Find The Right System utilities

Zone Alarm Extreme Security 2010

ZoneAlarm Extreme Security 2010 isn't necessarily the best suite around, but it's definitely effective and should appeal to those who like making granular adjustments to their protection.

Specs: Complete package, 2 GHz or higher (Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate), 1 GHz or higher (Microsoft Windows XP SP2, Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows Professional), 2 GHz or higher (Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate), 1 GHz or higher (Microsoft Windows XP SP2, Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows Professional)

Norton AntiVirus 2010 (1 User, 1 PC)

Norton AntiVirus 2010 builds on the immense progress made in last year's version, maintaining a low system profile while strengthening its security framework. It's not perfect, but even Symantec's detractors should check it out.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 300 MHz or higher, CD-ROM, DVD drive, 300 MHz or higher

Norton Internet Security 2010 (1 User, 3 PCs)

Norton Internet Security 2010 builds on the immense progress it made in last year's version, maintaining a low system profile while strengthening its security framework. It's not perfect, but even Symantec's detractors should check it out.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 300 MHz or higher, CD-ROM, DVD drive, 300 MHz or higher

Trend Micro Internet Security 2010

Trend Micro Internet Security Pro's broad feature set combined with its look and feel make it a serious contender, but its questionable efficacy and middling performance make it a program we're not recommending.

Specs: 3 PCs, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows XP SP2, Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Microsoft Windows Vista (32/64 bits)

Trend Micro Internet Security Pro 2010

Trend Micro Internet Security Pro's broad feature set combined with its look and feel make it a serious contender, but questionable efficacy and middling performance mean it's a program we're not recommending for this year.

Specs: Complete package, Intel Pentium, 3.0, Intel Pentium

Trend Micro AntiVirus plus AntiSpyware 2010

Going by older detection and removal numbers, Trend Micro AntiVirus plus AntiSpyware offers competent if basic security protection. However, so do many free competitors. This year, we recommend giving Trend Micro AntiVirus plus AntiSpyware 2010 a pass.

Specs: Complete package, Intel Pentium, Intel Pentium

Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 (1-Year License)

Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 is a full-featured security suite, and the 2009 version scored well on independent antivirus detection and removal tests. However, be prepared to pay a premium for what you're getting.

Specs: 3 users, Complete package, 10

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2010 (CD-ROM, 1-Year License)

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2010 offers pricey antivirus protection. The 2009 version scored well on independent antivirus detection and removal tests, but be prepared to pay a premium for what you're getting.

Specs: 3 users, Complete package, 10

Panda Internet Security 2009

Panda Internet Security 2009 is vastly improved in speed and effectiveness over last year, but could use a little more work on specific features and technical support.

Specs: 1 PC, Subscription package, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition, Microsoft Windows Vista (64-bit versions), 300 MHz Intel Pentium, 300 MHz, CD-ROM, 300 MHz Intel Pentium, 300 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0

Eset Smart Security 3

Eset Smart Security 3 offers best of breed antimalicious software protection without a lot of extras.

Avira AntiVir Personal 8

AntiVir Personal 8 provides more than adequate malicious-software protection, but for the price, we expected more features and polish.

Specs: Complete package, 133 MHz Intel Pentium, 133 MHz Intel Pentium

CA Internet Security Suite Plus 2009 (5-Users, Box Set, Download)

CA Internet Security Suite 2009 has made some modest gains over its previous efforts, but overall it lags behind its security suite competition in speed and effectiveness.

Specs: 1 User, Complete package, Windows

Kaspersky Internet Security 2009

Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 provides adequate protection, but the program itself could use some work in telling the user what's going on.

McAfee Internet Security 2009

Once it's up and running, McAfee Internet Security 2009 is competitive with Norton on speed, detection, and removal of malicious software.

Specs: 3 users, Complete package, Windows

Norton AntiVirus 2009

Norton AntiVirus 2009 hits all the right security notes, and its superior protection technologies might even win back some jaded anti-Symantec folks, though for some, technical support may continue to frustrate.

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP2, 300 MHz, CD-ROM, 300 MHz, Windows

F-Secure Internet Security 2009

While offering roughly the same features and performance as its competition, F-Secure Internet Security 2009 is about $20 too expensive.

Specs: 1 PC, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Vista Starter, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, Microsoft Windows Vista Business (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP4 or later, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (32/64 bits), 600 MHz Intel Pentium or higher, 600 MHz, CD-ROM, Internet connection, 600 MHz Intel Pentium or higher, 600 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 5.0

Nero 9

Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP SP2, Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Vista (64-bit versions), Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 SP2, 1 GHz Intel Pentium III, 2 GHz Intel Pentium IV 1 GHz, AMD, 9, DVD-ROM, SVGA monitor, 32 MB video memory, 1 GHz Intel Pentium III, 2 GHz Intel Pentium IV, AMD, 1 GHz, Windows, DirectX 9.0c or later, Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later

Trend Micro Internet Security 2009

You can't beat the price. For a good, basic Internet Security suite, we recommend Trend Micro Internet Security 2009.

Specs: 3 PCs, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2, Microsoft Windows Vista Business (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 SP2, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (32/64 bits), Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 SP2, 350 MHz, 800 MHz, XGA monitor, 350 MHz, 800 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 7, Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or later, Internet Explorer 6.0 SP2 or later

Norton Internet Security 2009

Norton Internet Security 2009 hits all the right security notes and its superior protection technologies might even win back some jaded anti-Symantec folks, though for some technical support may continue to frustrate

Specs: 3 PC in one household, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP2, 300 MHz, CD-ROM, 300 MHz, Windows

ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2009

ZoneAlarm Internet Security 2009 provides top-notch security protection that is light on system resources, allowing you to work unencumbered.

Specs: Complete package, 1 GHz Intel Pentium III, 1 GHz Intel Pentium III