*NEW* VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware

It's difficult for a relative newcomer like VIPRE to introduce a brand-new version of antivirus software into this very competitive field.

But VIPRE is no ordinary antivirus.

And Sunbelt Software, makers of VIPRE, is no ordinary company.

With this release of VIPRE, Sunbelt has managed to pack a mighty blow against viruses, spyware, and all forms of malware in one powerful punch.

Not only has VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware come out of the corner swinging, but they've done it with the grace and expertise consumers demand from antivirus software.

It's easy to install, easy to use, and is the lightest running antivirus application we've ever seen.

Really, this should come as no surprise since Sunbelt, founded in 1994, has a track record of producing award-winning programs for Windows.

With their latest release of VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware, Sunbelt Software is getting rave reviews just about everywhere you look.

Among other things, we wanted to know:

Does it hold up against the powerful malware foes out there today? Can it really run that light and still be that potent?

In a word: yes.

After reviewing VIPRE, it easily captured the lead as the best antivirus software of 2009. Read our full comparison and review to find out why.

*NEW* BitDefender Antivirus 2010

BitDefender Antivirus 2010 proves to be very impressive again this year. They scored very well in every antivirus test we threw against it, with only a few minor deficiencies.

Real-time antivirus protection was excellent (one of the best we've seen), Resource usage was very low, and overall PC protection against viruses and other malware was top-notch.

In addition to improvements in antivirus detection, BitDefender Antivirus 2010 also brings improvements in the user interface, making the software quite a bit easier to use.

They've split the interface into three separate sections: Novice, Intermediate, and Expert.

This is becoming a trend across many antivirus software, but BitDefender does a great job in presentation and ease of use.

*NEW* Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2010

Kaspersky has been a serious antivirus contender for many years now, and this year is no different.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2010 packs a solid punch against viruses, spyware, adware, and other malware.

It's a lean but potent antivirus application that does what it says: protects your PC against virus and malware attacks.

And Kaspersky does it well.

For more comprehensive protection (i.e. an upgrade from a standalone antivirus program to an Internet Security Suite--also called antivirus firewall software), you many want to consider upgrading to Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 for more robust PC security protection.

Kaspersky's new all-in-one antivirus firewall software solution, while more expensive than the competition, is a great product worth considering.

$39.95

*NEW* Panda Antivirus Pro 2010

Panda Antivirus Pro 2010 makes solid improvements this year to its core antivirus software.

As one of the few antivirus applications that includes a firewall by default, Panda Antivirus Pro 2010 performs well in most areas.

Where it counts, Panda maintains a decent record of good real-time protection and an average firewall. Their spyware and adware removal rate wasn't as clean as we'd like to see, but it was still effective.

Panda's overall system usage was impressive and very low compared to most other antivirus software we've tested, and we're glad to see a nice, simple user interface.

Where Panda Antivirus Pro 2010 really lacks this year is in the anti-phishing and customer service departments.

All in all, Panda Antivirus Pro 2010 is good antivirus firewall software. If you don't think you'll ever need phone or chat-based technical support, Panda is a good choice.

$49.95

*NEW* Norton AntiVirus 2010

Norton AntiVirus 2010 is somewhat of an improvement over last year's version, but there's still some room to grow.

We're glad to see a few solid improvements in real-time protection, faster definition updates, and good Instant Messaging protection.

The user interface is usable but might be too complicated for the average user.

Their resource usage is better, but still an issue this year. And the spyware/adware protection was far less than impressive.

Norton's email antivirus protection was average and not as directly active as it should be. But overall, Norton AntiVirus 2010 holds a solid place in the "average" range.

$39.99

*NEW* McAfee VirusScan Plus 2009

McAfee updates their new antivirus software with a few bells and whistles making it a good antivirus competitor.

McAfee VirusScan Plus 2009 comes in close behind Norton only because of a slightly slower scanning speed and slightly lower malware detection rate.

On the plus side, McAfee VirusScan Plus 2009 holds its own again this year with a solid antivirus model, good antispyware, and a software firewall that many other antivirus applications simply don't offer.

While McAfee VirusScan Plus 2009 isn't perfect, it's a respectable choice for those comfortable with McAfee's history of competent antivirus software.

You'll find lots of the same features, just more streamlined and easier to use.

$39.99

*NEW* Trend Micro AntiVirus plus AntiSpyware 2010

Trend Micro AntiVirus + AntiSpyware 2010 hasn't made any significant changes since last year's version.

The user interface is nice and easy to use, but the actual antivirus and antispyware functions still need a major overhaul.

To begin with, the antivirus real-time protection only identified and captured approximately 50% of all incoming virus and malware attacks.

The antispyware results were just as poor. While the software detected all spyware, it was only able to remove about 66%.

$39.95

*NEW* CA Anti-Virus 2009

CA Anti-Virus 2009 is a bare-bones, no frills antivirus software solution. If you're looking for a straight-forward, easy to use anti-virus software, CA Anti-Virus 2009 will work.

However, we're sorry to report that CA Anti-Virus 2009 still drops the ball even on its bare-bones, no frills approach.

For starters, the antivirus application still slows down computer speed a bit despite it being a light program. Resource usage is still an issue even though the antivirus is doing minimal work.

Basically, it scans for viruses, worms, trojans, etc, removes them, then does its best to prevent future attacks. That's it. We'd like to see more from CA Anti-Virus.