That is, until we tried out Comodo Antivirus 2012. Filled with unique security tools and featuring a wide range of tech support options, Comodo cleaned up our computer of all malware threats in a surprisingly short period of time. When you combine this antivirus effectiveness with an attractive menu system and helpful customer service, it’s clear to see why more and more people are using Comodo as their number one antivirus program.

Interface and menus

One of the first things we noticed about Comodo was its no-nonsense menu system. Instead of being filled with useless information and an overwhelming number of options, Comodo’s interface gets right to the point. This is great for users who just want to scan their computer as quickly as possible without worrying about fiddling with the settings or looking at pretty menus. In that sense, Comodo’s interface is both visually appealing and easy to use.

Antivirus effectiveness

Of course, menus don’t tell us everything about a program’s antivirus effectiveness, and this is where Comodo truly shines. It blocked all incoming threats in our malware tests and was able to clean our infected PC of 99.9% of all viruses. Very few other programs can even come close to matching these numbers, and we were impressed with Comodo’s antivirus effectiveness at every step of the way.

We replicated these results on several other machines as well, and each time, Comodo passed in spectacular fashion. Even today’s newest viruses were no match for Comodo’s updated database of malware threats, and it’s clear to see the developers have put a huge emphasis on programming the perfect antivirus filters. Evidently, these efforts have paid off.

Comodo even has protection against rootkits, scareware, and other forms of malware. In fact, it detected 100% of all rootkits and scareware in our independent tests. These are features that not all antivirus programs have, which makes this yet another example of how Comodo goes above and beyond the call of duty in an effort to protect their customers’ PCs. Put simply, we had no problem installing Comodo Antivirus 2012 on a broken, infected PC and then waiting for it do to its thing. It’s that powerful.

Additional features

We wish more antivirus programs had the extra features that Comodo has. Not only are they incredibly useful, but they do an excellent job of protecting the security of your PC. One of the best extra tools we used was the helpful ‘sandbox’ feature, which allows you to run unknown programs in a special sandbox without worrying about how they could infect your PC. The sandbox gives these programs only a limited amount of access to your system, which means that they cannot hurt it in any way, shape, or form.

This feature is useful for anybody who has downloaded a file from the internet but isn’t sure how safe it actually is. With viruses becoming smarter every day, even the most advanced PC users can be tricked by a malicious file in disguise, and Comodo’s sandbox feature prevents one little mistake from ruining your entire system.

The Defense+ component also deserves to be mentioned. It alerts users whenever a malicious program is attempting to alter vital system settings with a small pop-up in the corner of your screen. Users can choose to either allow the program to continue or to block and delete it. Features like this help protect both newbie and advanced PC users, and it’s one of many reasons why Comodo is our most highly recommended antivirus program.

Customer service and updates

To ensure that your PC remains protected for years into the future, Comodo Antivirus 2012 receives regularly updates from its servers. These upgrades help protect you and your computer against the latest antivirus threats. Without frequent updates, even the best antivirus software can quickly become useless, and Comodo clearly cares about the safety of its customers.

Comodo also has extensive help features and support resources for its customers to use. Whether you need someone to talk you through virus removal and cleanup, or you simply want to ask some questions about the program, Comodo is happy to help.

The $500 Virus-Free Guarantee

Comodo has so much faith in their product that they offer a $500 virus-free guarantee to every single one of their customers. If your PC gets infected by a virus after Comodo Antivirus has been properly installed, then Comodo will restore your PC to full working condition or cover up to $500 in repair costs. This is a phenomenal guarantee, and it’s something that few other companies offer. If you’ve ever worried about an antivirus program not living up to its promises, then you can rest assured that Comodo is in a class of its own in terms of quality guarantees.

The bottom line  

Good antivirus software is tough to find. That’s why we love Comodo Antivirus 2012. It is clearly the world’s leading antivirus program in terms of effectiveness, affordability, and customer service, and we highly recommend choosing Comodo as your next antivirus program.

