeds the recommended minimum system requirements. The recommended requirements list only 256 MB of RAM, which will hardly run any software efficiently these days and certainly is not competent enough for multitasking.

Help/Support:

Webroot provides free US-based online and telephone support. They also publish extensive customer and technical support online such as tutorials and a useful, searchable knowledgebase. They offer remote desktop assistance with your permission.

With the purchase of this antivirus software you get a service that very few other companies offer, free remote storage of files. Webroot offers a virtual storage space for backing up files, so you can access you files from any computer with an internet connection. This service also is useful if you need to send large files. Generally, it is difficult to send large files as an email attachment; this service can provide you with a download link that you can pass along through an email, so the recipient can instantly access the file without having to open a large attachment. Of course this download link does not provide others access to your additional files stored on the remote servers.

Summary:

Webroot Antivirus with AntiSpyware, backed up evidentially by high test scores from rigorous industry testing, has proved to be a powerful and versatile security program that is easy to use and install. With a gamer mode and free remote file storage, Webroot Antivirus with Spy Sweeper provides full spectrum security with useful extras.

G DATA AntiVirus 2009

Ease of Use:

G DATA AntiVirus is extremely simple to use. The main configuration and info page has all of the important functions that you will need. Options that aren’t immediately available can be located easily because of the intuitive organization and simple user interface. There are a variety of advanced options throughout G DATA AntiVirus 2009, but the basics are right at-hand and clear-cut.

One of the best aspects of G DATA AntiVirus is that there isn’t much user intervention required. The default configuration is sufficient for most home users. You can easily schedule the complete virus scans to run when you won’t be using the computer. But you can also set the program to be automatically detect when you’re running other programs, and it will pause for a time. Of course the background monitoring will continue to run, protecting your computer.

Effectiveness:

Antivirus software is only as good as its level of protection, and AntiVirus from G DATA certainly is effective. AntiVirus 2009 actually runs two distinct antivirus engines, for very thorough protection. It is also nice that the software doesn’t eat up many resources while scanning. We were able to run a couple of other demanding programs while G DATA kept scanning.

G DATA AntiVirus has been certified by ICSA, VB 100%, and W.C. in years previous, and we have no reason to believe that their latest software is any less effective. In fact, in various other independent tests (AV Test, Raymond, AV Comparatives) G DATA has outperformed most if not all other antivirus programs. The general consensus is that G DATA might be a bit slower than some, but is the most thorough and effective at detecting and removing viruses. And when it comes right down to it, isn’t that the most important?

G DATA AntiVirus has worked hard to improve their speed. The newest version even incorporates ParallelScan technology. This simultaneous scan allows for computers running dual or quad-core processors to distribute the workload and allocate resources efficiently. Combined with other features, ParallelScan can help G DATA run up to five times faster.

Updates:

With new computer threats making themselves known every day, updates are a crucial aspect of antivirus software. G DATA is up to date on current threats, and updates accordingly as major threats are detected. G DATA is set up by default to perform an hourly virus check, but actual detection updates happen every minute with the OutbreakShield. Luckily you can set the updates for both the software and virus definitions to happen automatically and without interfering.

G DATA can even help protect your computer from presently unknown threats. With heuristic scanning, G DATA AntiVirus keeps an eye on files and watches out for files that even have the traditional characteristics of viruses.

Feature Set:

G DATA AntiVirus comes equipped with all the essential tools to keep your computer safe. And while it doesn’t have some additional features that add convenience (gamer mode, password protected settings), the software has a healthy dose of extra features.

One great feature of G DATA is that it comes with a boot CD that can be used on your computer prior to installation. The boot CD can run a safe Linux-based scan to locate and remove rootkits, making it possible to load antivirus software on a completely virus-free system.

Another impressive option is the ability to scan removable media for malware. You can check USB flash drives, memory cards, CD and DVD-roms, and external hard drives.

With G DATA AntiVirus you can protect yourself and your friends. You can set G DATA to monitor emails you send to others and make sure that you don’t accidentally pass on malware. Furthermore, you can use AntiVirus to create a boot CD (read above) that you can use on a different computer. If a friend’s computer has been attacked by a virus, you can help them remove rootkits and other malware safely, so that they can then install antivirus software on their own computer.

Ease of Installation:

Installing G DATA AntiVirus is as simple as following the prompts and letting it run. It took us about eight minutes to download the software on our test computer, and another two minutes to install. After installation, we only had to restart our computer once.

Of course when you start up the program for the first time, you’ll need to perform an update, and you’ll want to run a complete system scan. This takes time, but wasn’t that long (half hour), and can then be set to run on your own schedule.

Help/Support:

Support for G DATA AntiVirus is a bit lacking. G DATA does offer email support and phone support, but keep in mind that they are based in Germany. As far as online help, we were unimpressed. You can submit a support ticket, but the process is a bit lengthy. The software itself has a thorough built-in help section, complete with a useful glossary and FAQs sections. But the only online help, a small FAQs section only includes products from 2005 and 2006.

