Virus slayer packs a punch

A decade ago, life was much simpler: the only threat to PC security came from viruses. Today, the situation is very different. A mere antivirus program is nowhere near sufficient and most users, rightfully, are highly security conscious.

Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2007 provides protection from viruses, spyware, spam and phishing. You get a firewall, WLAN intrudermonitoring and a console that lets users manage security across a home network, too.

Installation is a lengthy process. A 20-digit product key authenticates the installation, but this isn't enough. To access updates users need to register and provide personal details. However, you can install PC-cillin on three PCs, thus reducing its price tag per PC.

It's a good idea to avail yourself of Trend Micro's Software Rating Database service - a list of 'safe' applications. This saves time over confirming access for programs. The website filtering service updates software with 'safe' sites for transferring information and content. And PC-cillin will warn you if any Windows or Office updates need to be applied.

The firewall allows users to define different profile settings, making it easy to switch between various access preferences.

We installed PC-cillin on an old notebook to judge its impact on system overheads.

It has a significant system footprint, adding considerably to boot time and noticeably reducing responsiveness. Virus and spyware scanning is slow, mainly because these are treated as separate tasks.

By way of contrast, other Internet security suites, such as Avira AntiVir, made almost no impact on performance with the same hardware. This well-specified and highly configurable security bundle is perhaps better suited to small office networks than it is to domestic use.

While it is good value, it's also a resource hog. Older PCs will groan under the strain.