Award-winning antivirus effectiveness

Obviously, the most important part of any antivirus program is its ability to find, target, and eliminate malware threats on your PC. PC Antivirus Pro 2012 easily handled everything we threw at it, and every computer we tested it on was 100% clean of malware threats by the time we had completed a scan.

This meant that our PC was clean of all viruses, rootkits, spyware, malware, and more after a scan. Not only did this lead to noticeably faster performance, but it meant that our computer (and the information we had on it) was completely secure. The peace of mind that this program provides cannot be understated: when you run a scan, you know that any problem on your PC is going to be eliminated – permanently.

The secret behind PC Antivirus Pro 2012’s malware-fighting effectiveness is its 4-level deep scanning technology. Using a unique blend of 4 different scanners, the program effectively seeks out and eliminates anything that is causing harm to your PC. With spyware becoming more and more prevalent every day, having technology like this is increasingly becoming a necessity: a recent study confirmed that approximately 94% of all PCs are infected with multiple malware threats.

Normally, antivirus effectiveness like this can’t be found at an affordable price. With PC Antivirus Pro 2012, you’re getting the effectiveness of a top tier malware removal program at a fraction of what it would normally cost.

A large number of useful features

Of course, PC Antivirus Pro 2012 is so much more than just a virus scanner. It’s also an effective PC optimization tool. Users can expect to see a speed increase of up to 200% after performing a scan, and the program can help you tweak all of the settings that only tech geeks know about. For that reason, PC Antivirus Pro 2012 is helping more and more users unlock the power within their PCs, giving them the ability to squeeze out every ounce of performance.

Enhanced security features

Many people are unaware of how dangerous spyware threats can be. Today’s viruses are getting smarter every day, and can be used to monitor everything you do on your PC. If you shop online, for example, then it’s very easy for a virus to grab your credit card information, address, and phone number. Before you know it, your bank accounts can be drained of all funds and your social media accounts hacked. This is happening to people like you every single day.

No matter what you do on your PC, it’s important that you protect yourself at all times. The online world can be dangerous, and a program like PC Antivirus Pro 2012 can be an absolute lifesaver for you, your family, or your business. With a wide range of security features designed to protect you at all times while online, it’s clear to see that PC Antivirus Pro 2012 has put a huge emphasis on the security of all its users.

Certified by independent testing facilities

No matter how many reviews you read on the internet, it’s good to know that independent testing facilities have reinforced the claims made in these reviews. This helps customers know exactly what kind of program they’re buying, and is an easy way to ensure that the antivirus program you download is as safe and effective as possible for your computer.

With that in mind, PC Antivirus Pro 2012 has been verified by West Coast Labs, a worldwide leader in independent testing. In fact, during its testing, PC Antivirus Pro 2012 received the prestigious ‘Checkmark’ award, which means that the program is at the highest possible level of performance and quality.

Affordable

With all of the benefits listed above, you may think that PC Antivirus Pro 2012 would cost at least a hundred dollars. After all, you’re not just buying an antivirus program, or a PC optimization tool: you’re buying something that does it all for you. For that reason, buying this one program saves you from buying several different pieces of software that all perform basically the same task, saving you hundreds of dollars in the process.

To make the deal even sweeter, the creators of PC Antivirus Pro 2012 are so sure of their program’s effectiveness that they have decided to offer a free 30 day trial of their product to every customer. There is no catch, and users of this free trial have access to the program’s full suite of antivirus capabilities, PC optimization tools, and more that will increase the speed and security of your PC.

Summary

By the time we had completed our testing of PC Antivirus Pro 2012, it was clear to see that the product had exceeded our expectations in every single way. Since our expectations were already pretty high to begin with, you can rest assured that PC Antivirus Pro 2012 is by far the best antivirus program on the market.

With award-winning effectiveness, a performance-enhancing suite of tools, and an overall commitment to quality customer service, there is no better option than PC Antivirus Pro 2012. Whether you’re a student, parent, or a business owner, PC Antivirus Pro 2012 is the affordable and effective solution you need to protect your computer in our modern world. Download your free trial today to see what the program can do for you.

