Internet Security Software Reviews

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Internet Security Software Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Internet Security Software Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. PC Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Security Suites 2008 Neil J. Rubenking Dec. 12, 2007		PC Magazine reviews eight full Internet security suites in a large roundup, and reviews all the other major competitors in individual reviews. Neil Rubenking thoroughly tests and compares the programs. In addition to an overall rating, each of the five main security components of the software is individually rated. If you won't use a firewall or spam filters, for example, you can ignore the overall ratings and pick a program that excels in the areas that matter most to you. Norton Internet Security 2008 gets the Editors' Choice rating. Almost all the others are rated average or above average. Rubenking uses test results from several scientific testing labs, while other reviewers rely on one or two.
2. PC World >> Details/Subscribe	Top All-in-One Security Suites Erik Larkin Dec. 1, 2007		PC World tests, rates and ranks eight Internet security suites. The magazine contracted with AV-Test.org to conduct performance testing. The reviews are substantive and balanced, and accompanied with complete test reports and other charted information. This thorough approach is the best we found. Comparisons are good in some reviews, and the test results offer great comparison. A couple of programs aren't recommended. Erik Larkin does seem to try to find a reason to recommend many of the programs and the top-rated Norton Internet Security 2008's performance wasn't particularly the best.

Internet Security Software Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Internet Security Software Ratings Comments on Reviews

3. Which.co.uk >> Details/Subscribe	Security software review Editors of Which.co.uk Dec. 14, 2007		British consumer magazine Which? rates and scores nine full-featured security suites along with Windows Live OneCare. The magazine employs superb testing methodology, but description is minimal and superficial. Each program earns a total score and subcategory ratings for antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-spam and ease of use. Four programs are rated as Best Buys. All earn the top ratings in the three major performance categories.
4. PCAdvisor.co.uk	Security Suite Reviews Editors of PCAdvisor.co.uk As of Jan. 2008		British magazine PC Advisor reviews the current versions of eight security suites. The reviews are good, but because they are scattered among multiple issues and written by many different writers, product comparisons aren't always possible. However, the magazine gives each product an overall rating and subcategory ratings for ease of use, features and value. Performance testing is notably missing from the ratings. Some of the reviews are longer versions of those published in related magazine PC World Australia (see below). All ratings are high and mostly the same, but BitDefender Total Security 2008 earns the Gold award.

Internet Security Software Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Internet Security Software Ratings Comments on Reviews

5. PC World (Australia) >> Details/Subscribe	Internet security 2008 Editors of PC World Australia As of Jan. 2008		PC World Australia reviews most of the major 2008 Internet security suites. The reviews are short and not very revealing. Comparisons are minimal, and because four different reviewers evaluate the programs, none are familiar with enough programs to offer much comparison. While each security suite receives a rating, six of them have 4-star scores. BitDefender Total Security "is definitely up there with the best of them," which doesn't really distinguish it from the rest. The cons are surprisingly significant in context of the high ratings.
6. CNet.com	Internet Security Suite reviews Robert Vamosi As of Jan. 2008		CNet.com reviews Norton Internet Security 2008, McAfee Internet Security Suite 2008 and ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 7 (the current version is 7.1). Norton and McAfee are extensively compared. The reviews focus on usage, but key factors like installation and removal problems and conflicts with other programs are not addressed. Robert Vamosi expresses a clear preference for McAfee over Norton. He concludes, "Beyond these two products, however, we feel there are other suites that provide equivalent security protection and integrate their tools much better for much less money." He doesn't mention any by name. User reviews add additional information and insight.
7. GCN (Government Computer News)	You are naked without it John Breeden II Aug. 13, 2007		GCN (Government Computer News) includes a beta version of Panda Internet Security 2008 in this roundup review of six antivirus programs. John Breeden only evaluates the suite as an antivirus program, but it is the best of the tested programs in that regard. GCN's testing isn't comprehensive, but it covers more aspects than other reviewers do, and objectivity and balance are unmatched. Each program receives a rating for functionality, ease of use, speed and value.
8. Information Week >> Details/Subscribe	Review: Five Security Suites That You May Not Know About Serdar Yegulalp Nov. 7, 2007		Business technology magazine InformationWeek reviews ZoneAlarm along with a professional security program and three semi-suites. The reviews are far more informative than evaluative. Programs aren't really compared and aren't rated. The intention is to give readers an idea of what's available and not as well known as the best sellers. Still, Serdar Yegulalp points out some weaknesses and shortcomings in each program. He seems to be most impressed with ESET Smart Security and least impressed with the previous version of Windows Live OneCare.
9. Top Ten Reviews.com	Internet Security Suites Software Reviews 2008 Editors of TopTenReviews.com Not Dated		This site ranks 11 Internet security suites. The reviews are uneven and unconvincing, but the comparison chart is very helpful. The chart shows whether programs achieved certification from major independent antivirus, anti-spyware and firewall testing labs. The chart also shows program features and capabilities. It would be the most useful starting point for consumers, except that the 2008 date in the title is deceptive. All but a couple of the programs covered here are previous versions. Reviews don't address system drain or software conflict problems.
10. CircuitCity.com	Utility, security & anti-virus software Contributors to CircuitCity.com As of Jan. 2008		CircuitCity.com should be the best source for customer reviews of security suites because it invites users to rate products in five categories as well as make comments. We're particularly impressed that one of the categories is compatibility, since that is such a big issue with security programs. Other categories are ease of use, ease of installation, cost-benefit and an overall rating. The first weakness here is the suspicious relative absence of frustrated and angry customers as compared with other user review sites. The second limitation is that no new releases had even ten reviews at the time of our visit. Finally, bunches of non-security-related products, such as screen savers, clutter up the listings.
11. Amazon.com	Internet Security Suites Contributors to Amazon.com As of Jan. 2008		In a couple of months, Amazon.com could be a great source for user reviews. Now, only the early fall releases have many user reviews. At the time of our visit, all suites have abysmal ratings. Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0 fares best; almost half of users give it the top rating, while "only" a third give it the bottom rating. Slowing and usage problems are the causes of the latter. Norton Internet Security 2008 is top-rated by about a quarter of users, and bottom-rated by almost half. Compatibility problems and crashes doomed the unhappy customers. More than half of ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 7 customers give it the bottom rating. It has all the issues of the other programs. The new version of McAfee only has one review, but the 2007 version has a lower average rating than any of the aforementioned programs.

