Review: PC-cillin Internet Security 2007 security software

Claiming protection for three computers at a time, Trend Micro will have you believe that PC-cillin Internet Security 2007 is the only piece of security software needed for a home network.

The ability to install on more than one computer adds even more convenience to the notion of complete home protection in one package.

Installation is straightforward and will remove any existing security software that may already be on the computer. Registration is essential and requires an email address but during testing we didn't receive any unsolicited emails as a result.

Once installed, PC-cillin Internet Security 2007 will check for updates. Some updates that were found required turning PC-cillin off in order to complete, but basic Windows XP protection was switched on in the meantime.

The scan for potential vulnerabilities also checked for any potential problems with Microsoft Office as well as the Windows operating system. A handy tutorial is also included and we'd recommend following it.

Being a security suite by nature, a single window is used for viewing the status of the computer and for starting scans. It's clear, easy to follow too and shouldn't prove confusing when using it.

Virus and spyware protection is combined in one window and it is possible to quarantine suspicious software. This method stops it from damaging your computer but without removing it entirely. Some software may turn out to be benign or required for other programs to run, making quarantining a very useful feature.

When PC-cillin discovers any suspicious behaviour it will alert you, although these did become a little frustrating as they appear when running legitimate setup programs. Thankfully they did not seem to interfere too much with the r unning of the computer. They're colour-coded to show the level of threat to the computer.

The Home Network Control monitors a home network and ensures it's protected with a firewall. Networking is still a complicated issue and any help in this area is very welcome, especially when dealing with wireless networks, which can be notoriously exposed.

Personal privacy is protected with a history cleaner to remove traces of the different programs and files that have been used on the computer. There's also a toolbar for Outlook and Outlook Express that helps to filter out spam. Parental controls are also available to limit access to unsuitable websites.

For £50, PC-cillin provides impressive all-round protection and is straightforward enough for novices to safeguard their PC from unwanted attacks.

Also consider
McAfee Total Protection 2007
Overall: McAfee Total Protection 2007 provides excellent online security without compromise or complication
Rating: 4
Price: £60

Kaspersky Internet Security 6.0
Overall: It might not always be the easiest of utilities to understand, but Kaspersky Internet Security 6.0 is one lean, mean virus, hacker, phishing scam, spam and spyware-fighting machine
Rating: 4
Price: £40

All antivirus and firewall software