One of the best parts of BitDefender Antivirus Plus is its AutoPilot feature, which limits the number of notifications that the user receives. If you’re like most people, then you’re sick of your antivirus program constantly popping up while you’re trying to do something. Thanks to AutoPilot, this problem is a thing of the past: BitDefender will automatically deal with malware threats and disable any notifications and pop-ups that you would normally receive. Why can’t other software companies do this?

Many users will also appreciate the ‘Rescue’ mode, which is a more effective version of the ‘system restore’ feature in Windows. It allows you to restart your computer in a safe environment in order to clean up any persistent malware threats or restore certain parts of your hard drive. During this process, you can use a rescue CD or to restore your operating system, or even just a virtual image of a rescue CD.

If you’ve used previous versions of BitDefender, then you’ll be pleased to note that BitDefender Plus 2012 features enhanced malware detection which allowed it to detect about 99% of all threats on our test PC.

So many viruses are spread through social media nowadays, and even the most web-savvy internet users can fall prey to these malware threats. BitDefender has taken this into account and this version now comes with Social Network Protection, which automatically filters malicious websites, links, and other threats on your Twitter or Facebook page.

The program has an incredibly fast installation time, and your computer will be protected within 2 minutes. We weren’t surprised at this, as it seems like every aspect of BitDefender was designed to be as easy as possible to use. This is a feature that both expert computer users and newbies can appreciate.

Ultimately, we were happy with our test of BitDefender. While it let a few malware threats slip through its cracks, and it doesn’t have a firewall, it still left our computer strongly protected. Most of all, we like BitDefender because it does all of this while maintaining a low impact on your system. While some antivirus programs can hog more resources than a virus itself, BitDefender just quietly goes about its business.

For all of these reasons, we recommend BitDefender to anybody who wants an affordable, easy-to-use antivirus program. With effective protection and fantastic performance, you simply can’t go wrong with BitDefender Antivirus Plus.

Key Features

• More affordable than many antivirus programs on the market
• Incredibly effective with high scores in both our tests and testing done by independent agencies
• Great tools like AutoPilot enhance the program’s value
• Comprehensive suite of internet protection tools

Pros

• Affordable
• Effective malware protection that caught 99% of threats
• Awesome AutoPilot mode that disables any incoming notifications
• Fast installation, easy menus

Cons

• No firewall
• Relatively large installation
• In-browser search protection not as good as other programs

The Verdict

BitDefender is one of the better antivirus programs on the market. Featuring a number of cool, unique features and a commitment to customer satisfaction, it will protect your computer from even the most persistent malware threats. 

The Good

Let’s talk about the good stuff first. BullGuard includes a number of helpful features that do an average job of protecting all areas of your PC. It has a spam filter, for example, which prevents unwanted email messages from crowding your inbox. It also has an automatic search results filter that helps you avoid clicking on malicious websites.

Unlike some other antivirus programs, BullGuard also includes a phishing filter. For whatever reason, some malware protection companies choose not to include this feature in their programs. Since phishing is one of the most serious and dangerous forms of malware, the addition of this feature greatly enhances the value of the final product.

On tests, BullGuard performed among the best in malware-detection. However, it was severely lacking in other areas, a problem which we’ll get to down below.

The interface is also something to be admired. BullGuard features pleasing, orange and green tones throughout its user interface, and has adopted an overall minimalist attitude. Instead of being confronted with a bunch of information as soon as you open your antivirus program, you are simply greeted with a message saying ‘Your Computer is Safe’. The settings can be adjusted if you wish, but BullGuard runs well right out of the box.

If your computer doesn’t require any attention, then BullGuard won’t bother you. Instead, it runs quietly in the background, intercepting and neutralizing any minor threats your computer encounters with not a single notification in sight. Nobody likes to be bothered by unnecessary error messages while they’re using their computer, and BullGuard has taken that responsibility seriously.

The Bad and the Ugly

Unfortunately, this attractive interface can only go so far, and BullGuard runs into some problems along the way. The first, and most serious problem, is that it doesn’t do a great job of removing malware from your system. While it can often detect the malware, and inform you that your computer is infected, permanently removing these problems is another challenge in itself.

