Panda is now more widely known as a security software supplier. Panda Platinum Internet Security (IS) 2007 includes anti-virus, firewall, anti-spyware, anti-spam, parental control and identity protection, so covering nearly all the bases.

We tested Panda Platinum 2007 IS on a computer with a copy of AVG installed. The free version of AVG is anti-virus software only, so we weren’t surprised when Panda IS 2007 found six pieces of spyware on its first scan; it disinfected them all.

Once installed, the suite sets up intelligent defaults for most settings, eliminating annoying false messages as we worked on the computer. The new ‘identity protection’ feature is in place to protect personal data, such as credit card numbers and login details. However, each piece of information you want to protect has to be manually set, which is tedious.

As with all IS suites, Panda has an effect on PC performance when it scans periodically for viruses and spyware. A full scan should be completed at least once a week. If your computer is a few years old and slows down significantly during scanning, there's the option to optimise the scan so that other programs can be worked on at a reasonable pace.

Another useful feature, and one that has won Panda several awards, is its heuristic analyser, Truprevent. This monitors how the software on your PC is acting, looking for ‘suspicious’ activity and blocking it. When there’s a new virus outbreak, Truprevent offers a second level of protection, until a suitable antidote has been written and your computer has been updated.

A big advantage of Panda Platinum IS 2007 is its ability to protect three computers with the same licence. So, at a cost of around £34 from online shops such as Dabs, it can actually cost under £12 per computer. This is a very good deal for a complete security suite, which is comprehensive and easy to use.

Also consider
McAfee Internet Security Suite
All round internet protection

Grisoft AVG Internet Security
Full internet security package from Grisoft

Tesco Internet Security
The supermarket giant’s budget security package helps to protect against a wide range of threats.

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