G Data Internet Security 2011

G Data Internet Security 2011 unique feature is its DoubleScan technology. This uses two independent detection engines to scan suspect files. Engine A (Bitdefender) offers very good detection and very good perfomance while Engine B (Avast) offers good detection and optimum performance.

You can do a custom install to disable firewall if you've your own third party firewall. A bootCD can even be created to remove malware when your PC is not bootable.

Webroot Internet Security Essentials 90-Day Licence

You can get this 90-day licence from PC Advisor June 2010 magazine. It supports Windows XP/Vista/7.

It can detect all Eicar anti-malware files automatically during download for http and https except eicar.com.txt. But, it passed all Spycar tests.

Webroot Internet Security Essentials

You can download a 14 days free trial of this software from Webroot by providing your first name, last name and e-mail address.

The software consists of antivirus from Sophos, antispyware, firewall, backup and cleanup. You can use your own third party firewall by selecting "Allow ALL Traffic" in the firewall setting. The backup account needs to be created online.

Antivirus or Antispyware Software

Do you really need to purchase antivirus or antispyware software? I prefer a third party firewall software installed on a computer with Windows 7 running as a standard user. You won't get all the security problems related to running as an administrator.

But, if you're a home user and concerned about security, you can install those reputable free versions of antivirus or antispyware software.

Anti-malware for Windows 7 Beta

Microsoft has updated the list of anti-malware software for Windows 7 Beta. Now, it includes McAfee, Panda, Trend Micro and F-Secure.

Surprisingly, Avira is not included in the list. So far, only AVG, Avira and Norton are the only non-beta products which support Windows 7 Beta.

Running Avira AntiVir Premium in Windows 7 Beta

If you install Avira AntiVir Premium 8.1.00.331 from the DVD of Computer Shopper March 2009 in Windows 7 Beta, you'll not be able to do any update. But, you can download the latest version and use the same license key for 90 days when you register.

The differences between Avira Premium Security Suite and Avira AntiVir Premium are the inclusion of proactive phishing defense, antispam, firewall, backup system, antibot and game mode.

Running Avira Premium Security Suite in Windows 7 Beta

Besides AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition, you can also install Avira Premium Security Suite in Windows 7 Beta.

During installation, you can customize not to install the firewall component if you've your own third party firewall. After installation, the update proceeded smoothly.

You can get a 90-day trial from the DVD of PC Pro April 2009.

Firewall Challenge

The results of Firewall Challenge were published but may not be the latest versions tested. Also, the tests were performed on Windows XP Service Pack 2 and may not be relevant to Windows Vista. As of now, the latest versions are as follows:

1. Outpost Firewall Pro 2009 6.5.2358.316.0607 released on July 15, 2008
2. Online Armor Personal Firewall 2.1.0.131
3. Comodo Firewall Pro 3.0.25.378 released on May 30, 2008
4. Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 8.0.0.454
5. PC Tools Firewall Plus 4.0.0.45 released on August 14, 2008
6. Jetico Personal Firewall 2.0.2.6 released on August 25, 2008
7. System Safety Monitor 2.3.0.612 released on January 29, 2007

AVG 8.0 Released

Grisoft now AVG Technologies has released AVG 8.0. For home users, the products are AVG Anti-virus, AVG Anti-virus plus firewall, AVG Internet Security. The differences are here. I decided to test AVG Internet Security which includes Anti-Spam and System Tools. System Tools consist of Processes, Network Connections, Autostart, Browser Extensions & LSP Viewer. After installation, I tested the effectiveness to detect malware using eicar. It detected eicar.com automatically when you download but you have to scan manually after downloading to detect eicar.com.txt, eicar_com.zip & eicarcom2.zip. With AVG Active Surf-Shield disabled in LinkScanner, I proceeded to test whether exploits can be detected. As shown, Internet Explorer 6 SP2 and Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.12 failed as expected. But when I enabled AVG Active Surf-Shield in LinkScanner, only Mozilla Firefox passed with a pop-up message while IE6 SP2 failed completely. I have not installed AVG firewall as Sygate Personal Firewall is more effective. The leaktest failed when Web Shield is active and AVG Active Surf-Shield is enabled in LinkScanner. In the end, I rather have a working firewall than Web Shield and Active Surf-Shield. Unlike LinkScanner Pro, AVG 8.0 does not have the ability to check any web links for exploits by right clicking the links although AVG Search-Shield when enabled does check web search results automatically when using Google.