It also allowed an unpleasant number of spam emails to pass through the filter and into our inbox. If you’re interested in buying BullGuard due to its anti-spam capabilities, then don’t expect it to remove 100% of your spam problems.

While BullGuard Antivirus 12 tries hard to compete with some of the leading antivirus solutions on the market, it doesn’t quite manage to do that. Nevertheless, at a price of $29.95, it’s still one of the better programs in its price range. If you’re looking for anti-spam protection with decent malware detection on top, then BullGuard is an affordable, but average, solution.

Key Features

• Great at identifying and eliminating all sorts of malware threats and other virus problems
• Helpful tools like anti-spam detection protect your computer no matter what you’re doing online
• One of the most attractive and stylish user interfaces on the market
• Very easy to use for both beginner and advanced PC users

Pros

• Top-quality malware detection and phishing protection
• Early detection features, search results filtering, and other forms of online protection
• Decent anti-spam capabilities
• The attractive user interface is easy-to-use

Cons

• Poor malware removal capabilities
• Spam filter lets a lot of emails slip through
• Phishing protection can sometimes be inaccurate or ineffective

The Verdict

At its price of $29.95, you can’t expect the world from BullGuard Antivirus 12. Its spam filters and malware removal are lacking, and its phishing protection lets a surprising number of threats slip through. The attractive user interface doesn’t necessarily make up for these faults, and BullGuard, as a whole, is an average entry into the antivirus market.

At first glance, ESET NOD32 seems to be the perfect antivirus program: it promises to protect your hard drive, email, search engine pages, and more from all sorts of different spyware, including worms, rootkits, Trojans, and other forms of malware.

Unfortunately, ESET NOD32 rarely delivers on these promises. While it has better protection than some of the lower-end antivirus programs, it falls fall short of the marks set by others in its price range. It achieved a measly 58% on the AV-Test Protection tests, which are performed annually by an independent company. Meanwhile, higher ranked solutions like Kaspersky and BitDefender achieved 100%.

Easy to use

Despite its dismal performance in the AV-Test, NOD32 is one of the easiest antivirus programs that we’ve ever used. It has a slick interface that makes navigation a breeze, and even the pop-up notifications are aesthetically pleasing. There’s an advanced mode for users who like to tinkle with every aspect of their antivirus program, but the basic settings will satisfy the average PC user.

We also appreciated a cool feature called laptop mode, which forces ESET NOD32 to run with as little power as possible. It’s designed to avoid draining your laptop battery, but it’s great for PC gamers, or those who perform any intensive tasks on their computers. There’s also the ability to schedule regular tasks, report logging, and more, and adjusting these settings is incredibly simple.

These features are useful for beginners and computer experts alike. However, they can be found on most other programs in NOD32’s price range, which somewhat dilutes their total value.

While ESET NOD32 is easy to use, we wish the company had put more of a focus on effective protection than on developing cool, easy-to-use software. It does protect you from most online malware threats, but it doesn’t quite protect you from all of them. For $39.99, we expected a lot more.

Key Features

• Useful modes for laptops and gaming that limit the amount of resources in use
•  Above average protection against malware and viruses
• Easy user interface – no matter what level of technical expertise you have
• Comprehensive support options will help solve any problems that you encounter

Pros

• Decent protection against most forms of malware
• Useful gaming and power protection modes
• Cool-looking interface
• Settings are easy to change
• Email and phone support

Cons

• Slightly overpriced for what you get; fails to compete with others in its price range
• Limited functionality in certain areas
• Extremely low score on the AV-Test Protection scale

The Verdict

ESET NOD32 Antivirus 2012 didn’t quite live up to our expectations. For $39.99, you can get a lot better coverage from other programs. While features like bootable disk creation and email scanning are useful, they’re neither unique nor effective. If you’re prepared to shell out forty bucks for antivirus software, then you’re better off going with BitDefender, Panda Antivirus Pro or others within this price range.

