PCR’s guide to security software

Personal data is important, which makes effective security software to safeguard it from the latest internet threats crucial. Helen French takes a look at some of the options currently available.

BullGuard Internet Security 2013 – £44.95 (1 year, 3 PC licence)
Distributor: Entatech, Target Components, Spire and Gem Distribution
BullGuard Internet Security 2013 is a complete internet security solution – it protects you and your computer from all online threats: identity theft, credit card fraud, hackers, viruses, spyware and many more. It comes with an award-winning antivirus program, parental control for your kids’ safety and online backup for your most valued files and precious photos.

Webroot SecureAnywhere Essentials – £29.99
Distributor: Gem Distribution, Ingram Micro
Lightning-fast, it scans PCs in about two minutes. Cloud-based protection instantly protects you when a new threat is found anywhere in the world. Doesn’t conflict with your other applications. Secures your PC and valuable information from malware and hackers automatically. Guards your identity, privacy and personal files online.

Norton Internet Security 2013 – £49.99
Distributor: Gem Distribution, Ingram Micro
Norton Internet Security provides proactive protection with five patented layers of protection that eliminate almost any threat. The ultra-fast network defense layer stops threats before they can reach your PC and blocks unsafe websites, letting you surf, shop, and socialise online without having your passwords and identity stolen.

ESET Family Security Pack – £79.99 (for ten devices)
Distributor: ESET
Protect your family from viruses, worms, spyware and other malware when they work, play, socialise or learn online. ESET Family Security Pack covers up to ten Windows-based systems, Macs and Android smartphones and tablets under one licence so your entire home network is defended. Choose from any combination of ESET Smart Security 5, ESET NOD32 Antivirus 5, ESET Cybersecurity for Mac or ESET Mobile Security for Android.

AVG AntiVirus 2013 – £29.99 (Two users, two years)
Distributor: Koch Media
AVG’s most fully featured antivirus product ever, this is award-winning, advanced protection that never gets in your way. It delivers great preventative protection that blocks infected links and files as you surf, checking everything before you click through. New for the 2013 edition is smart performance technology for quicker scans and gaming without annoying lags and freezes caused by scheduled scans.

Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 – Starts from £39.99
Distributors: Gem Distribution, Koch Media, Entatech and Ingram Micro.
By combining cloud-based functionality and powerful security technologies that run on the PC, Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 delivers more effective defences against today’s increasingly complex threats – so customers are able to enjoy the internet, while Kaspersky protects them, their PCs and their children.

Webroot Secure Anywhere Complete 1 yr 3PC & 3 Mobile Devices – £49.99
Distributor: Gem Distribution, Ingram Micro
Lightning-fast, it scans PCs in about two minutes. New, cloud-based protection instantly protects you when a new threat is found. No need to download security updates. Your protection is always current. Doesn’t conflict with your other applications. Encrypts passwords, credit cards, and files for complete identity protection and safe online banking/shopping.

AVG Internet Security 2013 – Four users, two years: £59.99, Two users, one year: £39.99
Distributor: Koch Media
AVG Internet Security 2013 provides ultimate PC and user identity protection for online shopping, banking, browsing, email, social networking and more. Its acceleration technology delivers faster and smoother video streaming without compromising the web experience. It also features smart performance technology for quicker scans and gaming.

McAfee Anti-Virus Plus 2013 – £39.99
Distributor: Gem Distribution, Ingram Micro
At McAfee we live and breathe digital security, relentlessly working to stay several steps ahead of the bad guys. That’s why we created McAfee AntiVirus Plus. It gives you the freedom to shop, surf, and socialise on your PC. And the peace of mind knowing you’re protected from serious risks. One product gives you complete anti-virus, anti-malware, and firewall protection – all built-in to keep you safe. McAfee AntiVirus Plus, essential security software keeping you safe.

G Data MobileSecurity Version 2 – £19.95
Distributor: Aware Distribution, VCW, SBS
G Data MobileSecurity 2 provides reliable protection against mobile malware as well as real-time protection when surfing the net on a smartphone or tablet PC. Users can block annoying callers and SMS senders.

Norton Anti-Virus 2013 – £39.99
Distributor: Gem Distribution, Ingram Micro
Norton AntiVirus uses our five patented layers of protection to quickly detect and eliminate viruses and spyware, so you can go online knowing you’re protected. Advanced reputation and behaviour antivirus technology scans all files you download for viruses and eliminates them. It even protects from new viruses that haven’t been invented yet. Cloud-based Norton Management lets you fix, update, renew, and install Norton AntiVirus on additional PCs over the internet.

