Protects you from threats on the web, but not from yourself
Just surfing the Internet can be enough to infect your system and grant malware uninvited access to your hard drive. But what about the malware that is invited? Malware writers know that the quickest way to infiltrate a system is through the end user, and there’s no shortage of dirty code masquerading under the guise of helpful applications. By the time you realize you’ve been duped, it’s too late, and it’s here that ForceField ultimately falls short.
A simple package that combines two detection engines for maximum efficacy
German security specialist G Data has been producing anti-virus software for over 20 years, but there’s nothing retro about anti virus 2008.
Open it up and you see a basic user interface giving direct access to the main functions (starting and scheduling scans and updates), as well as a few information panels. Click on “Options” and you can set some default behaviors and toogle options like heuristics. As with Spyware Doctor . the emphasis is on practically.
Spyware Doctor is a veteran package, and way back in 2006 it held a place on our a list. These days, though, spyware is just one of a whole host of threats. PC Tools bundled optional antivirus into the package a few years back, and now this latest version focuses on behavioural analysis and system resources.
Why pay more when you can get the same or better for less
At $80 for a one-year subscription, Karspersky charges more than any other suite we tested. If you buy the downloadable version instead of a retail boxed copy, the license is good for up to three users-that’s little consolation to single-PC households.
An old favourite gets a new look.
Now in version 8.0, AVG’s latest release appears to have taken a page or three form from Vista. A redesigned interface sports high-resolution icons and a more colorful palette, and even the system tray icon feels borrowed from Microsoft’s newest OS;turn off one of the security modules and the icon turns red, alerting you to impending doom, even if you’ve only disabled the spam filter. That’s just wacky. Thankfully, you can turn off the ominous notifications.
A computer virus is a piece of software or code capable of reproducing itself and spreading to other systems, but the term is often used to describe a multitude of threats. The effects of malware can range from mildly annoying to completely debiliting, sometimes costing corporations thousands of dollars in downtime and manpower to heal the outbreak. Let’s have a look at the different types of infections.
Most enthusiasts view McAfee as just another resource hog often found in OEM systems alongside perfomancepillaging bloatware. Fair assessment or not, this is the perception McAfee’s up against in trying to win over the PC elite. It helps that the company isn’t blissfully unaware of the importance placed on perfomance; its latest edition promises to raise the bar with a more efficient engine that won’t drag your system down.
