With an unobtrusive firewall that's tough as nails, active identification and blocking of exploits and other intrusions, and a virus/spyware scan that scored very well in testing, Norton Internet Security 2008 earns the PC Magazine Editors' Choice
for security suites. NIS 2008 did a super job of cleaning up malware in testing, effecting a significantly more thorough cleanup than most suites manage. In addition, the new Identity Safe effectively manages passwords and personal information. And if you have a problem, help is built right in. Symantec should address the embar¬rassingly antiquated spam-filtering and parental-control modules, but luckily, many of us can do without those.

OUR PC IS UNDER CON stant attack. Network worms want to use it as a base from which to launch further assaults. Malicious Web sites try to turn it into a remote-controlled zombie by exploit¬ing weaknesses in the browser or operat¬ing system. Spyware does its best to steal your personal info. Phishing e-mails and Web sites hope to fool you into giving away financial passwords. Luckily, you'll find plenty of doughty defenders-like the utilities reviewed here-all ready to fight off these vermin.

The absolutely essential elements of security suites are antivirus and antispy¬ware components (preferably integrated into a single module), along with a two¬way personal firewall. Spam filtering is important, too, unless you get your e-
mail filtered at the server level. I also look for some elements of parental control, privacy protection, or both.

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Microsoft's One Care started a trend for adding backup and performance tuning. A number of other security suites fol¬lowed suit, so the products have definite similarities. But current suites also shake out into two groups with very different styles. The "we do it all for you" gang will add almost any feature marginally related to security, while those in the "lean and mean" group stick to the essen¬tials. Whichever style you prefer, there are plenty of choices. What should you look for?