Summary:

Overall, G DATA AntiVirus is a phenomenal antivirus product. The software is simple, straightforward, and safe. G DATA is effective at keeping your computer safe from all sorts of malware, including viruses, trojans, browser hijackers, dialers, worms, phishing scams, and rootkits. And the software protects you on all fronts, from email to instant messaging, to HTTP traffic. With a good set of features, solid user interface and excellent effectiveness, G DATA AntiVirus is one of the best antivirus software solutions.

ESET Nod32 4

Ease of Use:

ESET's NOD32 is simple to use right out of the box (figuratively speaking … it’s a download) and requires little or no configuring for the average user. Yes, it’s an “install and forget program! The interface is clean and simple with enable/disable toggles and a configure option for those who are into tweaking their antivirus software. Unlike Kaspersky, which allows you to tailor their software based upon the perceived threat and the level of protection desired, advanced configuring NOD32 requires a bit more knowledge of your system. Fortunately, NOD32 works as it should in its default configuration and most users will never have to do anything but simply install this excellent software.

Effectiveness:

ESET's NOD 32 is among the most effective antivirus software products on the market today. Independent tests show that NOD32 removed about 98% of the virus threats it faced, putting it on par with BitDefender, “TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award” winner, and Kaspersky, “TopTenREVIEWS Silver Award” winner. In addition, NOD32 is certified by all the major independent testing laboratories the world over. Of the major antivirus software packages tested, NOD32 interfered less with our other computer operations than any of the other products reviewed. Its spyware protection is a little weaker than one might like, putting it on the same level as Kaspersky's 92%. Where NOD32 stands head and shoulders above its competitors is in its proactive detection and protection.

Most of the reputable antivirus software developers now include a heuristic engine that attempts to detect malware before it has been reported. Some refer to this as “Day Zero” detection because it is able to detect threats before their signatures is has been identified. The idea here is that when the software finds some code that looks malicious, it executes the software in the background to determine if it’s a threat to your machine. ESET has refined this technique like no other antivirus software developer with their ThreatSense® Technology.

This ThreatSense® Technology delivers an excellent detection rate while offering a very fast scan rate. Other antivirus packages offer similar detection rates, such as BitDefender and Kaspersky, but in both of those cases, the penalty you pay are slow scan rates. NOD32 is the only software package reviewed and tested that offered both high detection rates AND fast scan rates, indicating these folks know how to write efficient and effective code (according to the company, NOD32 is written in assembly language, a very efficient, low-level language). ESET could be the sleeper antivirus company ready to take this market by storm in coming years.

Updates:

Unlike Kaspersky and BitDefender, ESET's NOD32 only updates its virus signatures once a day. That's probably a short enough interval considering that ESET has the power to “push” updates to your computer in the instance of attack. Also, with ESET's highly effective heuristic, proactive engine, it is very likely that NOD32 will recognize malicious code before the signature is available. These two features make us more comfortable with the slightly longer update intervals than some of its competitors have.

Feature Set:

ESET's NOD32 is all about effectiveness AND speed. This software uses fewer resources than any of the packages tested and this is a thing of beauty. NOD32 is a breath of fresh air in a world of bloated software in that its code is efficiently written. From the perspective of the average user, this means this software has a light footprint and fast scans, both very good things. Its ThreatSense® Technology’s proactive defense is among the best heuristic programs on the market.

NOD32 offers several layers of protection including real time email scanning, antivirus protection, antispyware protection and rootkit scanner. The email scanner integrates easily and directly into MS Outlook or any other standard POP3 email client. Disappointingly, NOD32 did not have a Parental Control option where parents can block and control what sites their children are able to access online.

NOD32 is among the few antivirus products that still supports such legacy operating systems as DOS, Windows 95, Windows 98, etc. as well as Windows XP and Vista.

Ease of Installation:

Installation was prompt and easy. The package is just 34M making it among the lightest antivirus packages we have ever seen. We were disappointed, though, that ESET did not automatically remove the existing antivirus software on our system. Instead, NOD32 prompts you to remove any existing antivirus on your computer before installation.

ESET has made some excellent and necessary improvements in their interface with version 4, making the software far easier and more intuitive to use. Anticipating that the vast majority of people don't want to spend time messing with their antivirus software, but instead just want it to work, ESET crafted NOD32’s interface to be clean and simple. Most people can simply “install and forget” this software. The left-hand column features Protection Status, Computer Scan, Update, Setup, Tools and Help. The right windowpane is reserved for the active feature in use.

Although the features have an enable/disable toggle, the advanced user can simply click on “configure” in any of the features and find all of the advanced tweaks that anyone could ask for. Should you need to remove NOD32 from your computer, there is an uninstall option. After a reboot we found almost no evidence of the product on the machine.

