BIOS: Technology Means Business

Panda Software has recently launched its new range of consumer solutions: Panda Antivirus 2007, Panda Antivirus+Firewall 2007 (the new Titanium) and Panda Internet Security 2007 (the new Platinum). Panda Internet Security 2007 (reviewed here) is a relatively complete security suite, designed to turn your Windows computers (protects up to three PCs) into fortresses against Internet threats.

Similar to any decent security package, it not only protects against all types of viruses and spyware, but also includes anti-spam and anti-phishing technologies along with parental control and firewall. Panda Internet Security 2006 users will hardly notice any difference when upgrading (£33.17) because the new version looks almost identical, but if you dig you will find a few additional configuration settings. In addition, it incorporates a specific technology designed to prevent identity theft: Identity Protect. This technology has been created specifically to prevent theft of personal or confidential data, helping to guarantee ‘maximum’ security for Internet users.

There is now a new Internet threat panorama: the creators of viruses and other malicious code are looking to profit directly from their activities. Even though you may perceive a sense of greater security given the lack of widespread alarm caused by viruses, worms or Trojans, there is actually now much more malware than before. The problem is that it is designed specifically to go unnoticed by users (using rootkits, banker Trojans, etc.) and we are now witnessing silent epidemics. So, many users could be the victims of identity theft or fraud without realising. To counter the risks presented by this new cyber-crime scenario, proactive technologies are needed.

The new 2007 solution from Panda Software integrates a series of reactive and proactive technologies. These include the company’s TruPrevent Technologies, which automatically counteracts new, unknown threats, blocking them without you having to intervene. Having said that, the software’s so-called ‘smart’ install may omit TruPrevent protection while insisting that you’re fully protected from unknown threats. Specifically, if your system has less than 500MB of memory available, not counting any used by the video adapter, TruPrevent won’t install at all! Thankfully you can install TruPrevent at a later date.

Unlike suites from Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro, and many others, Panda Internet Security 2007 doesn’t use a traffic light system to indicate system health. If something’s wrong, it highlights the corresponding status panel in red and offers advice on how to fix it. Though there’s no all-purpose ‘fix’ button, as with our favourite security suite, Norton Internet Security Suite 2007 (£24.99/$49), the software’s periodic self-diagnosis usually includes a link to fix any problem it reports.

Another thing we didn’t like is that when the software finds ‘vulnerabilites’, it provides little feedback, so you’re never sure how serious the threat is. For example, when the program ran a basic scan on our test rig, it found several cookies that it didn’t like, and marked as such. However, it was hard to see at first sight that they were only cookies and not something more dangerous. This is a problem across most anti-spyware programs, not just Panda, but it could certainly be clearer about what kinds of spyware it finds and how dangerous each one is. It did come up with a couple of ‘suspected vulnerabilities’ but didn’t explain what they were, although it did include a link to Windows Update to install the appropriate patches. Alerts come via small pop-ups in the bottom-right of the screen, which are persistent but not annoying, and may deter newbies.

Typical of most security applications, Internet Security 2007’s anti-virus feature scans files on access, on demand, and on schedule. Noticeably, it has the ability to quarantine threats - Panda’s Antivirus 2007 (£14.46 ex. VAT) only deletes threats, can’t schedule scans, and doesn’t include TruPrevent. Unusually you can send an e-mail or network warning message to Panda Labs when a threat is found. Internet Security 2007 found and removed just 10 of the 15 spyware samples we installed on our test machine - it tried but failed to remove two, and didn’t even see three of them at all. It also struggled with commercial keyloggers, removing just two of the five we installed. That’s a mediocre overall performance, and offers less protection than Norton Internet Security Suite 2007 or ZoneLabs Internet Security Suite. [6]

[Best Security Software Pricing UK]
[Best Security Software Pricing US]