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PCSecurityShield The Shield Deluxe 2009 Review

Written by:  • Edited by: Bill Bunter
Updated Feb 4, 2011 • Related Guides: Windows | Antivirus
2

PCSecurityShield The Shield Deluxe is a distinctly lack-lustre antivirus solution. The product is expensive and not particulalry effective. Read this review to find out more.

The Shield Deluxe 2009 Features

PCSecurityShield The Shield Deluxe 2009 provides malware detection and removal with real-time protection. The product's user interface is the same as that of BitDefender, as The Shield Deluxe uses the BitDefender antivirus engine.

Features of The Shield Deluxe 2009 include:

  • Real-time protection against viruses, spyware, adware and rootkits
  • Email, IM and web scanning
  • Quarantine and removal of detected threats
  • Online submission of quarantined items
  • Vulnerability scanning
  • Network protection
  • Protection for phishing
  • On-demand scanning
  • IM encryption

Installation and Performance
Rating Good

Initial Security Alert in The Shield Deluxe
click to enlarge
Installing The Shield Deluxe 2009 is a simple process, but a reboot is required before you can use the program. After restarting the computer, an activation window is displayed that enables you to either enter your license key or continue using the program as 30 days trial.

Upon entering the license key, The Shield Deluxe icon will display an alert from the notification tray for any critical problems that it has detected (see image to the left).

The Shield Deluxe 2009 reported its status to Windows Security Center as up-to-date and running after it finished updating. The program ran without slowing down the test system, but I noticed that it is somewhat slow to load the user interface.

IEShow.exe and bdagent.exe are added by The Shield Deluxe 2009 as startup items. The IEShow.exe is related to the anti-phishing protection - essential if you want to be alerted to fraudulent websites while browsing. The bdagent.exe is another essential start-up item which provides security event alerting and monitoring. The Shield Deluxe 2009 added 4 services in Windows XP: namely, Arrakis Server, Desktop Update Service, Threat Scanner and Virus Shield.

Detection Capability
Rating Poor

Total Detection by The Shield Deluxe 2009
click to enlarge
The system had 65 malware samples in a folder on the desktop. Upon opening this folder, The Shield Deluxe alerted that it found multiple viruses and that the infected objects have been treated. However, The Shield Deluxe failed to detect 6 out of 65 samples while 20 out of 59 detected items were quarantined instead of removing from the system. I also tested the real-time protection by downloading a 12 malware samples from the internet, but The Shield Deluxe detected only 5 of these samples.

Vulnerability and Network Monitoring
Rating Poor

Vulnerability Monitoring by The Shield Deluxe
click to enlarge
The vulnerability monitoring feature detects whether the system has missing Windows security patches or missing security patches for a small number of third-party programs. It also checks whether administrator and user accounts have strong passwords and whether Windows Automatic Updates is enabled. The feature does not, however, work particularly well. The Shield Deluxe detected that the test system had a number of missing updates, which it appeared to download and install - however, after the supposed installation, those same updates continued to be detected as missing (something which Windows Update subsequently confirmed).

The Network Monitoring feature will not monitor the security status of other PCs on the network or permit another PC to be added to the network unless The Shield Deluxe is installed on the other PCs in the network. Other security suites, such as Norton Internet Security, do permit other PCs to be added and will monitor their security status, regardless of whether the security suite is installed on those PCs.

Price to Value
Rating Poor

The Shield Deluxe's pricing makes little sense. The product is a rebranded version of BitDefender Antivirus but, at $39.99 per PC per year, it's almost twice as expensive (BitDefender costs $24.95 per PC per year).

The Bottom Line
Rating Poor

The Shield Deluxe is overpriced and underperforming. The product really has nothing going for it and, consequently, The Shield Deluxe gets a big thumbs down.

More Reviews!

Be sure to check out our reviews of other leading antivirus and security products including ESET Smart Security, Norton Internet Security, Kaspersky Internet Security, Comodo Internet Security and Webroot AntiVirus with AntiSpyware.

