Anti-Virus security is an important part of any computers security software and a suite of protection programs that add good security to your system that works well and is pretty easy to use.
Ease of Use, Performance: 18/25
Look & Feel: 18/25
Features 18/25
How much I enjoy 20/25
Total: 74/100
Trend Micro is a good anti-virus and security company that many are familiar with for their House-Call free online version of anti-virus scanner. Trend Micro sells full packages and individual security programs for both home users and business with their home user Internet Security suite the current candidate for review.
The Trend Micro Security Suite that I received for review is the most current home version of security suites that costs about $40. The program is for 1 user and protects up to three computers at the same time and protects not only regular internet browsing but email and several other types of protection.
Trend Micro Internet Security comes with AntiVirus, AntiSpyware, AntiSpam, Firewall and much more for a good full security package for home users with networks including wireless and wired systems. The suite of programs all run from one main program that works well from installation to everyday use and is rated well for its protection and detection of spyware, viruses and more.
In reviewing antivirus and security suites I do not have the software or know how to fully introduce viruses and other security risks to a computer. What I do have is three regular computer systems, 2 Windows Vista and a Windows 7 that I will be running the security suite on. My review is giving my opinions on installation, general use for more than a month and summing up other tests from professional companies for virus and spyware protection.
First I want to explain the results of some spyware and virus testing done by NSS Labs for malware that Trend Micro scored second highest in their tests right behind Kaspersky. The tests can be found at the NSS Labs website if you sign in but to summarize they caught 87.8% of malware during their tests.
Other tests I found were for older editions but using the same base virus programs, this does not really bode well for a company trying to sell current software. I found the company has some past performance results that are not encouraging for antivirus testing and few very recent tests run by independent companies.
While this is of some concern the report from NSS Labs does give some hint that the program does work for what it is made for but the lack of current antivirus testing is troubling. I found some other testing from West Coast Labs and AV-Test that gave their Pro edition good marks for virus detection and malware detection and removal.
These tests on the Pro version is valid for the more general version as the two version are using the same base programs, the Pro version just has some additional features the less expensive version does not. The program did catch several viruses and malware during the two months I have been testing it and I was impressed that the company has taken a different line with virus and malware protection.
It may be annoying but when you try to go to known sites that has malware or virus problems the site will be blocked and you are given a page from Trend Micro warning about the site instead of going to it. This means the program won’t even allow you to sites that have been reported for having virus and malware often and Trend Micro keeps a current listing of these sites through their program.
The company has taken itself out of some testing saying some of the common tests are not as accurate as they want them to be and the company does have a good reputation and idea. Their defenses against both malware and viruses is a three stage defense with blocking the sites first, then behavior based detection and finally scanning individual files and signature checking as its final stage.
This means that file checking and scanning is only a part of their protection and the testing that most companies do is not as significant for their suite. As long as the first part of site blocking and behavior recognition works well the scanning should be a final check and the program seems to work well.
I have noticed the site blocking since the last edition that I purchased back in 2009 for my use where sites are blocked and you have to go into Trend Micro’s program just to unblock the site. While this is a hassle if you really want to go to a particular site it does mean that sites are blocked right off the bat preventing infections.
I have found viruses and other infections using both the scan and the general use of email and downloads where the program detected and cleaned or quarantined the infected files without problems. Actually since purchasing and using the program I have not had any serious infections on my system with this or previous versions of Trend Micro Internet Security for several years.
Trend Micro Internet Security has changed a little over the last few years with some improvements on user interface and how to get things done for the better as I have seen. I have been using Trend Micro’s products for many years and have been very pleased with its security programs.
When first installing the program you have to wait for it to run a scan so it installs on a clean system and I really have not had a problem with this. Others have said that if a malware is found a blank screen may come up but a reboot and reinstall will fix the problem so actual install works well even if the program does find malware or viruses during installation.
I have actually installed the previous year’s program on a known infected system to get rid of a virus to have it detect and remove or quarantine the virus easily without hassles. I installed Internet Security on three systems, two Windows Vista systems with one being a desktop and the other a laptop and the third a Windows 7 desktop without problems.
Running the program normally gives you a main window that is pretty easy to use with the main setup being what type of network you use and your scan schedule. Other setup and settings are labeled pretty well and pretty easy to figure out with your help section a good place to discover anything you don’t understand about the program.
I have not had much of a problem with using the security suite but I have been using it for several years and I would say it is a pretty good program that is fairly easy to use. When performing normal scans and updating the program does slow down a system some and I found this a particular problem when running a single core processor but when changing to a dual core it does not affect a system much.
Startup and shut down does not have much of an impact when having Trend Micro’s Internet Security running with only a few added seconds for both startup and shutdown. Using Trend Micro and running scans or updating the program does not slow down a dual core, tri-core or quad core system all that much.
If your system has low memory like 2 gigabytes or less you will see some system performance hits but with 3 gigabytes and a dual core system it will not affect much of anything unless you’re running a game. I had no problems watching movies and listening to music while running scans on a dual core system as well as the better tri and quad core CPU’s.
If you do have a lower system on a laptop it may just be easier to run the scan or update while you’re doing something else but on a better system with a dual core it will probably not be necessary. I really do not have problems running Trend Micro’s Internet Security scans or updates since I have upgraded to at least a dual core processor.
Internet Security integrates well with many programs including Outlook 2007 that adds both a toolbar and menu pages with settings and exception lists for easy use of Spam filtering. The Spam filter catches plenty of Spam mail and integrates well with Outlook for a good additional Spam protection above what my ISP provides.
Other integration with Internet Explorer and Firefox works well with popup blocking and the previously mentioned site blocking as well as parental blocking. The parental blocking using content and smart features like blocking kids at specific times or entering personal information on sites works great.
I found the program did a lot of blocking and other security protection without bothering to notify me unless it was important enough unlike some previous versions of this program. One problem I noticed in previous versions was the constant pop-ups the program generated and they have eliminated or toned down many of them.
General use of the program is good starting from installation and setup to daily use with the most appearance from blocked sites in my general use. I tend to go to sites in searching games and several times I get blocked by Trend Micro’s program that does not really frustrate me all that much.
The sites are nothing that is very risky like sex sites, just sites that download game cheats or things related to gaming that usually has a few malware or spy files on these types of sites. Internet Security does a great job of protecting me from my own interests and if I really want to go to those sites it is pretty easy using instructions in the help section.
Pretty much all the problems you can have are addressed either in the help of the program or from Trend Micro through their website or direct contact. I have contacted them on several occasions about viruses and other problems I have had in the past and always had good luck with getting the help I needed quickly.
Trend Micro has been an impressive company and programs they make have in the past been top rated but they seem to have slipped a bit with their testing and verification that their programs work on virus detection and removal. Other than this I would have to say their Internet Security suite works well for all the things you would expect from a suite of programs that integrate all your computer security.
The Trend Micro Internet Security released in 2010 has full protection for viruses, spyware and malware along with security for shopping and parental controls to protect children using your computer. The program has a full firewall that is easy to work with for things like allowing programs and games as well as blocking intrusions and those kids who want to do things when you don’t want them to.
I do like Trend Micro and their Internet Security is a good recommendation for an easy to use program, I just wish they would have their software tested a bit more for virus protection.
