Panda Antivirus Pro 2009

Panda Antivirus Pro 2009 has a lot of great things going for it this year. Previous versions of Panda Antivirus have been less than stellar, and sometimes downright bad.

But we've researched this 2009 version and found it to be worth the investigation.

The main aspects of Panda Antivirus Pro 2009 that we like so much is three-fold: they've included a whole host of extras, the resource usage is comparable to most antivirus applications (although a little sluggish at times), and they've even added a personal firewall! Not bad at all.


Editor's Overview

• Good antivirus protection
• Solid antispyware and anti-malware
• Average personal firewall
• Inbound email scanning
• Easy to install
• Easy to use
• Good IM scanning
• TruPrevent Technologies
• Average identity theft protection

How Well Does Panda Antivirus Pro 2009 Stack Up?

For the most part, Panda Antivirus Pro 2009 is a solid antivirus software package. There are plenty of bells and whistles, it's easy to install, and easy to use.

Independent testing showed that Panda Antivirus Pro 2009 was able to thoroughly scan for and remove the majority of malware traces (including rootkits, viruses, trojans, and spyware).

The personal firewall is a nice touch this year as well. These days, antivirus isn't always enough. While their antivirus alone is average to good, the added protection of a firewall keeps out those troublesome viruses that don't get the message.

The inbound email scanning was average, but at least they've got the right idea to scan email before it even hits your inbox.

Finally, their TruPrevent Technologies 2.0 is a method where suspicious programs are studied in effort to prevent instant attacks before they happen. It's not always an exact science, but a nice feature nonetheless.

Antivirus Features

• Antivirus & anti-malware protection
• Scans files in real-time or on-demand
• Email scanning
• Instant message monitoring
• Genetic heuristic engine
• TruPrevent Technologies 2.0
• Personal firewall
• WiFi monitor
• Identity theft protection
• Anti-phishing filter
• Anti-banking trojan engine
• Anti-rootkit technology

Is There Any Downside to Panda Antivirus Pro 2009?

During scans, the antivirus software tends to slow down your system. Panda has a lot of features running to keep your PC safe, but we've found other antivirus applications that can do just as well (or better) with less system usage.

The IM and WiFi monitoring are average, but then these features are often the least developed in the antivirus world.

Support

Panda could still use a better support system for their antivirus and Internet security suites. They offer the usual FAQ pages and knowledge base, and email support, but phone support is really crucial these days. Panda only offers phone support for those who purchase multiple licenses. This is a bit of a snub for the bread and butter of their business: the average 1-license user.

Conclusion

Panda Antivirus Pro 2009 certainly boosted is ranking with us this year due to the easy-to-use interface solid antivirus scanning and removal, and the addition of a personal firewall for added protection. While the software can bog down your PC from time to time, it's not as slow as others we've come across. Overall, a good effort for Panda Antivirus Pro 2009.


*System Requirements

Operating System:

• Windows XP 32 and 64-bit
• Windows Vista 32 and 64-bit

Processor: Pentium 300 MHz or faster
RAM:

• 128 MB without TruPrevent
• 512 MB with TruPrevent (1 GB recommended)

Hard Disk: 265 MB free space
MS Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
CD-ROM drive

$49.95