image displayed if flash reader not installed<

Internet Security and Utility Software Suites

On this page you will find important tips, comparative reviews, recommended products, and links to many more security and utility suite vendors and reviews.
Share |

Suites combine multiple features into a single product. There are tradeoffs in using suites. It is convenient to have several features bundled together. Dealing with one vendor may be easier for upgrades and support.  If you have 3 home computers, a 3 license suite may save you money and reduce the work to install and maintain your security software. On the other hand, suites may have strong features mixed with weaker ones. They may not have every security and privacy feature that you need or want.

 

Important Tips

  • Just One, Not Two -- Never use two firewall or two anti-virus products (or two suites that include them) at the same time. Completely uninstall one before installing another. Use the vendor's uninstall utility or if not available, use the Windows add/remove software tool in the control panel.
  • Patches & Updates -- Most security software is only as effective as its most recent update because it is inherently reactive treating "known" threats. So when you install a security suite, go to the vendor's web site and update the program immediately and then turn on the auto update feature (if it has one).
  • Firewall Testing -- After you install a firewall, be sure to check it with an online service like Security Space to make sure that it is configured correctly. Testing your firewall is the only sure way to tell that your computer is really being protected.
  • Get Online Protection Too -- Consider using an Internet service provider or email service that includes server side anti-virus and spam email filtering as a first layer of defense.
  • Prices -- For current prices, see our custom Internet Security Suites 2010 price list and our Premium Security Suites 2010 price list both powered by Amazon.com or click on one of the product pictures below:

Amazon.com Widgets

Choices (alpha order) -- Vendor and review links follow.

  • Top Security Suites -- Agnitum, BitDefender, G-Data, Kaspersky, Norton, PC Tools and ZoneAlarm
  • More Security Suites -- AhnLab, Aluria, AVG, Avira, Bullguard, Comodo, Computer Associates, eEye, Eset, Fortinet, F-Secure, Iolo, k7, Kingsoft, Laplink, McAfee, MicroWorld, Norman, Online Solutions, Panda, PC Live, Preventon, Quick Heal, Rainbow, Safe`n`Sec, Steganos, Sunbelt VIPRE Premium, Trend Micro, Trustport, VCOM, Virus Buster & Webroot
  • Utility Suites -- Iolo System Mechanic Pro, Symantec's Norton Systemworks, VCOM SystemSuite & WinCleaner Complete PC Care

Comparative Reviews

  • Top free security suites [mostly antivirus], Seth Rosenblatt, CNet, April 29, 2010 -- Avast Free Antivirus, AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition, Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus, Microsoft Security Essentials, Panda Cloud Antivirus Free Edition, ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition
  • Maximum Security: 2010 Internet Security Suites, Robert Vamosi, PC World, March 30, 2010 -- in rank order -- Norton Internet Security 2010, Kaspersky Internet Security 2010, AVG Internet Security 9.0, PC Tools Internet Security 2010, BitDefender Internet Security 2010, Avast 5.0 Internet Security, McAfee Internet Security 2010, Panda Internet Security 2010, Webroot Internet Security Essentials, Trend Micro Internet Security Pro 2010, F-Secure Internet Security 2010, ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite, Eset Smart Security 4.
  • Security software: 15 free and paid-for security suites reviewed, PC Authority AU, March 22,
    2010 -- Avast, AVG, Avira, BidDefender, Bullguard, Clamwin, Eset, F-Secure, G Data, Kaspersky,
    McAfee, Microsoft, Notorn (editor's choice), PC Tools, Trend Micro.
  • The Best Security Suites for 2010, Neil Rubenking, PC Magazine, February 24, 2010 -- in overall rank order -- 1 Norton (Editor's Choice), 2 BitDefender, 2 ZoneAlarm, 3 Kaspersky, 3 Trend Micro, 4 F-Secure, 4 Panda, 5 CA, 5 K7, 6 eScan, 7 FortiClient.
  • Internet Security Software: Reviews, Consumer Search, February 2010 -- best Norton Internet Security 2010, best budget G Data Internet Security 2010.
  • AV-Comparatives Crowns Best Security Vendors, Neil Rubenking, PC Magazine, January 5, 2010 -- The top five security vendors of 2009 were Symantec (Norton), Kaspersky, ESET, F-Secure & BitDefender. Top awards in special feature areas went to Symantec (Norton), Microsoft & AVIRA.
  • Internet Security Suites Software 2010 -- 21 products; and Premium Security Suites 2010 -- 8 products, TopTenReviews
  • AV-Comparatives Tests Anti-Malware Suites, Neil Rubenking, PC Magazine, December 18, 2009:
    • 3 Star [Advanced+] = Norton & Kaspersky
    • 2 Star [Advanced] = Avira, Microsoft, G Data, F-Secure, Eset, & BitDefender
    • 1 Stars [Standard]= eScan, TrustPort, AVG & McAfee
    • 0 Stars [Not up to Standard] = Norman & Kingsoft
  • AV-Test.Org Releases Real-World Malware Protection Report, Neil Rubenking, PC Magazine, December 17, 2009:
    • Top three = Norton, PC Tools & Kaspersky
    • Middle five = Panda, AVG, Avira, G Data & McAfee
    • Bottom four = F-Secure, CA, Trend Micro & BitDefender
  • Proactive Security Challenge [suites, hips, firewalls] Matousec, last update December 12, 2009 -- top suites include Comodo, Kaspersky, Outpost and Norton
  • Internet security suites, Nathan Taylor, Netguide, August 19, 2009 -- AVG, BitDefender, CA, F-Secure, Kaspersky, McAfee, Norton, Trend Micro, ZoneAlarm, ESET & Bullguard

Top Security Suites

Norton Internet Security 2010 and Norton 360 v4.0 New from Symantec. Note: Reading through the comparative and individual reviews, Norton 2010 products are the best of the best.

ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite and ZoneAlarm Extreme Security from Checkpoint Sale

Kaspersky Internet Security Sale

BitDefender Internet Security, BitDefender Internet Security 2010 Free Trial Download

PC Tools Internet Security

G Data Internet Security 2010

Agnitum Outpost Pro Security Suite

More Security Suites (in alpha order)

AhnLab V3 Internet Security 8.0

Aluria Security Center -- Firewall, anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-spam. Also available as the Earthlink Protection Control Center.

AVG Internet Security (formerly Grisoft)

Avira AntiVir Premium Security Suite

Bullguard Internet Security Suite -- Antivirus, firewall and storage

Comodo Internet Security Pro

Computer Associates Internet Security Suite Plus 2010

eEye Digital Security Blink Personal Edition includes firewall, anti-malware, zero-day protection, intrusion prevention, patch tracker...

ESET Smart Security includes firewall, anti-malware & anti-spam.

Fortinet free and retail versions

F-Secure Internet Security -- Anti-virus, firewall, anti-spam, anti-spyware & parental controls

Iolo System Mechanic Pro

K7 Computing

Kingsoft Internet Security 9

Laplink PCdefense includes real-time protection against spyware and keyloggers, on-demand scanning for malware, disaster recovery, and repair of various system settings.

McAfee Internet Security -- Personal firewall, anti-virus, surf & chat room for kids, ad blocking, and private information safeguard.

MicroWorld eScan Internet Security Suite includes antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-adware, parental control, anti-spam, pop up blocker, privacy clean up.

Norman Security Suite -- Firewall, antivirus, parental controls...

Online Solutions Security Suite

Panda Platinum Internet Security -- Antivirus, firewall, blocks spam, privacy protection, web content filtering, anti-spyware, PC security diagnosis and repair, and automatic updates.

Preventon Secure Internet Desktop -- The standard version includes firewall, antivirus and parental control. The Pro version adds anti-spyware and anti-dialer.

Quick Heal Internet Security 2010

Rainbow Security Suite

Safe`n`Sec +  Antivirus Scanner

SecureIT -- Freeware & retail versions

Steganos Internet Security -- Personal firewall & anti-virus (from Kaspersky Labs), anti-spyware (from Webroot), anti-spam, anti-dialer and more.

Sunbelt Software VIPRE Antivirus Premium with Firewall New updated March 1, 2010, includes antivirus, antispyware, firewall including boot time firewall, intrusion prevention, malicious link filtering, anti-rootkit, ad blocking, bad URL blocking, anti-phishing, protection against email viruses, history cleaner, secure file eraser, an unlimited home license is available for $70 per year, $40 for a single PC, 30 day free trial, 30 day MBG.

Trend Micro Internet Security -- Personal firewall, antivirus, spyware protection, fraud defense, wireless network monitoring, home network control, vulnerability assessment, parental controls and Trend Secure services.

TrustPort PC Security -- Antivirus, antispyware, personal firewall, anti-spam, anti-phishing, site filter, electronic signature, data encryption, data shredding.

VCOM SystemSuite Pro (formerly OnTrack) with AutoUpdate, Fix-It Utilities, NetDefense (Sygate Firewall), VirusScanner Pro (Trend Micro PC-cillin), CrashProof, EasyUninstall, Crisis Center, DataEraser Personal Edition & PowerDesk Pro.

VirusBuster Internet Security Suite

Webroot Internet Security Essentials

Utility Suites Comparative Reviews

  • Declutter Your PC's Hard Drive, Wayne Rash, Computerworld, PC World, March 24, 2009 -- CCleaner, Norton Utilities, and System Mechanic
  • Suite Deals, Smart Computing, March 2007 -- System Suite 7 Professional, WinCleaner Complete PC Care 10, System Mechanic 7 Professional, and Norton SystemWorks Premiere

Iolo System Mechanic is a security and utility suite; see description and reviews of the pro version in the security suite section above.

Norton Utilities, Symantec, with LiveUpdate, AntiVirus, Utilities, CleanSweep, GoBack & Web Cleanup.

TuneUp Utilities 2010

VCOM System Suite (formerly OnTrack) is a security and utility suite; see description and reviews in the security suite section above.

WinCleaner Complete PC Care by Business Logic is a security and utility suite

  • Computer Power User review, Serdar Yegulalp, January 2006

Utility Software Resource Sites -- Freeware, Shareware & Free-Trial