Kaspersky Internet Security 2010

Every summer we see a new crop of computer security suites, of which several are usually named after the year to come.

Kaspersky Internet Security (KIS) 2010 might have a predictable name, then, but it has some interesting tricks up its sleeve.

It includes all the options you’d expect, with a Scan My Computer section offering Full and Quick scans and regular updates to keep you safe from the latest nasties.

The Application Control module gives programs that it knows are safe, such as Firefox, free access to your PC while blocking or limiting the access given to ones that are not trusted. Programs are assigned to a one of the four trust levels automatically.

The biggest addition to this version of KIS, however, is the Safe Run tool. This uses a technology called sandboxing to run programs in a safe environment where they cannot harm Windows.

Programs running in Safe Run mode are marked with a glowing green border, and KIS can be set so that certain programs are always launched in this special mode.

We put it to the test by entering Safe Run and attacking Windows by deleting folders and parts of the Windows registry. On exiting Safe Run all the real copy of Windows was intact and unharmed.

Another neat feature is the Vulnerability Scan, which looks for security problems with Windows or any other software that might be exploited. We were impressed by how it presented potential security issues in Windows alongside a simple Fix Me button.

So far so good, but KIS 2010 won’t be ideal for everybody. Although it does a good job of concealing most of the complicated technology it uses, the suite can sometimes be too complex.

Digital Identity Protection, for example, is listed alongside the handy Safe Run feature, but clicking its only option, Settings, opens a dialogue box that will baffle most computer users.

If you want comprehensive PC security with loads of clever tools and advanced features, KIS 2010 is a great choice. Those who want simplicity above all else should look elsewhere.

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