Review: Avanquest Identity Protector 2007 security software

Spyware can be more damaging and threatening than a virus attack: it can monitor everything you do and extract important information, such as credit card numbers and account details.

There are quite a few anti-spyware programs on the market, but Identity Protector 2007 (also called Ghostsurf 2007 Platinum), adds in a lot of extra features.

The six menu options in the main Ghostsurf screen indicate the areas of protection of the software. The Privacy Control centre provides anonymous and secure access to the Internet, so that your IP address, which uniquely identifies the PC online, is not revealed.

Spycatcher is a separate program within the suite, monitoring the PC for the arrival of spyware; it can also conduct scans to rid the computer of everything from cookies to full-blown spyware. In most cases cookies do no harm, but tracking cookies, which deliver information back to their home websites about browsing activity, are more invasive so some may want to delete them.

Spycatcher automatically updates itself with details of new spyware, in the same way as an anti-virus program, and a year's subscription is included in the package. Next on the menu is the Personal Data Vault, which sets up one or more secure areas of the computer's hard disk to hold sensitive information. You can put any files or details into the vault and that the data will be encrypted, making it effectively impossible to read without providing a password.

Adarmor prevents pop-up adverts as you’re browsing the Web, although this duplicates a function already available in most new browsers. Trackscleaner removes the history of what has been done recently on the computer, and finally, Privacy Auditor monitors data that's passing between the PC and your home network, issuing alerts if any of it contains personal information.

This is a pretty comprehensive suite of security applications, bundled together into one well-designed suite and on offer at a very reasonable price, although the lack of a virus killer means it's not quite a one-stop shop.

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