Why is overprotection a bad thing? Well, the best antivirus programs work silently in the background of your computer’s processes. They quietly intercept any threats that come your way, and they don’t bother you about it with an incessant stream of notifications.

Avira does protect you from all forms of malware, including rootkits, scripts, adware, worms, dialers, phishing scams, and all other forms of spyware. Like many programs, it has an effective email scanner that automatically checks your messages for any malicious links. These features work very well, and caught over 99% of the threats we sent its way. While it picked up a few false positives, it does an overall good job of scanning your computer for malware threats.

Usability and ease of use

Avira AntiVir Premium 2012 is one of the easier malware detection programs to use. It features a stylish user interface and basic controls that are easy to adjust. Setting up regular scans is very straightforward, as is tweaking the settings and other features. Once you’ve got it set up, Avira is able to keep itself running without much tinkering, and will update itself automatically.

Extra features

Avira has quite a few extra features that enhance the security of your computer. However, they’re nothing that we haven’t seen in other antivirus programs. That doesn’t mean that they’re not useful, however, and at this price range it’s nice to take whatever bonuses you can get.

Along with basic features like the ability to create a bootable rescue disk, proactive scanning capabilities, and email protection, Avira contains a tool called AHeAD (Advanced Heuristic Analysis and Detection) technology. This tool will do its best to intercept threats long before they attack your computer, and uses data from thousands of other Avira users in order to actively seek out and neutralize threats.

Unfortunately, AHeAD is what makes your computer feel like it is overprotected at times. We don’t all need proactive malware threat removal, and most of us can get by with a basic malware scanner. As it runs, AHeAD takes up a relatively large amount of your system’s resources. For that reason, it’s best used by people who are willing to sacrifice a bit of performance to ensure that their computer is fully protected at all times.

Help, support, and updates

Compared to other programs, the help and support that Avira offers isn’t great. It does have a basic FAQ section in the support center and a sizable knowledge base. However, if you need help beyond that, prepare to be frustrated. Avira doesn’t offer any additional help through email or phone lines. At the low price of $23.49, I guess we shouldn’t have expected these help and support features, but it would have been a nice touch. That being said, Avira does offer constant updates that should solve any problems that you’ve been experiencing.

Ultimately, Avira AntiVir Premium 2012 should be placed towards the bottom of the top ten antivirus programs on the market. It’s not the best choice out there, but it’s far from the worst. With filters for basically any type of malware and the innovative effectiveness of the AHeAD tool, Avira ensures that your computer is protected at all times, even if it has to sacrifice a little performance in order to do so. At $23.49, it’s a powerful, cost-effective solution to whatever virus problems your computer may be experiencing.

Key Features

• The most cost-effective antivirus program on the market
• Despite its low price, stands up strong against programs twice its price in terms of antivirus detection and elimination
• Tons of tools that will protect you whether you’re working online or offline

Pros

• Great price
• Over 99% effectiveness in detecting and removing all forms of malware
• Advanced Heuristic Analysis and Detection (AHeAD) will proactively seek out threats

Cons

• Limited help and support if something goes wrong
• Can drag down performance at times
• Some might feel ‘overprotected’

The Verdict

At an incredibly low price of $23.49, you could certainly do much worse than Avira AntiVir Premium 2012. With effective malware removal for virtually any type of threat and the proactive capabilities you need to feel safe online, Avira has created an above average solution for your antivirus problems.

There’s something magical behind the effectiveness of Kaspersky Anti-Virus: it contains advanced technology and complex programming that is able to outwit even the most persistent malware threats. It attacks viruses from several angles to ensure that all of these threats are permanently eliminated from your system, and takes steps to ensure that they never return again. While we won’t get into the technical specifications in this review, suffice to say that the creators of Kaspersky know exactly how to design an effective and powerful antivirus program.

When subjected to every one of our tests, Kaspersky found 100% of viruses and malware threats on a virus-ridden PC. We kept trying to fool it, and we couldn’t. Even the trickiest viruses were no match for Kaspersky, and it continuously lived up to our high expectations.

