Titanium Internet Security 2011, 3 User, 1 Year (PC)

I give this product 2 stars (instead of one), because I have always loved Trend Micro Internet Security, which knocked all rival products out of the water in terms of efficiency, ease of use, and performance. It is probably still better than competitors, but this is a huge disappointment for the following reasons, on Windows XP:

* Sometimes, when 2 or more users are logged in, it confuses the parental controls and applies the wrong ones!
* Occasionally consumes all memory and CPU power until Windows warns of low resources, usually when 2 users are logged in.
* Scans and performs slower than Internet Security 2010
* Updating 5000 rows in a SQLite database takes 3 minutes when loaded, over 10 seconds when not loaded. Switching off live scanning and making an exception for the SQLite data folder has no effect. It only speeds up when Titanium is completely shut down.
* Uses a HUGE amount of resources compared to the previous version. So huge it's unacceptable.

Another reason I liked Trend Micro was that when you decided to unload their product, everything unloaded and shutdown correctly, with nothing left running in the background, unique in the Security software market. Titanium still does this, but leaves one process running, a bad sign and a step in the wrong direction.

Like other reviewers I have also downgraded to the excellent Internet Security 2010, and to anyone looking for the best security product, buy Trend Micro Internet Security, AVOID THIS VERSION!

Next year I will once again be reviewing all of the competitors for the best product, and it's been proved that all good things never last.

I get the feeling other reviewers have been confused slightly by the lack of specifics on the packaging.

This security product is designed for netbooks and laptops. As such it's not a heavy, infinitely customisable version but instead a somewhat simpler and lighter offering that can be installed easily and left to do the job by users who may not be as tech-savvy as others. The suite uses the Windows Firewall as part of the protection instead of installing its own, so saving on disk and processor usage.

The product covers 3 licences for 12 months so it should be plenty for an average household. If you accept the premise that it's been cut down and simplified for less agile machines, then it's fine and does what it says on the box. However Trend do need to address this labelling issue as that's the understanding I was aware of when I placed the order. It isn't their top of the range suite for advanced users, so if you just want something to install easily and work then it's fine. It does require registration but following this I have received no further marketing or other email from them. Updating is fully automated as a background process needing no input from the user, and it seems to plod along just fine without any need for me to intervene.

It is a simplified product but if that's what you want then this is for you. Otherwise buy their full version as this is the "express" version designed to be light and automated.

I've been using Trend Micro products for the past 10 years. The latest "Titanium" 2011 suite has seen the biggest overhaul with the aim of making the suite simpler to use and faster. However the problem is I think they have gone too far and made it overly simplified. Compared to the previous 2010 suite, 2011 has had most of the configurability and options removed.

2010 was never heavy on system resources (when compared to many other anti-virus software) and wasn't hard to use, so why have Trend Micro dumbed it down so much? Computers are getting faster not slower. There is also no way to access or turn on any 'advanced' features/options in Titanium 2011.

Titanium 2011 also comes with NO firewall. 2010 had its own independent firewall module. The suite instead now relies on the Windows firewall and Titanium 2011 offers an option to 'boost' it (which by default is turned off). Their main reason for getting rid of their own firewall was again for performance. The firewall in XP isn't particularly good, with Vista and Windows 7 being a bit better. However I don't trust Windows to manage my security that is why I want a separate, independent anti-virus and firewall solution which Titanium 2011 now no longer provides.

Titanium 2011 also uses a new cloud-based detection system where most of the virus pattern files are stored in the 'cloud' online. This is suppose to improve performance, use less system resources and makes updating invisible. It is a new and untested system. Only time will tell how well this works in the real world.

I'm sure there will be many people who would like this new over simplified suite and user interface. However I think every user and system is different and for truly maximum security a suite needs to offer some configurability. Also if the user chooses they should be able to see what is going on. Titanium 2011 no longer offers this.

I have since downgraded back to Internet Security 2010. If future Titanium 2011 releases don't improve then I will be finding my security solutions from another company.

with all the dumbing down this suite also seems relatively expensive and is not as good value.

My advice would be to try before you buy. Download the trial version from the Trend Micro website.