2008 Antivirus Software Report
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Kaspersky

BitDefender

Norton

McAfee

Trend Micro
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SOFTWARE
Kaspersky Anti-Virus

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0

The name Kaspersky may not be widely recognized to most consumers when it comes to software, but they've certainly become champions in the antivirus arena. Founded in 1997, the company has mainly been involved in antivirus solutions for home and business users. Their antivirus scan engine can be found in over 50 software security products from different manufacturers, so they're no slouches when it comes to virus protection.

Despite its relatively high cost, overall this product is our top choice this year with plenty of great features.

$59.95

PROS  $59.95
Best anti-virus protection
Hourly antivirus updates
Real-time e-mail, file and web scanning
Ideal for IM and WiFi
Antispyware and antirootkit protection
24/7/365 tech support via email
Low demand on system resources


CONS
No Firewall
Slightly more expensive than the competition
BitDefender Antivirus

BitDefender Antivirus 2008

Overall, BitDefender is a solid antivirus program. Like our Editor's Choice, Kaspersky, BitDefender offers hourly updates and a great bang for your buck. BitDefender Antivirus 2008 installs easy, uses minimal PC resources, has an intuitive interface, and protects your computer against all malware tested with a 96% accuracy rate. And if that wasn't enough, it's inexpensive as well!

BitDefender has been a strong competitor in the antivirus field for some time, but they've really stepped up their game in this version.

$24.95

PROS  $24.95
Solid anti-virus protection
Fast response time
Real-time e-mail, file and web scanning
Ideal for IM and WiFi
Antispyware and antirootkit protection
24/7/365 tech support via email, phone, chat
Low demand on system resources


CONS
No Firewall
Setting choices could use more explanation
Norton AntiVirus

Norton AntiVirus 2008

The good thing about Norton AntiVirus 2008 is that its still a solid tool for removing and preventing viruses, spyware, and other malware from infecting your computer. Norton has been the leader for many years and rightfully so. Symantec (the makers of Norton) has and still is one of the best antivirus software programs out there.

So why is it only number three on our list this year? They've fallen short in the usability of their product. It's a big clumsy and heavy on resources.

$39.99

PROS  $39.99
Detects and removes viruses, Trojans and worms
Scans email and IM attachments for viruses
On demand or scheduled virus scanning
Automatic updates


CONS
No 3-license offers
Heavy demand on system resources
Fees for tech support
Poor interface
Doesn't support current Yahoo or AOL IM
McAfee VirusScan Plus

McAfee VirusScan® Plus

McAfee once was a top dog in the antivirus arena, and still is to some degree. While McAfee VirusScan Plus does exactly what it says it does, compared to the competition, it falls short in other categories. For one thing, it doesn't offer hourly antivirus updates like our top picks do: it only updates daily. With the speed that viruses grow, a day is simply too long. Another minus is the fact that McAfee is big on selling your upgrades with this VirusScan Plus package.

$39.99

PROS  $39.99
Good antivirus protection
Real-time e-mail, file and web scanning
Good for IM
Antispyware and antiphishing protection
Low cost


CONS
Daily updates
Heavy resource use
Clumsy interface
Too many upsells
Fees for Tech support
Trend Micro AntiVirus

Trend Micro AntiVirus plus AntiSpyware 2008

Trend Micro may not be a household name, but they hold their own when it comes to lean and mean antivirus protection. The program runs light on resources, has a sleek user interface, and decent virus blocking capabilities, and good antispyware.

So why is Trend Micro AntiVirus plus AntiSpyware 2008 lower on our list? There haven't been enough independent tests done on their actual antivirus capabilities, especially against its top competitors. Could this mean they're trying to hide something? Hard to say. But without independent confirmation of its abilities, we can only go on how the software runs upon install.

$39.95

PROS  $39.95
Good antivirus protection
Real-time e-mail, file and web scanning
Good for IM
Antispyware and antiphishing protection
Low cost


CONS
3 hour updates
No independent tests
Not enough setting options
Poor online support
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