Kaspersky Internet Security 7 (3 User Edition) (PC)

I have tried lots of different products (Norton, McAffee, Trendmicro) and have found Kaspersky to be the best. I bought two 3 licence versions and installed it on 5 machines in our studio + a laptop. Extremely easy to install and once installed gets on with the job quietly and without using lots of resources. The software scans everything that comes in contact with each computer - emails, downloads, usb keys, external hard-drives etc. It updates seemlessly and scans in the background while you get on with your work. I recommend this above the other brands and above the sever/client Trendmicro product (this was such a nightmare to manage I gave up).

This 3 licence pack is ideal for multi PC users, but ideally look to try before you buy (see below).

As a long term Norton Internet Security user of 6 years, I'm very pleased and impressed with this application. It does pretty much everything that Norton/ McAfee and others do, but in a much smaller package that runs more quickly/efficiently and in some respects it's more powerful and competent as well. I need protection for 3 PC's and it's also considerably better value than my Norton benchmark. I'm glad I discovered this and made the switch.

I spent time reading and researching the alternatives, eventually deciding that Kaspersky was best suited to my needs. It's not quite (5 star) perfect, but then again is any application of this type ever going to tick all the boxes? (Just read dissatisfaction with competitors). Good news is you can download and try for free to see how it meets your needs and then buy a boxed version or download a licence. Either way it's a good idea to have a separate copy of the software even if you choose the download route.

I'm only giving 4 stars because of 2 small issues I had - both of which mean it's not really suited to, or recommended for, novice users.

Issue #1: 24 hours after test installation I couldn't boot my main PC having damaged or deleted some critical boot files!!! To say the least, I felt sick! Recovery wasn't too bad as I had taken an "image clone" copy of my complete OS drive and separate applications drive (both held on separate partitions for security) prior to installation. In fairness, since I was making a number of fundamental changes, it's possibly that Kaspersky IS7 didn't cause this, but it's an unfortunate coincidence. Potential users should be aware of this nasty possibility and take appropriate steps to ensure a "recovery route" back is planned from any significant software installation. NB this hasn't yet repeated itself after being reinstalled, but I have a clone image, post re-installation ready, just in case.

Issue #2: To get the best from this application you have to configure it properly (I'm still learning). There is a 300+ page .PDF user guide file available as well as an in-built user help file. Not everything is intuitive and I doubt that early novices will feel comfortable. I can't recommend this as an "install and forget" application. You either have to learn some of the basics (no bad thing) or get help from a knowledgeable friend who can provide support. Whilst it will install with default settings, I'm not convinced that they should be just left as they install.

Plus Points :
a) It installs easily and quickly.
b) The licence can be obtained at a much lower unit cost than Norton and some others.
c) The interface is OK, allegedly improved from v6, and tells you what's happening.
d) The virus profile definitions are updated more frequently than many competitors.
e) Users can easily select how frequently to automatically update and run scans.
f) Like most similar apps it can/will inspect all incoming stuff for problems, but it's customisable. However a degree of user "common sense" still goes a long way eg not opening dodgy, unsolicited e-mail attachments and not sharing sensitive data with potential phishers.
g) KIS7 found 3 problem files that Norton had missed My research suggests that maker's, Kaspersky Labs, are widely regarded as one of the best at spotting problems.
h) It's quicker scanning than many competitors and doesn't hog your processor - I think it will slow down it's demand for CPU resource when you want to do real work yourself, which if true, is a whole heap better than Zone Alarm (also based on Kaspersky definitions). I always hated the way that Norton insisted on wasting time trying to re-scan my own MS Office files etc. that I had personally created and knew to be OK
i) You can set/modify advanced functions to make running less of an overhead drain, like ignoring previously scanned files or modifying the depth of heuristic analysis.
j) Firewall comes with options for "training" access to internet and specific sites for installed applications so you won't in time need to monitor every application connection.
k) Mail interface is good with Outlook and can be trained to spot spam, but this is probably no better than many competitors.
l) It has some capability to undo problems and go back to an earlier time.
m) Specific parts (e.g. parental control) can be disabled or modified to suit your specific needs adding to the efficiency and effectiveness of operation. Settings can be administrator protected if needed where the PC is being used or accessed by others.

Overall highly recommended with the one caveat that I wouldn't recommend it for novice users. It's a pretty comprehensive, effective package, providing excellent security, anti virus, firewall, privacy controls etc etc. with a lot of flexibility to tailor it to your own requirements. It does this at a great price and it doesn't feel like it hogs your system processor (a common problem with competitor bloatware). It's not the easiest or most intuitive application to use but rewards time spent learning how to get the best from it.

Finally it isn't a complete "do-it-all install and forget" security approach as one should still look at appropriate backup and recovery applications as well as additional anti spyware tools. As with all software, the more you learn and know the smarter you can work.

Having been running Norton for several years i decided it was time for a change especially after they charged me £70 to remove a virus on my pc, which is what i thought was the whole point of having the software in the first place. After i eventually got rid of all the traces of Norton i installed Kaspersky Internet Security 7. It installed itself quickly and easily,and it virtually looks after itself. I have noticed that my Desk top is now running alot quicker than it was with Norton. I have now installed it on my new Dell inspiron lap top with the same excellent results.Very reasonable price too. WELL DONE KASPERSKY.