Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 review

We rarely see a new security suite that introduces really innovative ways to protect your PC.

It's more common to find makers adding unrelated features such as online backup and PC tune-up to make it seem like you're getting more. Looking at Kapersky's latest release, it's evident that this is one company that believes an Internet security suite should just protect your PC as effectively as possible.

Internet Security 2009 gained the Virus Bulletin Award for accurate detection, and five out of five viruses in our own test were correctly identified, so its basic capability isn't in doubt. The package installed in just four minutes on our modest Vista laptop, considerably faster than any recent suite we've tested. So we could forgive the fact that two restarts were required, one after installation and one after the initial configuration. The quick install time is hardly surprising given that the whole thing takes up only 50MB of hard drive space. To put that into perspective, F-Secure 2008 requires 500MB and Norton 360 300MB. The Kaspersky suite not only saves space, it didn't adversely affect our PC's performance while in use, and didn't noticeably slow down startup.

Less is more

You could be forgiven for thinking such a lightweight application might suffer from a dearth of functionality. Not so. In fact, Kaspersky have squeezed in a range of clever features that, unusually, don't duplicate what Windows already has.

Take the on-screen keyboard function. This protects you from malicious keylogging programs that attempt to steal sensitive information by recording your keystrokes. Internet Security can display a virtual keyboard, allowing you to enter data such as passwords and credit card numbers with the mouse, bypassing the keyboard driver.

Another welcome addition is the Security Analyser. This informs you of security holes in any applications you've installed that could provide an open door for hackers. It does this by comparing the versions of the applications on your PC to an online database listing their vulnerabilities. It then provides you a download link to a newer version or fix, if available. On our test PC, 484 vulnerabilities were found, many of which were duplicates, but nevertheless this was important information. There's a similar wizard for your web browser.

Also worth having is the advertising banner blocker. During a few hours' surfing, Kaspersky filtered a total of 1373 banners, no doubt concealing our online habits from many over-enthusiastic marketing services in the process. There's also protection for ICQ and MSN Messenger programs if you use them, and anti-virus monitoring for P2P file sharing services. As well as your PC, any USB memory devices you use can be protected from malware infection.

The suite has a pleasingly simple control panel from which features can be enabled or disabled with a few clicks. There are no confusing trademarked names in place of proper descriptions, as with rivals such as Norton. Updates are automatic, although we were unhappy that Windows had to be restarted for each one to take effect - a serious disadvantage given that many users will never normally have to restart their PCs. We'd also question the need to be constantly alerted by the firewall that programs have been placed in a particular security 'profile', but this can be turned off.

We'd like to see the regular restarts dropped, but in all other respects this is a convenient as well as powerful security package. Kaspersky has set the standard for others to follow.

Author: Andy Zarkesh