Next Article »
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Comments

Showing all 20 comments
 
Sean Ryan Apr 4, 2011 1:57 PM
PC Shield
When I renewed my subscription the trouble really began. I was told to contact Yogi - their help-line contact. They were in India. It took 6 hours! And they sold me a package which they sweore would solve the problem. Afterwards the computer crashed constantly. I took it to a techie who said he couldn't fix it and I had to scrap the computer. Since then, they have treid to hack my new computer twice, and I have had to have the techie remove malware. This is a BAD choice imo. Beware!!
George Dec 29, 2010 8:20 PM
Don't know what everyone's talking about
I've had many different anti-virus software before including Norton Anti-Virus, Norton System works, Avast!, and a few other that I cannot remember.

When I finally settled on The Shield Deluxe, one finally works! All the other virus protection programs I've had before gave me viruses at least once a year. No problems after I installed The Shield Deluxe!
dina messinezi Oct 21, 2010 5:36 PM
scam company dont buy from them
PC SHIELD SECURITY DELUXE IS BAD!!....... NEVER EVER BUY THIS SOFTWARE FN INDIANS RUNNING YOU AROUND ...THEY FD MY COMPUTER UP AND I PAY THEM 160 $ FOR NOTHING!!!! NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AlOlmstead Oct 15, 2010 2:51 PM
FFA - Financial Fraud Artists
They're the Hotel California of software vendors: you can never check out and they just keep trying to take money out of your account. Having ruined their name, they've now changed to STOP-Zilla. DO NOT BUY FROM THIS COMPANY no matter what it calls itself.
Paul Aug 30, 2010 5:14 PM
Shield - Rubbish Product
Suffered major infection despite the Shield Deluxe 2009 V2. Help(less) desk were not able to help and did not return my calls. in the ned, i had to fix problem myself. Also had problems with scan functions not working,. Absolutely terrible piece of software. DO NOT BUy. Burn your money instead - this at least represents better overall value!
peter Jun 28, 2010 5:13 PM
Abhorent! crashed my pc & refused refund,.
This crashed my PC. I asked for a refund and got no reply, only realised when I also got charged for this year too. Called the USA to get a refund and informed that no refund possible only that the automatic renewal would be stopped. see email below.

Peter,
: The Sheild Deluxe has removed your account information from our annual automatic renewal list.
Your account will not be charged again.

If I can be of further assistance to you, please call us toll-free at 1-877-877-9944.

