Webroot Internet Security Essentials

Webroot’s Internet Security Essentials (US$60 for three users as of 12/23/08) marks the antispyware company’s first foray into security suites. This patchwork suite brings together an antivirus scanner from Sophos, a firewall from Privacyware, and online backup using Webroot’s own servers. But it lacks parental controls, antispam, and browser-based antiphishing capabilities, and it fared [...]

Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009

Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009 (US$70 for three users as of 12/24/08) came in as the clear winner in “Paying for Protection,” this year’s roundup of nine security suites. It pairs excellent malware detection and cleanup with a smooth, intuitive interface and a good range of features. Norton wasn’t tops in every category we [...]

Avira Premium Security Suite 8.2

Avira Premium Security Suite (US$54 for one user as of 12/23/08) excels where it counts. This package beat the competition in “Paying for Protection,” our 2009 roundup of nine security suites, in detection tests, continuing Avira’s long history of strong performance in such tests.

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Trend Micro Internet Security Pro 2009

Trend Micro Internet Security Pro 2009 (US$70 for three users as of 12/24/08) fails badly at any security suite’s most important task: Identifying malware before it can attack your PC. In tests for “Paying for Protection,” our 2009 roundup of nine security suites, Trend Micro’s newest offering didn’t just come in last place in that [...]

F-Secure Internet Security 2009

F-Secure Internet Security 2009 (US$60 for three users as of 12/23/08) ranked an unimpressive seventh out of the group of nine in “Paying for Protection,” our 2009 roundup of security suites. It started with middling malware detection, and then it slipped further due to its generally slow scan speed and its lack of extra features, [...]