image: f-secure internet security 2007
Well-designed, unostentatious control screens and alerts make F-Secure IS 2007 a very usable security suite

Review: F-Secure Internet Security 2007 internet security suite

F-Secure offers a sensible approach to the internet security suite

Written by Simon Williams, Computeractive

Larger Image

Verdict:

Good points

  • Plain English interface and messages
  • DeepGuard offers extra malware protection
  • Inexpensive three-user licence

Bad points

  • Slows Windows startup on older machines

Overall F-Secure Internet Security 2007 is a thorough Internet Security suite that's straightforward to set up and use.

Rating:

4

Price:

£40

F-Secure is a no-nonsense internet security suite. It comprises the core facilities of anti-virus, firewall, anti-spyware, anti-spam and parental control but, in the 2007 suite, also includes Deepguard for monitoring suspicious program behaviour and stopping dodgy programs from running.

Installation is simple enough and suggests just one option; including parental control or not.
The initial scan performed by F-Secure Internet Security Suite 2007 takes a good while and after that, there's some obvious PC slow-down, particularly if it's more than a few years old. We found that loading the computer took between 30 seconds and a minute longer than usual.

The occasional query will also pop up in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, checking on software that's attempting to make system changes or accessing the internet. Many of these actions are quite legitimate, of course, as most software will look for updates and installs them automatically. However, after a week of use, the number of alerts drops as F-Secure knows what and what no to flag up.

Advertisement

The program is particularly easy to control, with a logically laid-out interface. This simplicity is reflected both in the control panel and pop-up alerts that appear, proffering options such as ‘I trust this software. Allow’, which is easy to understand.

In use, the suite managed to spot most spam and malware. One morning, it popped up with a ‘Radar Alert’, warning of a new piece of active malware, but reassuring us that our computer was protected. Anti-virus and anti-spyware files are updated on a daily basis.

F-Secure Internet Security 2007 can be paid for in one of three ways. A basic one-year single-user licence costs £35, with an extra fiver extending the licenc e to three years. A three-user licence for two years costs £60.

Also consider
AVG Internet Security 7.5
The best-known free anti-virus supplier offers more features in its paid-for internet security suite

Norton Internet Security 2007
Anti-phishing and anti-spyware, but no anti-spam. Does it matter?

McAfee Internet Security Suite
All round internet protection

Panda Internet Security 2007

Complete but idiosyncratic security software

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

All internet security suite reviews

Manufacturer: F-Secure

See more Antivirus & Firewalls

Tags:

Reader comments

More from Computeractive

News

The latest home computing news

Downloads

The best PC tools, applications and more

Reviews

Independent opinions on new hardware and software

Step-by-step guides

Easy-to-follow projects with pictures

PC Help

Solve PC problems with our Q&A

Videos

PC projects demonstrated and product reviews

Articles

An in-depth look at how to get the best from your PC

Magazine

What's coming up in Computeractive

Forums

Get help with your PC problems from our readers

Competitions

Your chance to win computing prizes

Shopping

Great deals on products, services and more

NEW! Computeractive CD Rom 11
All 26 issues of Computeractive from 2008 on one CD-Rom.

Ultimate Guide to Disc Burning
Everything you need to know about creating your own discs.

Create your own calendars softwareCreate your own Calendars
The fun and easy way to create your own calendars!

Computeractive - Issue 280Computeractive Back Issues
Missed an issue? Click here to find a back issue

Find the Best Prices

Save money on hardware and software with our price comparison service: Best Prices

Advertisement

Free email newsletters

Techno babble demystified...

[Display all definitions]

Or type in any computer-related word and click "Go"

Blogs

Windows Watch

Windows Watch

Keeping an eye on the latest XP and Vista news

Outlook 2007 email controversy

One of the major changes in Outlook 2007 had nothing to do with the Ribbon but that Word was used to display...

Download Junkie

Download Junkie

Your daily dose of download discussion

Backup important data with SyncBack SE

Keeping certain files backed up helps to keep items safe in case anything disastrous happens to your computer, but although most of...

The test bed

The test bed

The hottest products, news and gossip from PCW's Labs

Why we may never see a Core i7 Apple machine

With the recent crop of new Apple desktop hardware - The Mac Pro , iMac and Mac Mini (all of which we...

Primary Navigation

© Incisive Media Ltd. 2009. Incisive Media Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, is a company registered in England and Wales with company registration number 04038503

Search computeractive.co.uk