Sincerely,


Michael

Thank you for contacting technical support,

The STOPzilla Support Team
Nick Jun 26, 2010 9:44 AM
Misleading Advertising for The Shield
Watch out for misleading sale pricing for this app. I thought I was paying $10 and ended up paying $40 and getting a mail in rebate for $30. Only problem is that the ad said the price was $20 slashed dwn to $10. Shield Deluxe 2010 made my internet browser freeze repeatedly, enabled passwords without clarifying it's intentions and now I know that it is NOT a Bitdefender clone. I uninstalled The Shield and am going to bite the cost, hopefully they honor the mail in rebate. Pass on this app.
Really rOGUE May 29, 2010 7:29 AM
fake
İt is restarting scan every reboot FAKE antivirus
horitimo Apr 28, 2010 4:46 PM
No Lomger Supported
I purchased a multi-computer two year subscription. After just over 1 year the program started giving errors on update. Initially there was no response from tech support when contacted. On the third request they advised that the Shield Deluxe 2009 was no longer supported but that they would sell me a single computer 1 year subscription to the Shield Deluxe 2010 for the inconvenience. When advised that this was not acceptable they referred me to a US customer service (international) number and would no longer return my e-mails. It is interesting that you can still link to a renew subscription page for the Shield Deluxe 2009 and I suspect they will still take your money. Given that I purchased on the basis of a number of reviews some of which were in leading computer magazines I would caution others against this product.
Larry Jackson Dec 21, 2009 9:02 PM
The Shield Antivirus
This software is not protecting my laptop. It says it has located virus, but it does not quaritne them nor delete them from the system.
Tim Coady Dec 14, 2009 1:32 PM
PCSecurityShield
Watch out, don't believe the claims in the ads. They may not charge for customer support but is is worth less than nothing. I called for help right after purchasing and was put on hold for 3 hours and when finally answered was hung up on after one question. Also the person who answered was extremely rude and no help what so ever. The security software crashed my desktop within a week after installation, I called for help and was told they had record fo my purchase so i was on my own. I had to reinstall all of my original software and lost all of my data. My recommendation is do not use unless you want endless problems and lies instead of help. One more thing for a company that couldn't find my record of purchase they seem to have a record somewhere because thys keep sending me email offers to purchase additions.
Jesf Dec 1, 2009 5:40 PM
Shield 2009
I agree with the reviewer on this. I wish I never installed this product. The antivirus only blocks certain viruses and as such my pc has been constantly infected with different types of malware and viruses. I have to use a separate anti-malware program to scan and delete these viruses on a daily basis. Customer support is nonexistent. Do not buy this garbage.
flori Nov 12, 2009 8:33 AM
Worning , do not install this antivirus
after 1 month of use it has destroyed my 2 months old lap top . once you daownload the produckt is going to ask you to turn off the firewall in order to install . do not do that . do not install . you will not be able to unistall no mater what !! i had to reinstall the windows in a 2 month old lap top and dicovered tha half of the drivers are gone with it . bottom line . this is a virus itself . do not install . costumer suport is very very very poor .
Tim Tracey Sep 23, 2009 7:54 PM
The Shield Antivirus
I have this antivirus installed in my two Laptops and I must say I am very happy with it. I had reason to reboot my older computer and I had no problem reinstalling it.One e-mail and that was it. I cannot understand that in most reviews Shield scored a+ in all catogries and finished top of the pile by a long way against all comers.
Arthur Aug 24, 2009 7:58 AM
no rogue
FalconFour you are completely clueless. Do you even know what rogue antivirus is? You may not like shield deluxe but that doesnt make it rogue. Rogue antivirus is software that has no antivirus protection properties or intent to protect either. They are installed on your machine and impossible to remove without paying. But under no circumstances are they any way related to antivirus.

Advanced Virus Remover rogue

Uniblue and shield deluxe are not.

james Aug 18, 2009 9:00 PM
previously happy, now outraged!
used to be a great antivirus solution, but now is a resource hungry dinosaur, support is non existant, supposed to be the best, but in reality is non existant, you can give them proof of purchase, but they don't give a rats ass!
Randy Jul 9, 2009 12:57 PM
the Shield Deluxe 2009
I purchased this product in Januaray, 09. When I tried to update the security files, the message was left " update file service not available". I was told to uninstall and reinstall. I couldn't reinstall, even though I had an installation key code. I contacted their on line chat. I was told they had no record of my purchase, and could get no further response. I find their service and product to be way below acceptable. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
FalconFour Jul 8, 2009 6:11 PM
Smells like malware
Come on, I can't be the only person that sees this program as nothing but a big pile of steaming malware. Overpriced, "buy our no-name product now to protect your computer", and detects nothing. I was introduced to this "product" on someone's computer at the PC shop I work at, and I flagged it immediately as one of those "fake antivirus" programs that this person had on their computer (like "Advanced Virus Remover" and UniBlue RegistryBooster)...

Is it not already 100% obvious that this program is malware? Hopefully it gets blocked soon.
Will Jun 9, 2009 7:04 PM
The Shield antivirus
I guess we're talking about apples and kiwis.
I'm referring to the Shield Deluxe and you're referring to the new ViRobot version. Point taken
Will Jun 9, 2009 6:57 PM
The Shield Antivirus
I've used The Shield Deluxe for 2 years ande it has nabbed 26 viruses in their tracks during that time with NO exceptions. Compared to my previous experience with the heavy-handed Norton - it's heaven.

As far as expensive -- come on lady ! ! -- do your research. It's the cheapest antivirus on the market

 
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