Internet Security Suites

Security suites protect against all types of malware

If you want a one-stop solution for protecting your computer from Internet threats, an Internet security suite can be a good choice. These programs combine antivirus software with a firewall, parental controls, anti-spyware software and spam filters. Some include identity theft protection or online backup. A security suite is often cheaper than buying individual programs, but it may contain software and features you don't need or want. More advanced users may prefer to purchase individual software for their antivirus, anti-spyware and firewall needs, but an Internet security suite is a simpler solution for most. See our full report on Internet security software for more information.

Norton Internet Security 2012 and Norton 360

Experts say Norton Internet Security 2012 (*Est. $70) is the best choice. "Some suites are good at just one thing, but Norton is a jack of all trades," says Neil J. Rubenking at PCMag.com, which gives Norton Internet Security 2012 an Editors' Choice award. "Powerful antivirus protection, smart firewall, accurate antispam? It all works well." The suite performs well in tests, and reviewers say Symantec has streamlined the interface to make it more user friendly. Like the standalone antivirus, the program is easy to install -- even on malware-infested systems -- and it doesn't have a large impact on computer performance. Experts say Norton Internet Security 2012 is one of the best in removing malware and blocking intrusions with its firewall. In PCMag.com's test, Norton's firewall blocked every one of the test intrusions. The suite also gets high marks for its anti-phishing and anti-spam performance. "We tried our best to trip up Norton, but it stood tall throughout testing," Paul Lilly writes at Maximum PC en route to giving Norton a Kick Ass award for best security suite.

Norton 360 Version 5.0 (*Est. $80) is similar to Norton Internet Security 2012 (and Norton 360 Version 4.0), but it offers a more user-friendly interface along with extra features. In addition to the same antivirus and anti-spyware software, parental controls and identity theft protection, Norton 360 offers 2 GB of online storage, automated local backup, file recovery and PC tuneup features. The suite also has a low impact on system performance. "In my boot-time test, browsing test, and zip/unzip test Norton 360 had no measurable impact on performance," Rubenking writes at PCMag.com. Although Norton Internet Security 2012 attracts the most attention, experts say Norton 360 is a worthy alternative if you need the extra features.

Kaspersky Internet Security 2012

Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 (*Est. $80) comes in a close second to the Norton suite. It achieves excellent scores in independent lab tests for blocking and removing malware, but PCMag.com and Maximum PC give Norton the edge. Kaspersky was less successful at detecting malware in the evaluation by Neil J. Rubenking at PCMag.com, and Maximum PC's Paul Lilly noticed that "Several dirty files went undetected as we downloaded them to the desktop, though Kaspersky sprang into action when we tried to execute them." Kaspersky also detects fewer phishing sites (malicious web pages that try to trick you into entering personal information) and spam than Norton Internet Security. Rubenking found that Kaspersky "didn't identify very recent phishing URLs as accurately as Internet Explorer alone." It also puts a strain on system performance, with TechRadar.com calling the suite "resource-hungry."

However, the firewall earns high marks, blocking all intrusions with minimal user input in PCMag.com's test. A Safe Run sandbox feature creates a virtual desktop to let users fiddle with questionable websites and programs with no risk to their computer. The suite also earns praise for its slick and attractive interface and extensive parental control options.

Webroot SecureAnywhere Complete and AVG Internet Security

Webroot SecureAnywhere Complete 2012 (*Est. $80) draws high marks from Maximum PC and Download.com, and an Editors' Choice award from Neil J. Rubenking at PCMag.com. As we covered in the section on Top Antivirus Software, Webroot's SecureAnywhere line relies on up-to-the-minute cloud-based virus profiles and processing to deliver a powerful antivirus solution with a minimal footprint on system performance. The security suite adds features, such as password management, online backups and file-sharing, a virtual sandbox for questionable applications, support for Android devices and more.

However, as feature-packed as Webroot SecureAnywhere Complete is, it doesn't include parental controls or antispam protection -- which are commonly found in other security suites -- and Rubenking says the program's anti-phishing abilities aren't as effective as its antivirus. Also, since the protection is cloud-based, it can prove less efficient when disconnected from the Internet. Despite those drawbacks, critics heartily recommend the program -- though not as strongly as they do Norton's -- and so do users; Webroot carries a 4.3 (out of 5) star rating at Amazon.com with more than 40 users checking in.

Experts say AVG Internet Security 2012 (*Est $50) is another effective alternative, but it has some downsides. It receives a relatively rare Platinum Checkmark Certification from West Coast Labs, and test results from AV-Test.org show that AVG Internet Security detects all the malware the organization throws at it and and is able to remove the active (read: threatening) components 95 percent of the time. There's one issue; it leaves nonactive remnants of the malicious software behind 43 percent of the time. (For comparison, Kaspersky removes nonactive components 97 percent of the time.) PCMag.com's Neil J. Rubenking says AVG never flagged a legitimate email as spam, but it allowed almost half of the actual spam to make it to his inbox. Phishing protection is also lax, and Rubenking finds lots to dislike about AVG's firewall. "The firewall's program control is old-fashioned, and the firewall could be disabled programmatically by malware," he writes.

These and other programs are covered in more detail in our report on Internet security software.