Moving Beyond PC-cillin: Trend Micro Internet Security 2007 Plus TrendSecure Combating Viral Threats and Trend Micro's Personal Firewall Wayne N Kawamoto
Viral Threats
As you would expect, the suite's anti-virus engine detects and removes viruses and scans for the latest threats that reside in e-mails (inbound POP3 and outbound SMTP and popular web-based mail services), internet downloads, removable media, and PCs.
Trend Micro automatically updates the program so that it recognizes the latest viruses and their twisted brethren. The program also performs regular scans of your computer, alerts you to operating system and browser vulnerabilities, and provides access to Windows updates.
The versatile and comprehensive program offers lots of options to schedule scans at different times and intervals, and the options are easy to configure. If you're more concerned about spyware than viruses or Microsoft vulnerabilities, for example, you can quickly configure those scans to occur more often.
Firewall
The suite's personal firewall creates a software barrier between a PC and the internet to intercept hackers and attacks while also monitoring inbound and outbound communications and snagging programs that are trying to access the internet (sometimes an indication of a malicious program). To reduce the number of annoying pop-ups, the suite does an admirable job of scanning and identifying most well-known programs — essentially pre-screening the programs that should legitimately connect to the internet.
Useful wireless network monitoring features prevent unauthorized users from accessing and invading your wireless home network. With a single subscription, this feature allows you to manage, configure, and update security on up to three PCs on a home network — a definite plus.
By offering this convenient and reasonable household license, Trend Micro recognizes that many consumers have multiple PCs in their homes — again, a major mark in the product's favor. On the competitive front, Symantec also offers support for up to three PCs in its security suite as does Microsoft's Windows Live OneCare.