Help/Support:

ESET's NOD32 provides extensive, context-sensitive help files similar to Kaspersky and this feature by both firms should be applauded. It’s about time the other software developers include similar help files. It’s simple and quick for the user and doesn't require much development cost for the software publisher. Online, ESET provides a fairly thorough 32-page PDF file manual for download, plus online FAQs for NOD32, links to an active user forum dedicated to the software, and a web form for contacting ESET customer support. While there is live telephone support offered, the call is not toll free and is available only during business hours, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday.

Summary:

ESET's NOD32 offers the antivirus software buyer one more excellent choice. Its sets itself apart from the competition with its scanning speed and light footprint on your computer resources. Its proactive approach to virus and other malware detection is among the best in the world, its virus detection is excellent, and now with an easy to use interface, this software ranks among the best available.

ParetoLogic Anti-Virus PLUS 6

Ease of Use:

The interface for ParetoLogic Anti-Virus PLUS is simple and straightforward. The program is far from cluttered, but has a variety of tools and features at-hand. There are three basic scans you can complete; a full scan, quick scan, or a customized scan. Custom scans allow the user to decide exactly what to scan and what to disregard.

Navigating through the program was not a problem, and scheduling scans or adjusting custom settings was also intuitive. And while we recommend performing scans (especially full system scans) while you are away from your computer, the program does allow you to do quite a bit of multitasking while a scan is in progress. We didn’t encounter much noticeable slowdown while running an antivirus scan.

Effectiveness:

ParetoLogic Anti-Virus PLUS is good at what it does, and effectively scans and cleans your computer. When a potential threat is located, you are shown a graphical representation of the threat level, and you can click on each file to see specific information on it.

ParetoLogic’s Anti-Virus PLUS helps detect and even deter all sorts of malware, including viruses, spyware, rootkits, and malware from scripts or drive-by downloading. Anti-Virus PLUS also checks for malware in compressed files and can be set to automatically delete and clean any found threats.

Anti-Virus PLUS by ParetoLogic has been qualified by the West Coast Labs and received a checkmark certification, verifying that the software was able to detect all current known viruses, prevents virus replication, and generated no false positives (suspecting files as malicious when they really are not).

Updates:

The ParetoLogic virus definition databases are constantly being updated to protect from the most recent threats, including newly developed threats targeting social networking site users. These database definition updates are free, as are any program updates. All updates can be performed manually, or you can just set Anti-Virus PLUS to update automatically. While we tested the program, ParetoLogic Anti-Virus PLUS found and updated new database definitions a few times.

Feature Set:

While Anti-Virus PLUS didn’t have all the features we found in some of the higher-rated antivirus software, the program has a healthy lineup of advanced features and they work well. ParetoLogic Anti-Virus PLUS scans can be set up manually or scheduled to run automatically, and at the times that work best for you. Even the type of scan can be customized.

One of the unique advanced features that ParetoLogic incorporated in their Anti-Virus PLUS is cyclic detection. Some malware is able to write a new entry on your registry even after it has been detected and blocked. The new entry causes another popup alert to display, and just keeps repeating. Cyclic detection in Anti-Virus PLUS identifies the pattern and will disable the block option temporarily, allowing you to run a system scan to remove it.

Ease of Installation:

We had no problems installing, initializing and running ParetoLogic Anti-Virus PLUS. You can download the program for free and perform a system scan, but you are unable to remove the files until you purchase the software and obtain a product key. This process is easy, and had us scanning and cleaning our computer in no time.

Help/Support:

The actual Anti-Virus PLUS software contains a detailed help file in the program, but there are also a number of useful resources online. Their support section includes several FAQs, and you can submit any questions on issues not covered in the knowledgebase after you register for support (free). ParetoLogic even has an online community where you can provide feedback, read their blog, and stay up to date on internet threats.

Summary:

ParetoLogic Anti-Virus PLUS is a complete and competent antivirus program. The software is easy to setup and use, and can defend your computer behind the scenes with realtime protection. Anti-Virus PLUS provides users real PC protection with effective detection and removal of viruses, spyware, adware, rootkits, and other malware.

AVG Anti-Virus 8

Ease of Use:

Though AVG Antivirus is mostly a hands-off program, there may be some instances when you may need to configure some advanced options. For 99% of the population though, the default options will be more than sufficient.

The menus within AVG Antivirus are very simple and offer all the options and information needed to keep your system safe from Internet threats.

Effectiveness:

AVG Antivirus is one of the most complete programs we have found to date. It includes many new options to make it one of the most effective virus scanners on the market. It is still plagued by horrible slowdowns at times. Even things so simple as just typing an IM can be stopped for several seconds for some reason. If you can get passed the occasional slowdowns of your computer, the scanning functionality of AVG Antivirus 8 is top of the line. With the rewrite of the scanning engine, AVG includes multi-processor support. That dual core processor you bought is actually going to start getting a workout now. AVG also includes support for Windows Vista and the 64 bit versions of Windows XP and Vista.