Amazing autopilot functionality

Kaspersky contains several features that would normally be found only on comprehensive PC maintenance programs. Its iChecker and iSwift technologies, for example, will silently scan your computer and identify virus threats without clogging up system resources. In fact, they monitor the amount of resources the program is using and throttle it back during times of heavy usage, and run scans when your computer is idling or not being used. As far as autopilot, ‘set it and forget’ programs go, Kaspersky has the right idea with these features.

It also includes a ‘gamer mode’ which will be appreciated by more than just PC gamers. It limits the number of notifications and pop-ups that Kaspersky displays in order to ensure that you enjoy an interruption-free gaming experience. This is also useful for regular internet browsing, or for watching movies on your PC. Put simply, nobody likes to be interrupted by their antivirus when they’re trying to do something important, and Kaspersky helps you avoid this problem.

It also contains a handy desktop security gadget which provides intimate details of your system’s security at all times. It can display your system usage and other vital indicators, allowing you to peek inside the case of your computer without ever opening it up. One of the coolest features of this widget is that it changes color whenever your computer is at risk, and contains easy links to some of the most important features of Kaspersky.

Every aspect of Kaspersky Anti-Virus is customizable. While you may not want to nitpick over every little setting, it’s easy to fit the program around the unique needs of your PC. Since every computer is different, this feature helps to ensure that your computer is always fully protected.

Kaspersky is available for $59.95, at that price, it’s clearly in the upper range of antivirus programs. While many people balk at paying this much for a piece of software, Kaspersky is worth every penny. And, if you’re still grumbling about its price tag, keep in mind that you can install it on three different computers. Many antivirus programs in the $30 range will only allow one install, which means you would have to buy a separate version for each computer in your household. With Kaspersky, this isn’t a problem, and you may actually save money in the long-run.

The sooner you install Kaspersky Anti-Virus, the sooner your computer will be protected against pretty much any virus or malware threat in the world. If you’re willing to pay the premium price, your computer will be rewarded with a level of antivirus quality and effectiveness that is very tough to beat.

Key Features

• The most powerful and effective antivirus protection in the world
• Identifies and removes virtually any kind of malware on your system
• Easy-to-use, customizable interface
• Great for both advanced and beginner PC users alike

Pros

• Kaspersky is the best program at identifying and eliminating malware threats on your system
• Finds 100% of viruses in nearly every test that we’ve run
• A number of cool and easy-to-use features
• Enhanced customizability and cool desktop apps

Cons

• Hefty price tag

The Verdict

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012 is the pinnacle of malware detection software. If you can afford it, your computer will be protected from even the most dangerous threats out there. With enough extra features to satisfy even the most meticulous customer, and the ease-of-use to keep computer newbies happy, Kaspersky is a winner in every sense of the word.

Powerful antivirus and malware protection

Norton is famous for its all-encompassing support against all forms of malware, and Internet Security 2012 is no exception. Since Norton Antivirus 2012 (priced at $39.99) is included within the program, Internet Security 2012 has more than enough filters to keep out even the most persistent viruses. It also found well over 99% of all malware threats during testing by independent labs.

Sometimes, it can take a while to complete a scan, especially if your PC is filled with malware. We didn’t particularly mind this, as you can’t expect a program to completely clean your system in under a minute. The final result was a computer that was completely cleaned of any sort of malware threats, and we’re happy to wait a few extra minutes to attain that level of security.

The only problem we had with Norton Internet Security’s malware detection was that it found a few false positives. For whatever reason, it classifies some older, obscure utilities as viruses on certain PCs. In some cases, these utilities weren’t “digitally signed”, a fact that the scanner didn’t like. This problem was easily remedied, but those who are clicking quickly through their ‘clean-up’ screen may accidentally delete a benign program.

Ultimately, this doesn’t detract from the fact that this is a powerful antivirus program, and one of the best on the market. Its independent test results place it among the top tier of antivirus software, and while it’s not quite the best program in the world, it’s certainly up there.

