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Secure your PC
Keep your PC clear of viruses with
expert advice from Which?
YOUR HOME
Secure your PC
Keeping your PC clear of viruses needn’t cost BEST
BUY
you a penny with our Best Buy security software
79% AVG Anti-Virus
ecuring your computer against virus and anti-spyware software are vital Free Edition
S online viruses and other nasties
can be a costly business. Security
suites – bundles of programs
including all the key security functions
– can cost between £30 and £50. But it’s
for protection against malicious pro-
grams that can infect your computer,
while spam filters siphon out junk
emails before they reach your inbox.
Commercial security suites often include
FREE SOFTWARE
This powerful, easy-to-use security
software has simple menus and
screens and, once it’s installed, you
also possible to get hold of separate secu- all these in one integrated program. don’t need to set up anything yourself,
rity tools that together will provide a as everything works automatically.
decent level of security – and plenty of Bundles vs separates The program comes with excellent
them are available free of charge. There are free versions of each type of built-in help and, if you’re an advanced
However, if you install separate pro- program available, and we have Best user, there’s plenty you can do if you
grams, you’ll have to download them Buys in each category. Download AVG’s dig down into the menus.
individually from the internet – not rec- free anti-virus software However, as with other free
ommended if you have a slower dial-up Y instead of buying Norton
MONER Internet Security 2009, and
programs, you’ll have to find the
internet connection – and you won’t get E answers to your queries yourself.
the integrated, one-stop approach you’ll
SAV you’ll save £40. Make sure WORTH KNOWING The program
experience with a bundled suite. your Windows firewall is turned incorporates anti-spyware, too.
on for complete protection. Web address free.avg.com Operating system At least
Windows XP Minimum memory 256MB Ram Minimum
Building your defences If you’re not a confident computer hard disk 30MB available space
The first part of the security jigsaw is a user, you may prefer to buy a suite of Free security
firewall. This acts as a barrier between security programs, as most come with software is a
your computer and the internet, check- support from the manufacturer. Free
ing the credentials of what comes in and programs don’t offer this – you’ll have to great solution
goes out via your internet connection find the solution yourself on the manu- for confident
and blocking anything suspicious. Anti- facturer’s website or internet forums. PC users
OUR SECURITY SOFTWARE SURVEY
What other Which? members really think about their security software BEST
BUY
How protected you feel by your software
Our recent member survey found
that most of you feel protected by
72% Microsoft
1% Quite 1% Completely 2% Don’t
your software, and only a tiny unprotected unprotected know Windows Defender
proportion are dissatisfied with
FREE SOFTWARE
what you have installed.
The most common paid-for 31% Completely This anti-spyware program from
65% Quite protected protected
software is Norton – a third of you Microsoft is built in to Windows Vista or
have this installed, while a quarter available to download from Microsoft’s
use AVG’s free anti-virus software. website if you have Windows XP. This
Most of you have had an free software clears spyware quickly
How satisfied you are with your software and effectively, and has good electronic
untroubled experience with your
software. Only 9% had problems 1% Very 1% Fairly 5% Neither help files if you need assistance.
the last time you installed or dissatisfied dissatisfied It’s simple to set up for everyday use,
upgraded it, while just over one in and the message alerts that pop up are
10 have had day-to-day problems adequate.
37% Fairly
since installation. 55% Very satisfied Satisfied WORTH KNOWING You can set it to
We received 4,564 responses run in real time so it stops spyware
from members of our online panel from getting onto your computer.
contacted between 22 and 29 Web address www.microsoft.com Operating system
September 2008. Numbers may not total 100% due to rounding At least Windows XP Minimum memory 64MB Ram
Minimum hard disk 20MB hard disk space
BEST BUY PAID-FOR SECURITY SOFTWARE
If it’s extra features you’re after, a paid-for suite could be the one for you
The main advantage of paid- include parental-control and similar programs are
for security suites is that all the software to help you manage available separately free
programs you need to keep your children’s use of the of charge.
BEST your computer safe come in internet, anti-phishing tools to Bear in mind that as well
BUY one package, which should help prevent you from visiting as the initial cost of a paid-for
66% BullGuard lead to a much simpler
installation process.
a fraudulent website, and
backup software for making
suite, you’ll have to pay an
annual subscription after the
Free Spam Filter Some of the latest offerings copies of important files. first year in order to maintain
FREE SOFTWARE come with even more features However, you may already your crucial supply of regular
bundled in. Paid-for suites may have these extra programs, security updates.
With clear menus and a usable
interface, this program is simple to
install and, once it’s on your machine, to fiddle with the settings if you
it’s easy to enter the settings you need. BEST 87% Symantec want to make serious changes to
There are plenty of useful electronic BUY Norton Internet the software, which most people
help files with the software, and there’s probably won’t need to do.
good support online, too. Security 2009 £40 The built-in help features are
It picked up about half of the spam PAID-FOR SOFTWARE excellent, while user alerts are
messages in our test – this should clear and well designed.
This comprehensive security suite
improve over time as the program WORTH KNOWING You’ll have
boasts frequent updates to ensure
learns from your instructions. to download the spam filter and
that you always have the latest
WORTH KNOWING The paid-for suite, parental-control software from
virus information installed.
BullGuard’s Internet Security 8.5, is a Symantec’s website.
The look and feel of the program
Best Buy security suite. Web address www.symantec.com Operating system
is simple. Almost everything is set At least Windows XP Minimum memory 512MB Ram
Web address www.bullguard.com Operating system
At least Windows XP Minimum memory Not specified up by default, so you’ll only have Minimum hard disk 200MB available space
Minimum hard disk 200MB available space
BEST
86% BullGuard while the electronic documentation
that comes as part of the program is
BUY Internet Security very good and well explained.
