internet utilities

I use Trend's Corporate OfficeScan at work and Norton Internet Security 2004 at home. In addition I provide pc and network support at work and to my friends.

I have found Norton to be a huge resource hog on older operating systems - it runs fine on my WinXP without using parent controls where it can again cause system slow downs.

I also read PC Worlds review and I plan to change to PC-cillin Internet Security when it is time to upgrade again. With my experience with Trend at work I want to give it a try.

Regarding the reviewer who stated his computer was full of trojans and adware after loaning it to his some I have this to say. No AntiVirus programs have caught up with spyware and adware fully yet. That is why PC World recommends using Spyware Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware 6.0 in addition to an AntiVirus Program. I use both of these along with Norton at this time without conflicts.

The term "Malware" covers all 3 - virus, spyware & adware so until a package comes out that STATES it covers all 3 use common sense and install additional protection.

I purchased this product based on reviews I read at this site. I installed it on a 400 mz Pentium 2. I loaned the computer to my son apparently virus free. When I got it back 4 weeks later it was crippled with torjans and adware. The fault lies with him. I used PC-cillin in an attempt to clean it up. Nearly 200 trojans and much adware was identified and with some help from the Trend Micro site I was able (after tedious efforts on my part) to delete or quarantine all but one. I sought additional help from customer support. After several emails back and forth, I was asked to send a copy of the virus report to them. I did. After 4 weeks of no further reply, I purchased McAfee virus scan and Firewall. McAfee identified an additional 338 trojans and 4 adware files. These were all handled by the software with none of the additional actions on my part that were necessary with PC-cillin. I have experienced no slowing of my system as reported in some of the reviews of McAfee that I read here. Retrieving updates is a slower process with McAfee. I use DSL so I can understand that someone with dial up may think that their system was frozen but patience would probably have been successful. I doubt very much that McAfees firewall prevented a connection to their own site as suggested by one reviewer. I have used Norton in the past and felt that it was a resource hog which is why I opted for McAfee after my disappointment with PC-cillin. I believe it would be a foolish waste of money to purchase the Trend Micro product. I am extremely pleased with McAfee.

Changed to PC cillin from Norton because of price/value and my old software's generally a complicated and difficult renewal process. In contrast, PC cillin was clear, easy and competitively priced. It was very easy to install PC-cillin just as advertised.

Everything works nicely including email filtering, antispam, automatic updates and etc. I remember reading a review saying that automatic update was not automatic. Not true. PCcillin update is automatic but you must set your preferences to auto.

The only con so far is that I would like having the firewall more obviously working with an indicator or something; That would be nice but is unnecessary.

After using this software for several weeks I am very happy with it and would choose it again.

I am writing this review because I have benefited from user reviews so much myself. As long as I am passing kudos, Amazon has been very good to work with and I have found they usually offer comparable or better prices for very reliable service and good followup if there is a problem. This is especially true when you factor in shipping (...).