Thread: Trend Micro Internet Security Pro 2008

BESIDES OFFERING A FULL SET OF SECU D rity features, Trend Micro Internet Security Suite Pro 2008 (TIS 2008) gives you D identity-theft protection, Wi-Fi hot spot verification, and PC performance tuning. I had a terrible time installing it on my malware infested test systems, though, running into a variety of serious errors during installation and scanning. I resorted to the Safe Mode scanner and to Trend Micro's online HouseCall scanner as needed, and spent several days talking with tech support.

Once I got TIS 2008 installed, it proved very good at cleaning out malware and even better at keeping bad stuff off a clean system. And unlike the previous version, TIS 2008 didn't flag any valid programs as suspicious. As expected, the firewall blocks hack attacks and also controls which programs can access the Internet. To minimize annoying pop-up queries, it predefines access for known good programs. And to protect against exploitable vulnerabilities, TIS 2008 warns if you've failed to install significant patches.

Unfortunately, mal ware writers could easily write code to disable the firewall's protection. The suite can also poll your wireless network periodically and report on all connected computers. You can mark known computers as trusted to make intruders easier to spot. But I found that TIS 2008 pops up the computer list even when all found computers are trusted, and it doesn't offer real-time warning of intruders, which limits its usefulness.

This version includes powerful remote monitoring and control of other TIS 2008 installations. You can scan, update, read the logs-even turn components on and off. The simple, effective spam filter marked few valid e-mails as spam-not even non personal newsletters-and blocked most junk. It's compatible with just four e-mail clients, though. The rudimentary parental control blocks undesirable Web sites only in Internet Explorer and Firefox. If your kids download, say, Opera, parental control is powerless. Web Threat Protection blocks dangerous Web sites, including fraudulent (ph ishing) sites. However, TIS 2008 was markedly less effective than the antiphishing already built into IE and Firefox.

The extra Rs.800 for the Pro version gets you sev¬eral added services. For sensitive files, Remote File Lock creates a password-encrypted "vault" you can permanently seal by reporting your computer stolen. A mostly redundant system tuner cleans up unneessary files, Registry items, and browsing history. It encrypts keystrokes going into Web forms in IE to (successfully) foil keyloggers. And it analyzes available wireless connections to identify which are safe.

Trend Micro Internet Security Pro 2008 offers everything you'd expect in a suite, along with an array of bonus features that, for the most part, are relevant and useful. I would have rated it a half-star higher had I not encountered such difficult installation problems.