Internet Security Software Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Internet Security Software Ratings Comments on Reviews

12. WinPlanet	Software reviews Editors of WinPlanet As of Jan. 2008		WinPlanet, part of the Jupitermedia conglomerate, offers four reviews of Internet security suites written by three different people. The reviews are very well balanced and thoroughly cover everything but the most important considerations: effectiveness at preventing malware and compatibility with other programs. System drag is addressed, but not formally analyzed. The dearth of comparisons and absence of ratings result in four reviews that don't distinguish any of the programs as being better or worse than the others. The writers are knowledgeable and have a good historical perspective. Finding reviews is also a bit of a nuisance, as they are intermingled with other reviews. WinPlanet is best used as a secondary source for more information about a program you are considering.
13. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Best security software Editors of Consumer Reports Sept. 2007		Consumer Reports tests seven popular security suites and two managed online services. All the tested suites are previous versions, so this report is outdated. Consumer Reports heavily weights spam filtering into its ratings, while not specifically testing firewall defenses. Antivirus and anti-spyware effectiveness are rated, and features have an apparently equal weight. All but two of the programs have the same very good antivirus rating, and all but three have the same very good anti-spyware rating. System conflicts and system drag aren't mentioned. Conclusions differ widely from those of reviewers we rate more highly.
14. BiosMagazine.co.uk	Security reviews Christian Harris As of Jan. 2008		UK small business technology website BIOS periodically reviews security software. Christian Harris hasn't reviewed a suite since reviewing ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 7 in February. His testing and review process is adequate but not comprehensive. Reviews are not comparative, but programs are rated, and some are selected as Editors' Choice products. Norton Internet Security 2007 was selected as an Editors' Choice last year. That's a hollow recommendation because Harris uses ESET's NOD32 antivirus program on his own computers.
15. The Washington Post	The Best Security May Still Be Free Rob Pegoraro Nov. 5, 2006		Rob Pegoraro tests five 2007 Internet security suites, concluding that users are better off assembling their own collection of standalone security applications instead. All of the software suites were inefficient in one way or another, and most missed some threats. System drag was a big problem with Norton Internet Security 2007, the worst offender in this aspect. Even so, the others weren't far behind. McAfee Internet Security Suite 2007 was marginally the best of the bunch, but Pegoraro doesn't recommend any of them. The programs are out-of-date, but the commentary and advice still have validity.
16. Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows	Windows Live OneCare 2.0 Review Paul Thurrott Dec. 4, 2007		Paul Thurrott has written many books about Windows and other computer topics, yet he expresses no expertise for evaluating security software. His rave review of Windows Live OneCare 2.0 includes no evaluation of effectiveness. Thurrott has reviewed every iteration of Windows Live OneCare, so this review is devoted to the new features. He loves the performance, maintenance and backup features. The word "excellent" appears five times in this review. Thurrott does not mention any alternatives to Windows Live OneCare. Instead, he says it is a "suite of services that has redefined the consumer-oriented PC security software market."
17. WebUser.co.uk	Anti-Virus reviews Andy Shaw, Mark Wilson As of Jan. 2008		UK Internet magazine Web User regularly reviews security software, but the reviews are cursory and heavily reliant on third-party testing. Andy Shaw reviews the new versions of McAfee Total Protection and Symantec Norton Internet Security in the November issue. The ratings for both products are much higher than the middling copy infers they should be. Both programs, along with the previously reviewed PC Tools Spyware Doctor with Antivirus, Norton 360, and Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus 5.3 all have the same overall rating. The new full suites also have the same performance ratings.
18. ITReviews.co.uk	Security Software Reviews Editors of ITReviews.co.uk As of Jan. 2008		This UK website provides uneven reviews of several current suites, some of which aren’t sold in the U.S. Testing is minimal and marginal, and the site explains no consistent methodology. The programs aren't rated or ranked, although some earn Recommended ratings. The short reviews primarily evaluate features. Because the reviews aren't at all comparative, they don't go beyond a typical user review.
19. PC Authority (Australia)	ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 7.1 Davey Winder Nov. 27, 2006		Australian computer magazine PC Authority only reviews about one Internet security suite per year. ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 7.1 is the only suite reviewed in 2007. Although the program earns a 3/6 rating, the short review describes nightmarish junk. Davey Winder mentions nine program features that are not available on the Vista version of ZoneAlarm. The XP version has different issues. Winder reports, "Upgrading to 7.1 trashed our XP test machine. All went well until the system needed to reboot, and found it couldn't."
20. MikroPC.net	Totaalista tietoturvaa Tommi Vänninen Dec. 13, 2007		Mikro PC World is a monthly computer magazine that serves Serbia and Montenegro. It isn't published or translated into English. The magazine is published by IDG, which puts out magazines all over the world, including Computerworld and PC World in the U.S. This lengthy article compares seven brand new Internet security suites, all of which are sold in the U.S. The tested suites are from Grisoft (AVG), BitDefender, F-Secure, Kaspersky, McAfee, Norton, Panda and Trend Micro. Each program is tested in several ways, and rated and ranked. English speakers will be able to read the rankings, but little else without using a translation tool.