The suite has a built-in spam filter,
8.5 £45 which caught over half of our test
PAID-FOR SOFTWARE spam. We would expect results to
This software’s good basic programs improve as you teach the program
BEST which emails are spam.
BUY are enhanced by the online support
WE LIKE The backup option offers
65% Checkpoint facility. Setting it up for everyday use
is easy, and the menus and screens 5GB of online storage. It’s easy to
use, too.
ZoneAlarm Basic are simple to use.
General user alerts are clear, with Web address www.bullguard.com Operating system
Firewall strong colours to identify problems,
At least Windows XP Minimum memory Not
specified Min hard disk 200MB available space
FREE SOFTWARE
Unlike the program built into Windows
XP, ZoneAlarm checks both outbound
Contacts Which? online Install AVG 8.0
Avast! www.avast.com
and inbound data. However, if you use AVG free.avg.com Need help installing your security software?
Windows Vista, you may find its built-in Avira free-av.com Go online for our easy-to-follow guide
firewall is enough for your needs. BullGuard www.bullguard.com Get step-by-step advice on installing the Best Buy free
The number of pop-up alerts can be ClamXAV www.clamxav.com anti-virus software AVG 8.0 with our online guide at
distracting, and it’s not always obvious Checkpoint Software Technologies www.which.co.uk/avg, plus tips to keep you safe online.
www.zonealarm.com
how serious these warnings are.
Lavasoft www.lavasoft.com
However, we found it effective. Microsoft www.microsoft.com
PHOTOGRAPHY ALAMY
WORTH KNOWING It checks Safer Networking
outgoing as well as incoming data. www.safer-networking.org
Spamihilator www.spamihilator.com
Web address www.zonealarm.com Operating system 0spam www.0spam.com (please note this
At least Windows XP Minimum memory 128MB Ram address starts with the number zero)
Minimum hard disk 50MB available space
YOUR HOME
Follow our expert advice VIRUS FACTFILE
Security tips to stay safe online A snapshot look at the evolution of the virus
■ Download with caution Some computer, and avoid using a single There are approximately 11 systems, which caused
programs claiming to be security password for everything. A good million pieces of malicious more than $80m worth
software are actually malicious password will be a combination software, or malware, of damage to businesses
programs in disguise. Avoid this of letters and numbers. in existence. In the last around the world.
by downloading directly from ■ Avoid phishing Phishing emails 25 years, Since early this
the manufacturer’s website. appear to come from a legitimate computer decade, criminals
■ Avoid spam Never reply to spam company, such as a bank. They will viruses have have deployed
emails asking to ‘unsubscribe’. ask you to click on a link and update evolved from mass viruses using
Often this just tells the spammers personal data such as login details laboratory- the burgeoning
that your email address is in use or account numbers. Never respond bound email network.
and worth selling on. to these emails. Instead, contact research In 2003,
■ Keep software up-to-date New your bank, or log into your online projects the SoBigF
viruses appear all the time, so bank account in the normal way. into hi-tech tools that are worm spread rapidly via
ensure that your software is set ■ Mac users Most of the software regularly exploited by email and took over a host
up so that it automatically retrieves we’ve tested doesn’t work on Macs, organised criminals. of computers to create its
the latest updates. but there is a very good firewall built In 1999, the Melissa own rogue network, which
■ Protect your privacy Don’t store into the OS X operating system, worm targeted Microsoft it used to send out vast
passwords or login details on your so Mac users should stick with this. Word and Outlook-based amounts of junk email.
FREE SECURITY SOFTWARE SPECIFICATION WHICH? TEST PERFORMANCE SCORE %
REQUIREMENTS
PERFORMANCE
EASE OF USE
VERSATILITY
MINIMUM
ANTI-VIRUS
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition Windows XP, 30MB hard disk space wwwww wwwww ww 79
CLAMXAV ClamXAV Mac OS X wwww wwwww ww 66
AVIRA AntiVir Personal Windows XP 30MB hard disk space wwww www ww 62
AVAST! Antivirus Home Edition Windows 95 wwww www ww 59
FIREWALL
CHECKPOINT ZoneAlarm Basic Firewall Windows XP 50MB hard disk space wwww wwww ww 65
MICROSOFT Windows Vista n/a wwww www ww 58
MICROSOFT Windows XP SP2 n/a wwww www ww 54
ANTI-SPYWARE
MICROSOFT Windows Defender Windows XP, 20MB hard disk wwww wwwww ww 72
LAVASOFT Ad-Aware 2008 Free Windows XP, 100MB hard disk space wwww www ww 53
SAFER NETWORKING Spybot Search & Destroy Windows 95 wwww www ww 52
SPAM FILTER
BULLGUARD Free Spamfilter Windows XP, 200MB hard disk space wwwww www w 66
0SPAM 0spam.com Windows or Macintosh ww wwwww w 54
SPAMIHILATOR Spamihilator Windows, 20MB hard disk space ww www w 45
USING THE TABLE these specifications for the website, ease of installing, Score
The more stars the better. program to work properly. updating and using the program, This ignores price and is
and clarity of alerts. Performance based on:
Specification Test performance Ability to identify and effectively Ease of use 45%
Minimum requirements Your Ease of use How easy it is deal with threats. Versatility Performance 45%
computer must at least match to locate the program on the Range of features available. Versatility 10%