A new and improved interface

Previous versions of Norton Internet Security were so crammed with features that the welcome screen looked overly crowded. Many users were ignoring some of the program’s most powerful functions, and Norton decided to switch it up in this version. The menus are much easier to navigate, and a more minimalist approach has been used for each page. There’s still plenty of information, settings, and tools being displayed at any one time, but they’re displayed in a more manageable way.

Updates that go above and beyond the call of duty

Most antivirus programs update frequently to keep your computer protected against the newest malware threats. However, Norton is constantly updating its program to do more than just that: it uses data from all over the world to determine how safe a program or website is to use. This information is seamlessly integrated into the program and forms an effective proactive defense against malware.

This system is called SONAR, and it makes Norton Internet Security 2012 that much more powerful. With your computer constantly being updated, you can rest assured that you’ll always be one step ahead of the latest malware threats.

These updates are just a few of the many features that make Norton Internet Security a great program. While some users will be annoyed by the number of notifications and alerts they receive whenever they perform basic online tasks, others will appreciate their computer being protected at all times of the day. Both beginners and

Features to protect every level of your PC

Norton Internet Security 2012 is loaded with features. It includes a powerful and intelligent firewall, for example. During our testing, this firewall was able to block all incoming threats by effectively making the system’s ports invisible to outside attack. If hackers can’t find your system, then they sure won’t be able to hack into it.

Of course, the annoying thing about firewalls is that they can sometimes block innocuous programs. Fortunately, this wasn’t a problem here. It kept open all of the ports that we needed to run our ordinary programs and it didn’t cause much of a nuisance in the process.  We love firewalls like this: we know it’s running in the background and protecting our computer, but it’s not impeding our PC use in order to do it.

Norton Internet Security 2012 is so much more than just Norton Antivirus and a firewall; it also contains features like antispam protection that integrates with Windows Mail or Microsoft Outlook/Outlook Express. And, best of all, it doesn’t take long for the program to sort through this spam, and you probably won’t notice any difference in speed.

Another useful tool is Norton’s toolbar, which offers powerful phishing protection. Many sites are designed to trick you into giving up your data, and even the most experienced computer users can be fooled at some point in their lives. To prevent this from happening to you, the toolbar will proactively scan pages and warn you if you’re ever exposing yourself to risk.

Powerful parental controls and effective password management round out the suite of tools that Norton Internet Security 2012 uses to be successful. Whether you use all of these features or not, they certainly add some extra value to the program.

Performance load?

Such a powerful program doesn’t come without a relatively heavy workload, and your PC will take a slight performance hit. Startup times could increase by a few seconds, for example, and programs may take a fraction of a second longer to open. However, we didn’t notice any significant slowdown in browser speeds, and the overall effect of the program on performance was minimal.

If you were frightened away by the performance-heavy versions of Norton in the past, then you can rest assured that 2012 has taken significant steps to reduce the workload on your PC.

Key Features:

• Powerful firewall and anti-spam protection
• Effective antivirus scanner
• A Norton internet toolbar that is actually useful
• Less drain on system performance than other Norton programs

Pros

• Top-of-the-line antivirus protection
• Useful Norton toolbar protects you from phishing schemes and other threats
• Minimal drain on system performance
• Powerful and intelligent firewall
• Many useful features that protect you both online and offline

Cons

• Some users may not want to pay $69.99 for three installs
• Some pop-ups can be irritating and repetitive
• Some false positives through the SONAR detection system

The Verdict

Norton Internet Security 2012 does virtually everything you could ask of it – and then some. It will protect your computer from all sorts of online threats and is a major reason why Symantec’s products are consistently placed at the top of security software rankings.

A powerful firewall

One feature immediately distinguishes Panda from other leading solutions: a powerful two-way firewall. Some antivirus programs, like BitDefender, don’t have a firewall, and it’s a welcome inclusion in Panda Antivirus. No matter how effective a program’s antivirus capabilities are, it can be difficult to repel a concentrated attack with just your computer’s default firewall to keep you safe, and having this extra layer of protection is important.