Updates:

AVG Checks for updates every 4 hours by default. You can change this to any interval you wish. The updates section of AVG Antivirus also shows you which virus database version you have, as well as when the last update was. It also tells you when the next update is scheduled. All of this information is also displayed on the main menu screen so that you always have the information at your fingertips.

Feature Set:

AVG Technologies, formerly Grisoft, has gone above and beyond with the new release of AVG Antivirus. Included with the virus scanner, are a rootkit scanner, spyware scanner, an on-access scanner called Resident Shield, email scanner and a link scanning browser plug-in. There is also a portion of AVG Antivirus called Web Shield. Web Shield is a chopped down firewall application that scans standard web ports for any threats encountered while browsing the web. It also includes protection for MSN Messenger and ICQ.

Ease of Installation:

Installing AVG Antivirus 8 was easy and only took about 10 minutes including downloading the additional updates required after installation finished. We had no issues or errors during the install.

Help/Support:

With the name change from Grisoft to AVG Technologies, the support site was updated and saw many improvements over the old design. Support offerings included with AVG Antivirus 8 are a FAQs, email support, phone-based technical support, as well as an inclusive support section within the program itself.

Summary:

Version 8 of AVG Antivirus is a definite improvement over version 7.5. The scanning features have been sped up and the new interface is a clean and modern take on a time-tested product.

Including a link scanner and integrating AVG Antispyware and AVG AntiRootkit provides an even more effective product. An unfortunate problem that has plagued AVG products for quite some time has not been eliminated, even though AVG did a complete rewrite of the virus scanning engine. The on-access scanner still tends to slow down computers to the point where they are not usable at times. This isn't a constant factor and has been improved significantly, but you will notice it when it happens. Beyond the slowdown issue, AVG Antivirus 8 is a complete product that will help keep your computer clean and safe.

Vipre Antivirus + Antispyware

Ease of Use:

Antivirus + Antispyware by Vipre has a straightforward and easy to understand interface. The menus within the program are easy to follow and ensure quick and easy navigation. Vipre Antivirus + Antispyware is very easy to use for both beginners and those who want to delve into customized scans.

Effectiveness:

Vipre is very effective when it comes to antivirus and antispyware protection. Vipre has passed the West coast Labs tests. The program also includes anti-rootkit technology. Vipre monitors your PC in realtime for constant protection from malware. Vipre’s Active Protection works inside the Windows kernel to protect your computer before viruses have the opportunity to execute.

Vipre also helps deter viruses sent through email. Vipre Antivirus + Antispyware supports any email client using POP3 and SMTP, including Outlook, Outlook Express, and Windows Mail.

Updates:

Updates for Antivirus + Antispyware can be performed automatically or manually. This includes both updates for the program itself, and the most up-to-date virus definitions. Timely updates are crucial for antivirus software, and Vipre doesn’t disappoint.

Feature Set:

Vipre Antivirus + Antispyware has all the essential features, and several additional helpful capabilities. The security software has a variety of scanning options. Users can perform scans manually and on-demand, or even schedule specific scans. But even better, Vipre is set by default to perform scans on-access whenever they are received.

Vipre features heuristic scanning to detect the newest viruses before they cause a problem. Vipre also incorporates script blocking technology to monitor Java and VBS scripts that show signs that may lead to potential computer threats.

Vipre Antivirus + Antispyware can scan compressed files, and can quarantine infected files or simply automatically take care of them. Furthermore, Vipre protects your computer from threats from email, instant messaging, peer-to-peer file sharing, and webmail.

Ease of Installation:

Vipre Antivirus + Antispyware is easy to install and update. Vipre was engineered to use minimal system resources and keep pop-up notifications and warnings down. Installation is no exception; the process is quick and doesn’t require a lot of useless steps.

If you’re using the previous antivirus solution from Sunbelt Software, CounterSpy, upgrading and updating to Vipre is easy.

Help/Support:

There is plenty of help available for using Vipre Antivirus + Antispyware, but the software is easy enough to use that you likely won’t need to use it. Help can be found in a FAQs section, an online user guide, or by searching the knowledgebase. Or you can call Sunbelt directly for assistance, or submit your questions through email.

For instant live help online, users can chat live with a representative. And unlike some sites that require you to input a bunch of information before connecting with a service rep, the live chat support for Vipre is instant and connects you as soon as the assistant is available.

Summary:

Vipre’s Antivirus + Antispyware software is straightforward, easy, and effective. Vipre has complete protection and is packaged in an efficient software. With Vipre Antivirus + Antispyware, you get thorough security without sacrificing PC resources.