Internet Security Software Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Internet Security Software Ratings Comments on Reviews

21. Computer Active	Antivirus & Firewalls Simon Williams As of Jan. 2008		ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 7.1 is the only current Internet security suite sold in the U.S. that has already been reviewed by UK magazine Computeract!ve. The review is cursory and doesn't reference any performance testing or even cite third-party lab results. The first bullet point listed under "Good points" is "Fully Windows Vista-compatible." Considering that manufacturer CheckPoint admits that isn't so, this is a strange oversight. The first bullet point listed under "Bad points" is "Possible installation problems reported."
22. Daytona Beach News-Journal Online	Review: PC-cillin Internet Security Suite 2007 Tony Briggs Sept. 26, 2006		Tony Briggs, the managing editor of the Daytona Beach News-Journal Online, has been using several free programs for his computer security. He scraps them in favor of Trend Micro's PC-cillin Internet Security Suite 2007 for a week. The drain on his laptop's resources and the interference with his web browsing habits cause him to decide the protection isn't worth it. He believes he will save time and money by just using the following free programs: avast!, Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy.
23. 6Star Reviews.com	2008 Internet Security Suite Reviews Editors of 6StarReviews.com Not Dated		Proprietors of this commission-based website admit, "We are a bunch of online marketers that simply started reviewing products and websites, since we see them everyday anyway." 6StarReviews rates, ranks and reviews nine Internet security suites. In spite of the date in the title, these are reviews of the previous versions of programs, as revealed by the published screen shots.
24. FilterGuide.com	Best Internet Security Suite Reviews - Editors Choices Richard Seng Not Dated		FilterGuide.com is a marketing website disguised as a review source. Richard Seng compiles a chart of 13 Internet security suites. The top five programs on the chart are all labeled Editors Choices. Programs aren't otherwise rated, ranked, compared or criticized. Links lead to individual product description pages. Seng often employs scare tactics as a motivational tool. He never cites testing procedures, although he implies that he's used the programs. Versions are mixed together, which adds confusion.