Review: Trend Micro Internet Security – All-in-One Protection

Review: Trend Micro Internet Security – All-in-One Protection
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Introduction

Antivirus protection, anti-spam filters, parental controls, two-way firewall, home network protection; just a few of the many features Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 has to offer.

User Interface (4 out of 5)

What’s Hot:

For users who aren’t particularly computer savvy when it comes to antivirus protection and anti-spam software, the user interface is made just for you. It’s clean and concise.

Product Features (4 out of 5)

What’s Hot:

Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 offers many features, including anti-spam filters, antivirus protection, parental controls, and home network protection.

The package includes:

  • Data theft prevention
  • Email safety scan
  • Parental controls
  • Two-way firewall
  • Home network protection
  • Anti-spam filtering
  • Proactive intrusion blocking
  • Antivirus protection
  • Anti-spyware filtering

You can prevent unauthorized changes made to your computer by customizing what you’d like Internet Security 2008 to block or monitor. If you are unsure of an option, you are provided with a brief description to better assist you. [See Image 1]

For added security, you can run a check to see if any unauthorized computers are accessing your wireless network. You can then allow or block any computers that were detected. [See Image 2]

The parental control features are pretty basic. You can have Trend Micro either permit websites that are only on your allow list, or you can set it to allow most websites, only blocking the ones you’ve put on your block list. [See Image 3]

You can safeguard your personal information from being transmitted over the Internet without your permission. Even adding partial information (like half your credit card number), Internet Security 2008 will automatically block any transactions. [See Image 4]

Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 provides you with solid antivirus protection, as well as anti-spyware and anti-spam filters. When you download, open, or save files, Internet Security 2008 will constantly be checking for viruses and spyware using its built-in antivirus protection. You can create exceptions simply by adding wanted and unwanted programs to the Exceptions List button. This will prevent Internet Security 2008 from triggering false warnings.

Price to Value (4 out of 5)

What’s Hot:

For $49.95 per year, Trend Micro will protect up to three of your PCs. This price is mid-range and reasonable when coupled with the antivirus protection and anti-spam filters the security suite provides.

Installation & Setup (4 out of 5)

What’s Hot:

Trend Micro recommends you remove any third-party firewalls, anti-spyware, antivirus, and anti-spam software. Installation and setup was a breeze.

Performance (4 out of 5)

What’s Hot:

Internet Security 2008 works with Internet Explorer and Firefox. For mail scans, Internet Security is compatible with the following:

  • Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 with SP2
  • Microsoft Outlook 2000, 2002, 2003 or 2007
  • Mozilla Thunderbird 1.8 or 2.0
  • Microsoft Windows Mail (for Vista)
  • Yahoo! Mail
  • MSN Hotmail
  • Microsoft Windows Live Mail
  • AOL Mail

For real-time protection against data theft, Internet Security 2008 supports the following Instant Messaging software:

  • AOL Instant Messenger 5.9
  • ICQ 5.1 or ICQ Lite
  • MSN Messenger 7.5 (XP only)
  • Windows Live Messenger 8.0
  • Yahoo! Messenger 8.0

Help & Support (5 out of 5)

What’s Hot:

Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 has excellent help and support. Its online support consists of an FAQ section, Support Web form, Support Chat, and Telephone Support.

The application has a context-sensitive help guide, meaning wherever you are in the application, when you select the Help button, you are automatically guided to the help section related to that part of the application. Under the main Help and Support tab, there are four categories; Product Information, Product Help, Contact Support for Help, and Virus Information.

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Conclusion

When compared to other products in independent antivirus protection and anti-spam software testing, Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 doesn’t rank among the top products. Although it offers adequate protection, if you are looking for the best of the best when it comes to antivirus protection and anti-spam filters, look elsewhere. However, if you are looking for a security poduct with a practical price that offers fairly decent antivirus protection and is comfortable to use, Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 could be for you.

Norton Internet Security, McAfee Internet Security, Kaspersky Internet Security