Net Watchdog: PC Protection Made Easy

Have you ever felt as if using your PC is one big computer science experiment? As if your system is a Petri dish full of threats that you must combat with antibodies?

I hear about Internet threats every week. Each time one is reported, I hope that my laptop and home PC can fend it off. The same things run through my mind: Did I forget to download the relevant patch, or to update my virus definitions? Oops, I can't remember when I last ran my spyware scan.

Every day, Internet miscreants find new ways to cause harm to your PC, steal your identity, and profit at your expense. Your PC is a welcome mat for Internet creeps. To keep it safe, you can install myriad security software defenses. But keeping track of what is--and what isn't--up-to-date can seem like a full-time job. On top of that, you have to contend with software updates, Windows OS updates, and basic PC tune-ups.

Wouldn't it be nice if you could get a handle on all of your PC's health issues in one spot and at one time? And if a program could recommend how to shore up any security holes--including ones you might not even recognize?

AOL Active Security Monitor

I've been testing the latest product that attempts to tackle just such headaches. America Online has released a beta version of its free Active Security Monitor software utility. The tool checks to make sure that your PC's security software is up-to-date. If you don't have adequate protection, it'll identify the security software you are missing, and try to sell it to you or offer it to you for free.

Available to non-AOLers as well as to AOL subscribers, Active Security Monitor scans your machine, looking for proper antivirus, antispyware, and firewall software. After finding these programs, it digs deeper to confirm that the apps are up to date. The tool also makes sure that your version of Windows has the latest updates and that your Internet Explorer browser is patched and configured properly.

The product represents the first foray by AOL into security services. In coming weeks, AOL will introduce a premium security software suite called Total Care, which is designed to compete squarely with Microsoft's Live OneCare product.

Active Security Monitor goes farther than OneCare by checking home networking settings and alerting you if your wireless network is insecure. It also checks to see whether your system contains peer-to-peer file-swapping software, which it identifies as a threat; according to AOL, bad guys commonly exploit peer-to-peer software programs to introduce virus-laden files into a PC.

Once Active Security Monitor finishes scanning your system, it delivers an overall security score for your specific PC. It can also aggregate the scores of multiple PCs if you register them with the service, giving you a quick summary of all of your PCs' security ratings in one spot. This is very helpful for parents who moonlight as the family network administrator. In a flash you can tell which PCs need to be updated.

Unlike OneCare, Active Security Monitor lacks antivirus and antispyware software. Instead, it simply monitors what's on your system. And if you don't have a recommended security application, AOL links you to CNet's Download.com where you can purchase or download free software to protect your PC.

Road Test

In my informal tests of Active Security Monitor, I found a few unexplained inconsistencies with the beta software. First, it warned me that my virus definitions were out-of-date, even though I had just updated my antivirus program with the most recent available virus definitions.

I was also disappointed by some of the instructions on how to lock up a PC. Active Security Monitor is not shy about recommending fixes, and it tries to walk you through such procedures as how to enable Secure Sockets Layer encryption on your browser and how to show hidden file extensions.

These are both excellent subjects to cover; but Active Security Monitor failed to give complete and accurate instructions on how to change both the browser and folder option settings on my PC.

Another disappointment: Active Security Monitor failed to give any information on updates for my Firefox browser. And I wish that the program had gone a step further and reported on important security updates for Windows Media Player, instant messaging software, and e-mail programs.

My last gripe is that the software download suggestions are sloppier than those from Microsoft. When Active Security Monitor concludes that you need an antivirus program, it supplies a link that dumps you off at Download.com, where you have to fend for yourself in finding a free or fee-based program. In contrast, Microsoft makes some great suggestions if it doesn't find antivirus software on your PC.

About to Get Interesting

The moves by AOL and Microsoft to deliver a soup-to-nuts security service is making waves in the industry. In response to Microsoft's Live OneCare, McAfee has launched beta testing for its all-in-one security platform called Falcon, which will compete with OneCare and Total Care. Not to be outdone, Symantec is releasing Norton 360 with similar functionality. You can preregister to be one of Symantec's Norton 360 users here.

Although Active Security Monitor is still in beta, I found it stable enough to recommend for anyone who is interested in keeping tabs on security issues for one or multiple PCs.

Send gripes, questions, and tips to watchdog@pcworld.com. Return to the Spyware & Security page for more articles.