Internet Security & Utility Suites

These suites combine multiple features into a single product from one or more vendors. There are tradeoffs in using these products. It is convenient to have several features bundled together. Dealing with one vendor may be easier for upgrades and support. If the parts of a suite have trouble getting along, the vendor may be more likely to fix the problem since it's harder to say that its not their fault. If you have three home computers, a 3 license suite may save you money and reduce the work installing and maintaining your security software. On the other hand, these suites may not have every security and privacy feature that you need or want. A suite may have several strong features mixed with some weaker ones.

Comparative Reviews

• Top Security Suites for Your New PC, Kyle Monson, PC Magazine, August 23, 2005 -- Zone Labs, Panda, Norton & McAfee.

• Firewalls - Internet Security Software [suites, meta review of 24 reviews] ConsumerSearch.com, July 2005

• All-in-One Utility Suites, Michael Desmond, PC World, May 3, 2005 -- Symantec Norton SystemWorks 2005 Premier, Iolo System Mechanic 5 Pro, V Communications SystemSuite 5, and Business Logic WinCleaner Complete PC Care.

• Security Suites, Neil Rubenking, PC Magazine, February 2, 2005 -- Authentium Curtains, BitDefender, F-Secure, McAfee, Norton, Norman, Panda, PC-cillin & ZoneAlarm Suite.

• Internet Security Suites Face Off, Mary Landesman, PC World, January 4, 2005

Security Suites

eTrust Internet Security Suite, Computer Associates, anti-virus, firewall, anti-spyware (PestPatrol) and anti-spam, $70 list.

Freedom Internet Security & Privacy Suite, ZeroKnowledge, $90 list, personal firewall, anti-virus, privacy block for sensitive information, content filter, manage banner ads, cookies, passwords, and web bugs.

• Vnunet review, Kyle MacRae, March 12, 2002

F-Secure Internet Security 2005, $70, includes anti-virus and firewall

• Safe, Secure And Stunning Simplicity, News & Star, July 2, 2005
• F-Secure Internet Security, Cliff Joseph, VnuNet, March 5, 2004

Kaspersky Personal Security Suite, $80, anti-virus, firewall and anti-spam

• Kaspersky Personal Security Suite 1.0, Neil Rubenking, PC Magazine, March 17, 2005

McAfee Internet Security for $70 list, personal firewall, anti-virus, surf & chat room for kids, ad blocking, and private information safeguard.

• McAfee Internet Security Suite 2005 review, Barry Brenesal, CNet, January 19, 2005

• McAfee Internet Security Suite 2005, Joseph Moran, WinPlanet, January 13, 2005

• WebUser review, Andy Shaw, January 6, 2005

MicroWorld eScan Internet Security Suite, $59, free trial available, firewall, anti-virus, anti-spam, parental and privacy controls, pop-up filter and auto update. See reviews on their site.

Norton Internet Security for $70 list, personal firewall, anti-virus, cookie manager, ad blocker, privacy and parental control features. When used with Norton Systemworks (see utility suite section below), the two suites will integrate into a single menu and with one update process.

• Norton Internet Security Antispyware Edition 2005, Ian Cuthbertson, Australian IT, July 12, 2005
• Review: Norton Internet Security 2005, AntiSpyware Edition, Rebecca Rohan, Security Pipeline, June 14, 2005

• CNet review, Barry Brenesal, CNet, January 19, 2005

• Tech Spotlight: Norton security line protects PC, targets those annoying ads, Melissa Jones, Arkansas Democrat Gazette, January 24, 2005

• Webuser UK review, Andy Shaw, December 13, 2004

Panda Platinum Internet Security, $70 with one year of updates, free trial available, has antivirus, firewall, blocks spam, privacy protection, web content filtering, anti-spyware, PC security diagnosis and repair, and automatic updates.

• Panda Platinum Internet Security Suite 8.0, Jay Munro, PC Magazine, July 21, 2004

PC-cillin Internet Security 2004 -- Antivirus, firewall, anti-spam

• Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2005, Vincent Blake, Australian IT, July 12, 2005

• Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2005, Neil Rubenking, PC Magazine, November 15, 2004

• PC-cillin Internet Security 2004 review, Mary Landesman, antivirus.about.com

Redcannon Fireball CyberProtection Suite, $50, 15 day free trial, has firewall, intrusion detection, privacy, patch scan, VPN, parental control and mini-console.

• Computer User review, Rodney Hopkins, February 2004

Safeworld Internet Security 2003 by Encore for $50; this is the CD version of the Freedom Internet Security & Privacy Suite from ZeroKnowledge; see above.

System Mechanic 5 Pro by Iolo, $70, 30 day trial available, includes Panda anti-virus and firewall, SpyHunter anti-spyware, a popup stopper and tools for optimization, PC fix up, system cleanup and maintenance as well as search and recover files, system shield (secure delete), and drive scrubber (wipe entire disk).

• Iolo Technologies System Mechanic 5 Professional review, Barry Brenesal, CNet, April 29, 2005

• System Mechanic Gets Bigger, but Not Much Better, Ramon McLeod, PC World, November 8, 2004

VCOM (formerly OnTrack) SystemSuite 5 with AutoUpdate, Fix-It Utilities, NetDefense (Sygate Firewall), VirusScanner Pro (Trend Micro PC-cillin), CrashProof, EasyUninstall, Crisis Center, DataEraser Personal Edition & PowerDesk Pro; list price $60.

• Big deal utility [SystemSuite 5], Bob & Joy Schwabach, SacBee, March 16, 2004

ZoneAlarm Security Suite is available in two versions -- ZoneAlarm (free version) with Antivirus for $20 or ZoneAlarm Pro with Antivirus for $70. The "Pro" version features include firewall, antivirus, identify and privacy protection, content and communication protection, and essential email security.

• New ZoneAlarm Tackles Spyware, Mary Landesman, PC World, August 25, 2005
• Network Computing Sneak Preview, Rebecca Rohan, August 12, 2005
• CNet review, Robert Vamosi, July 22, 2005
• PC Magazine review, Neil Rubenking, July 13, 2005

Utility Suites

Norton SystemWorks 2005 with LiveUpdate, AntiVirus, Utilities, CleanSweep, GoBack & Web Cleanup; list price $70; rebates usually available. You can add their Firewall or Internet Security suite and they will integrate into a single menu with SystemWorks.

• Norton Systemworks 2005 Premier review, Barry Brenesal, CNet, May 4, 2005

System Mechanic 4 Pro $70, 30 day trial available, is a security and utility suite; see description and reviews in the security suite section above.

VCOM SystemSuite 5 (formerly OnTrack), $60, is a security and utility suite; see description and reviews in the security suite section above.

Utility Software Resource Sites -- Freeware, Shareware & Free-Trial

• CNet Download.com
• PC Magazine Utility Downloads
• PC World Utility Downloads
• SnapFiles (formerly WebAttack)