iolo System Shield Internet Security 3.1

I installed a trial version of iolo System Shield Internet Security 3.1.15. It consists of iolo AntiVirus 1.5.1, antispyware and firewall. The firewall component is not installed as I am using another third party firewall.
The security tools included are:

1. Scan for Spyware
2. Scan for Security Flaws
3. Configure Automatic System Defense

The last option allows you to configure System Guard, Startup Guard, Process Guard & Browser Guard. System Guard will automatically response to configuration changes after a certain period of time. You can set the default response to allow change to proceed or prevent change from proceeding. In Startup Guard, you can edit blocked or allowed list for startup programs. When enabled, Process Guard controls whether certain programs and processes can run. For a program or process not explicitly Blocked or Allowed, the IntelliDefense feature can block it from running based on its threat assessment. You can protect Home and Search Page settings using Browser Guard. The options are to lock home & search page (always block changes) or prompt for authorization when home & search page changes are detected.

Kaspersky Antivirus Caused Leaktest To Fail

I am running Kaspersky Antivirus 7 with Sygate Personal Firewall. If the mail antivirus and web antivirus are running, the leaktest fails. But, if these components of Kaspersky Antivirus are disabled, clicking Test for Leaks causes Sygate Personal Firewall to prompt for blocking and the leaktest passes.

Webroot Desktop Firewall Version 5.5

Pro

1. Supports Windows Vista

Con

1. Fails LeakTest
   

Vista Windows Security Center Reports No Firewall/Malware Protection

If you have antivirus/firewall/antispyware software installed in Windows Vista and previously Windows Security Center detected it correctly and now it doesn't, then do the following :

1. Click Start and type cmd in Start Search
2. Press Ctrl-Shift-Enter
3. Click Continue when prompted by User Account Control
4. cd wbem
5. net stop winmgmt /y
6. ren repository repold
7. net start winmgmt
8. exit
9. Restart computer

AVG 7.5 Internet Security Update Error

I encounter this error but still able to browse Internet and access Grisoft website.

Trend Micro Home and Home Office Products 2008

Trend Micro AntiVirus Plus AntiSpyware 2008 for 1 computer offers antivirus, antispyware as well as privacy control. Free trial available.

Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 for 3 computers offer antivirus, antispyware, antispam, firewall, privacy control and parental control. Free trial available.

Trend Micro Internet Security Pro for 3 computers offer the same features as Internet Security 2008 including tune up and back up. Free trial available.

Avira Premium Security Suite

I installed this software from the CD of PC Advisor October 2007. It can be customized to install firewall, antispam or rootkit detection along with antivirus and antispyware. You can install your own preferred third party firewall which I did. After installation, the software will not update unless you register on their website.

Once registered, Avira will email you immediately a license key which will run for 90 days. This will allow you to run updates which took me quite a while to install. After updates and a restart, I performed a full scan which did not find any virus or spyware on my computer.

Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0

Installed Kaspersky Internet Security 6.0 from APC Magazine August 2007 CD on my laptop running Windows Vista. This is a full version award-winning pc security software. It consists of antivirus, firewall, antispyware and antispam which can be customized. There is no need to register for license. Downloaded the latest version 7.0 from Kaspersky website which added parental control, on-going behavior analysis and protection from leaks of confidential data. Upgraded successfully and the license is valid until 11 Feb 2008.

The price I paid for the magazine is well worth the money for over 4 months of license.