Hackers expect you to use the basic Windows Firewall and they can take steps to avoid it or work through it. While the Windows Firewall is fairly powerful, no software is invulnerable to attack, and the more familiar a hacker is with your firewall, the better chance he or she has of breaking through. By adding another effective layer of protection onto your computer, you’re ensuring that your system is virtually bulletproof against a concentrated attack by hackers.

Of course, Panda’s built-in firewall can easily be turned off to accommodate those who would prefer to stick with the default Windows Firewall.

Comprehensive protection at all levels of performance

You use your computer for many different tasks, and you need antivirus software that is able to protect you no matter what you’re doing. Panda Antivirus Pro 2012 does just that, and takes a multipronged approach to antivirus support. It can automatically scan instant messaging conversations for malicious links, as well as emails and files that are already on your computer.

You can also modify your search to help you identify a specific kind of threat. It can be set to pick up only phishing malware, for example, or can scan for certain scripts, viruses, and warms. This option will likely only be used by advanced computer users, as the average user may not know how their PC is being infected, only that there is something wrong with it.

There is also a neat tool called USB Vaccine, which automatically scans incoming USB sticks, CDs, or DVDs for autorun-type malware. These types of viruses are spread so quickly because many users are unable to scan an object before they put it into their PC, even if they have good antivirus software installed. By the time you’ve put the infected USB stick into your system, the autorun utility has been enabled and your computer now has a virus. USB Vaccine is an innovative tool that prevents this problem at the source.

It may not have all the tools and functionality of some of the leading options out there, but Panda Antivirus Pro 2012 is a decent program for those who want effective, comprehensive protection, and nothing more.

Key Features

• Comprehensive antivirus and anti-malware protection, including a good firewall
• Runs quietly in the background of your PC
• Doesn’t use a lot of system resources
• Powerful and useful tools that will appeal to PC users of all levels of technical expertise

Pros

• Strong firewall
• Effective virus protection and some of the best malware detection on the market
• Innovative tools like USB Vaccine
• Low performance requirements

Cons

• Slightly overpriced
• Limited technical support

The Verdict

If you want excellent virus protection without all the bells and whistles that some of the higher-priced programs offer, then Panda Antivirus Pro 2012 is a great option. While it’s priced at about $10 higher than most other antivirus software on the market, it does a fantastic job of doing exactly what it promises to do.

Essentially, you’re getting several programs for the price of one with this package. Let’s start by looking at the antivirus protection. While the program earned below average scores from virtually every independent testing agency, we found that it performed slightly better during our own tests. It’s not nearly as good as some of the top antivirus services on the market, but it’s better than the lab scores would indicate.

After a scan, Spyware Doctor moves the infected malware files to quarantine where they can be disabled and removed. This is great if you like to know the names of virus files before you remove them, but for everybody else, it may seem slightly pointless.

The price

The number one indicator of quality is price, and at $39.99 for three licenses, Spyware Doctor may seem like an absolute steal. Fortunately, the company hasn’t sacrificed too much quality to achieve this price: while it’s not as good as the online protection programs you can get for $60 or more, it still manages to be a very cost-effective tool. The ability to install it on three separate systems is an added bonus, and you can split the cost between friends if you’re on a tight budget.

There isn’t much else to say about PC Tools Spyware Doctor. In comparison to other products out there, it simply does not live up to its expectations. At this lower price range, you have to expect less functionality and fewer features than some of the leading solutions on the market. However, you shouldn’t have to sacrifice the security of your PC, and that’s what could very well happen when you use Spyware Doctor.

Key Features

• Easy-To-Use
• Voted #1 for 2012
• Blocks Spyware & Viruses

Pros

• Relatively inexpensive
• 3 Licenses for the Price of 1
• Free Customer Support

Cons

• Limited user interface can be confusing for some users
• Less functionality and fewer security features than competitors

The Verdict

Spyware Doctor is a very average program. During our performance testing and tests done by independent agencies, it missed out on plenty of dangerous malware threats, and leaves serious holes in your computer’s security. While it’s priced far lower than programs like Norton Internet Security, the safety of your computer has to be worth something.