Kaspersky PURE 2.0 – Starts from £49.99
Distributor: Gem Distribution, Koch Media, Entatech and Ingram Micro.
Kaspersky PURE 2.0 provides ultimate protection for PCs. It’s the security solution for all of the family’s PCs, identities, passwords, documents, photos and more. In addition to Kaspersky Lab’s latest antivirus technologies, Kaspersky PURE 2.0 delivers advanced protection and management features – including the ability to manage every PC in the home, via a single PC. It’s Kaspersky Lab’s most comprehensive, easy-to-manage PC security ever.

G Data BankGuard – £19.95
Distributors: Aware Distribution, VCW, SBS
This patent pending new technology offers effective and unique protection against banking Trojans, providing a detection rate of over 99 per cent. G Data BankGuard is compatible with all antivirus solutions. G Data BankGuard automatically detects attempted infections and replaces the compromised memory area with a safe copy. Thanks to intelligent algorithms, the application does not depend on virus signatures and thus offers effective protection even against attacks from brand new trojans.

Kaspersky ONE – Starts from £39.99
Distributors: Gem Distribution, Koch Media, Entatech and Ingram Micro.
Kaspersky ONE Universal Security is the easy, one-licence solution to protect PCs, Macs, smartphones and Android tablets. Based on award-winning Kaspersky Lab technologies, Kaspersky ONE delivers security that’s optimised for each device, to provide real-time protection against dangerous Internet threats. Whichever device consumers use to bank, shop, surf or chat online, they know they are safe.

Norton 360 2013 – £59.99
Distributor: Gem Distribution, Ingram Micro
Norton 360 provides proactive protection, automatic backup, and tune-up tools to help keep you safe from threats, guard your files against loss, and help optimise PC performance. Our five patented layers of protection eliminate threats before they can reach your PC. Automatic backup lets you restore files in case of a hard drive crash, whilst PC Tuneup helps keep your computer running fast and trouble-free.

McAfee Total Protection 2013 – £59.99
Distributor: Gem Distribution, Ingram Micro
Secure your online world with McAfee Total Protection, powerful antivirus and online threat protection. You’ll be covered with real-time anti-virus, anti-malware, spam filters, firewall, and parental controls. And you’ll get protection against identity theft, risks in social media, and hacking of your PC. It’s more than total protection. It’s total peace of mind.

BullGuard Mobile Security 12 – £19.95
Distributor: Entatech, Kondor
BullGuard Mobile Security protects smartphones by stopping viruses, spyware and hackers from accessing the phone and keeps personal details safe, even if the phone is lost or stolen. The software allows you to remotely lock your phone to prevent unauthorised access to your contacts and data, features an integrated GPS tracking function to help you track it down and has a ‘wipe’ function so that you can destroy all data on the device.

ESET Cyber Security – 1 User: £29.99, 3 User: £44.99
Distributor: ESET
Preventing Macs from turning into an attack platform for Windows and Linux-targeted threats, ESET Cyber Security eliminates all types of malware, including viruses, worms, and spyware and also stops Windows-based threats. It lets you share data online or offline without worries. Work, play and browse the Internet without slowdowns. Take advantage of a range of security features to stay online and unplugged longer and enjoy multimedia without popups.

Webroot Secure Anywhere AntiVirus – Three users, One year: £29.99
Distributor: Gem Distribution, Ingram Micro
Blocks viruses, trojans, spyware, rootkits, and other malware threats. Lightest, fastest protection scans your entire PC in about two minutes. Stops unknown threats based on suspicious behaviour. Continually updates itself so it’s always current and you don’t have to download updates. Prevents malicious programs from changing your security settings. Runs scans automatically or schedules them to run whenever you want.

McAfee All Access 2013 – £69.99
Distributor: Gem Distribution, Ingram Micro
McAfee All Access offers unlimited protection for all the devices you own. Connect with confidence and enjoy peace of mind as you browse and socialise from your PC, Mac, tablet, or smartphone, knowing you are protected from the latest threats. It protects unlimited devices, and allows you to experience the freedom to connect from anywhere while keeping your personal information personal and preserving your family’s digital stuff.

ESET Smart Security 5 – One user: £39.99,Three users: £49.99
Distributor: ESET
Protect your family with ESET’s complete internet security suite, built on the award-winning ThreatSense antivirus and antispyware engine. Our proactive heuristic technology intercepts and eliminates known and emerging threats hours or even days faster than competing products. Get ESET Smart Security 5 for comprehensive protection.

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