Author Bio: This review of new Internet security tools is brought to you by Helen Wallis on behalf of London based IT Support firm Cheeky Munkey, who provide IT services including IT outsourcing, hosting, cloud services, VoIP or Web filtering.
If it is coming up to the expiry date of your current internet security tool(s), then you have one of two choices, renew or replace. If you are not satisfied with your current internet security tool(s), then you may want to consider trying out one of the three security suites we have reviewed below.
Pros:
The best feature of the 2013 security package is its private data protection browser. You can use it with either Internet Explorer or Firefox. This browser tool runs on a separate network to your PC and is free from website history so that you can enjoy private browsing. This is particularly useful for those who regularly use their credit or debit cards to shop online.
Panda Internet Security 2013 is also fantastic for cleaning up malware, blocking unsafe URLS and preventing USB-based spyware attacks.
Cons:
This internet security tool is let down by the fact it fails to offer encryption and shredding features. In order to obtain these features you have to upgrade to the global package. The software is also missing a tool for vetting social media websites, which is something expected from most modern day internet security tools.
Final thoughts…
Panda Internet Security 2013 offers a light, fast and complete security solution, however it is still considered to be fairly basic. Although it offers a wide range of features and uses modern cloud based technology to offer extensive protection, there are still necessary features missing which prevent it from being a high ranking security package.
Kaspersky have been producing security software since the nineties. Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 is a mid-level product that covers all of the key bases well. It has a wide range of features including anti-virus, anti-spam and anti-phishing tools as well as extensive parental control and an intelligent firewall.
Pros:
This internet security tool has the added benefit of the ‘Safe Money’ feature. This enforces a secure browser when you are online banking or using your card details to make a purchase. It uses a virtual keyboard to encrypt the keys you press so that people trying to keyLog cannot record your actions.
Kaspersky 2013 also provides better parental control than most other suites on the market today. Parents can easily set up restrictions and block websites giving them the peace of mind that their children are safe whilst browsing the internet.
Cons:
Although Kaspersky’s malware clean-up is very effective, the process does take a long time. Many people have also found that the tool slightly slows down the overall performance of their computer systems.
Final thoughts…
Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 is a brilliant package to own. It has everything you need and is competent across all areas including phishing and spam protection. The new ‘Safe Money’ feature is a fantastic addition and perfect for protecting your details whilst you complete online financial transactions.
Pros:
AVG Internet Security is a fantastic anti-virus tool and has the added benefit of a do not track feature, which is great for private browsing. The spam filter is exceptionally effective and the online shield is competent at blocking dangerous websites. Overall it is a great all-rounder.
Cons:
If you are looking to install security software on a device that is already affected by malware, then the AVG Internet Security 2013 tool probably isn’t your best choice. Many people have found installation to be tricky on infected devices.
Another issue is the software’s firewall. Although it is competent at doing its job, it can be easily disabled. This is a re-occurring mistake of many internet security tools.
Image credits: Robbert van der Steeg&david.orban.
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| It is beneficial to have an internet security tool that prevents keyloggers from being able to see what you are typing. |
If it is coming up to the expiry date of your current internet security tool(s), then you have one of two choices, renew or replace. If you are not satisfied with your current internet security tool(s), then you may want to consider trying out one of the three security suites we have reviewed below.
Panda Internet Security 2013:
Panda Internet Security 2013 claims to offer protection against internet threats, giving you and your family peace of mind when using the internet to browse, shop and interact. The security suite provides protection against viruses, online fraud, identify theft and spam.Pros:
The best feature of the 2013 security package is its private data protection browser. You can use it with either Internet Explorer or Firefox. This browser tool runs on a separate network to your PC and is free from website history so that you can enjoy private browsing. This is particularly useful for those who regularly use their credit or debit cards to shop online.
Panda Internet Security 2013 is also fantastic for cleaning up malware, blocking unsafe URLS and preventing USB-based spyware attacks.
Cons:
This internet security tool is let down by the fact it fails to offer encryption and shredding features. In order to obtain these features you have to upgrade to the global package. The software is also missing a tool for vetting social media websites, which is something expected from most modern day internet security tools.
Final thoughts…
Panda Internet Security 2013 offers a light, fast and complete security solution, however it is still considered to be fairly basic. Although it offers a wide range of features and uses modern cloud based technology to offer extensive protection, there are still necessary features missing which prevent it from being a high ranking security package.
Kaspersky Internet Security 2013:
Pros:
This internet security tool has the added benefit of the ‘Safe Money’ feature. This enforces a secure browser when you are online banking or using your card details to make a purchase. It uses a virtual keyboard to encrypt the keys you press so that people trying to keyLog cannot record your actions.
Kaspersky 2013 also provides better parental control than most other suites on the market today. Parents can easily set up restrictions and block websites giving them the peace of mind that their children are safe whilst browsing the internet.
Cons:
Although Kaspersky’s malware clean-up is very effective, the process does take a long time. Many people have also found that the tool slightly slows down the overall performance of their computer systems.
Final thoughts…
Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 is a brilliant package to own. It has everything you need and is competent across all areas including phishing and spam protection. The new ‘Safe Money’ feature is a fantastic addition and perfect for protecting your details whilst you complete online financial transactions.
AVG Internet Security 2013:
The AVG Internet Security suite for 2013 provides all of the features you would expect from an average security package. From the looks of things it has had a makeover and is now adorned with pretty colourful tiles which have been optimised for touch screen operation. The question is whether or not the company has channelled all of their efforts into the security tool’s aesthetics, rather than its features?Pros:
AVG Internet Security is a fantastic anti-virus tool and has the added benefit of a do not track feature, which is great for private browsing. The spam filter is exceptionally effective and the online shield is competent at blocking dangerous websites. Overall it is a great all-rounder.
Cons:
If you are looking to install security software on a device that is already affected by malware, then the AVG Internet Security 2013 tool probably isn’t your best choice. Many people have found installation to be tricky on infected devices.
Another issue is the software’s firewall. Although it is competent at doing its job, it can be easily disabled. This is a re-occurring mistake of many internet security tools.
Final thoughts:
The AVG Internet Security suite provides a fantastic antivirus tool, but you could also argue that the free version of the software does too. The standout feature is definitely the spam filter, which out performs many other versions.Conclusion:
The three internet security tools we have reviewed are great all-rounders, each with strengths in different areas. If you have had a good experience using one brand over another, then it is likely you will stick to what you know. However if you are looking to try one of these three internet security packages for the first time then we would recommend Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 over the other two tools. It benefits from having the stand out ‘virtual keyboard’ feature which is very beneficial to those who shop or bank online.Image credits: Robbert van der Steeg&david.orban.