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More…We got off to a rocky start while installing Trend Micro's Internet Security Suite 2008 ($50 for three PCs) and weren't impressed with its malware-fighting performance, but thanks to solid features and a fairly inexpensive price, it managed to capture fifth place (out of eight security suites) in our "All-in-One Security Suites: Tried and Tested" roundup.
Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 - 3-User (Full Product, PC)
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10 User Reviews Add your own »
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Pros
Good feature set
Good disinfection of threats
Cons
Subpar malware detection
Trend Micro Internet Security 2008
Internet Security 2008 - 3-User (Full Product, PC) Review, by Erik Larkin November 29, 2007
The problems began immediately, when a show-stopping bug prevented us from updating the program on two different Vista PCs. What's worse, when we called Trend Micro's tech support number we were unceremoniously disconnected following an automated "all operators are busy" message. A company rep discovered the source of the problem in a firewall component and fixed it in a subsequent update, so we were able to use the program--but then we ran into other bugs and annoyances.
When we tried to kick off a manual scan, the button grayed out, but the scan never started. We had to log off and back on to start the scan, and the problem recurred later. When we switched to another user account and also when we uninstalled the program, the suite thought the program window was open elsewhere (it wasn't), and as a result it either would reopen or wouldn't allow the uninstall to continue until we logged off and back on yet again.
These interface problems arose against a backdrop of mediocre malware detection. Trend Micro's suite finished in fifth place in the critical detection tests against AV-Test.org's giant zoo of dormant malware samples, finding 90 percent of the samples. Its spyware and adware detection rate (84 percent) was also subpar, as were its heuristic detection results. These tests use one-month-old virus definitions to simulate how well each suite would detect unknown malware. The Trend Micro suite managed to produce a 13 percent catch rate.
The suite did do well with malware cleanup, removing 70 percent of all files and Registry changes introduced by malicious infections. Only Symantec Norton Internet Security 2008 did a better job at disinfection, at 80 percent. The Trend Micro package allowed us to copy 732MB of files the fastest of the eight suites while its real-time detection was enabled--an indicator of the drag you can expect a security suite to have on your PC.
In general, Trend Micro has assembled the features you'd expect from a security suite, with antispam, parental controls, and antiphishing to complement the standard antivirus, anti-spyware, and firewall components. Its firewall successfully hid the protected PC from outside attempts to scan it, and it avoided unnecessary warnings when known programs attempted to access the Internet.
But its parental controls fared poorly. If you enable the feature, the filters you can create will apply to everyone who uses the computer. Also, the program doesn't prompt you to set a program password--and if you don't, any other user can open the program and turn the parental controls off.
The suite's antispam tool adds buttons to Outlook, Outlook Express, and Windows Mail that let you label e-mail as spam and approve or block specific senders. Its antiphishing feature blocks known or suspected malicious pages entirely in Internet Explorer and Firefox, but it missed one phishing site that used an IP address as a domain name and should have been an easy catch. In fairness, Firefox's built-in antiphishing tool missed the site, too.
If you can get past the bugs, you'll like the Trend Micro suite's clear interface. The settings for the various features are easy to find, and a nice weekly summary report lists all the threats blocked and other program statistics.
You may need to refer to that report: By default, the suite displays alerts only if it can't automatically handle a threat it discovers in real time or during a scheduled or manual scan. A better approach would be to let users know they may have just opened an unsafe e-mail message, for instance, to give them a better idea of what to avoid in the future.
Until Trend Micro improves its back-end malware detection and forward-facing user interface, it won't be among the best suite options available.
Erik Larkin
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User Reviews
Average User Reviews for Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 - 3-User (Full Product, PC)
5 Reviews Add your own »
- Latest User Reviews 5 reviews
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Reviewed by: bdiamond1
Duration of ownership: 2 Months
Strengths: ease of use,does not slow my computer down like some of the others
Weaknesses: has quick scanning times and is very effective
Overall: best security suite i have found so far,has soild features,just a all around great suite
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Reviewed by: sachi
Duration of ownership: 2 Years
Strengths: Great detection rate of malware/spyware and adware. Quick scan time, great pro-active defense, low on Cpu/ram.
Weaknesses: None at all !!
Overall: The best Internet security suite, the pro edition is even better packed with features such as folder/vault lock, only security suite which has Wi-Fi feature. I am also using Nod32 & Kaspersky on my other systems - but i prefer trend micro over them both! I had a few days ago downloaded about 500 kegens just to have them tested with Trend micro & kaspersky - while trend micro Zapped 99% of the keygens, kaspersky failed to detect any! I must also add that i had most of the keygens scanned online on 3 different websites to see if Trend micro gave any false positives. I can bet Trend micro is 100% better than any other !!
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Reviewed by: dcontarino
Duration of ownership: 4 Months
Strengths: Quick scans, will shut computer down afer scanning if you choose to, does not bog down system, lots of features, easy interface
Weaknesses: Conflicts with a lot of other spyware software (AdAware to name one) and other utilities (System Mechanic). Occasional error messages w/ XP system, some not able to be resolved even with tech support.
Overall: This is a very effective security suite. I've had three Trend Micro products in the past five years and all have been very fast and have prevented malware breakouts. Unfortunately, this 2008 "Pro" version is riddled with bugs... I'm a regular customer with their tech support due to various error messages that keep popping up in XP. Also, the software is completely incompatible with some common products such as AdAware and iolo System Mechanic. It would not even install without first uninstalling the others first. In my case, I like to have multiple spyware removal tools since one is bound not to catch all of the baddies.
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Reviewed by: hari120
Duration of ownership: 2 Months
Strengths: Nice firewall. And a very nice Antivirus, antispyware and antispam....
Weaknesses: Firewall can be disabled by malwares.
Overall: I was so impressed in its firewall, antivirus and antispyware and antispam.. The firewall blocks all of the malicious code and the antivirus only missed 69 viruses by my test!! It ranked 1st by me.. 2nd got Mcafee(missed145) and so many antiviruses tested and Trend Micro is the best!! It has a superB antispyware and antispam.. The best one I liked ever!
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Reviewed by: debgram
Duration of ownership: 3 Months
Strengths: I like the firewall and virus protection
Weaknesses: having problems with the spamtool and have been trying to get tech support to fix it for 3 months now
Overall: I'm sorry to say I won't be renewing this next year, tech support sucks
Review Now! Already own it? Tell us What You Think
User Reviews From Around the Web
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Reviewed by: gunner1st
Strengths: Excellent 'out of your face' virus / spyware protection, easy to install
Weaknesses: Firewall is annoying and not easily 'trained'
Overall: Been a fan of Trend-Micro for years now. I like that it simply does it's job and isn't constantly annoying you with warnings and popups. It just works along and only informs you if there are issues that need your input. Also uses fewer resources making it good for older computers or those with less memory.
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Reviewed by: sayvone
Strengths: Easy installation; Frequent(every 3 hours) and fast downloads of virus updates; Good balance between keeping computer secure and too many warning messages; Great price!
Weaknesses: Some features offered in 2007 edition now only available in the Pro upgrade version for 2008--but not a deal breaker.
Overall: I've used Trend Micro Internet Security 2007 for more than a year and installed version 2008 last week. A very easy install process--it installs itself flawlessly, including removing the old program by itself. I moved to this product from Norton AV to try to save computer resources, and I think Trend Micro Internet Security does a good job without excessive memory and processor use. My computer has Vista-3GB memory and laptop has XP-750MB RAM.The user interface is easy to use with sliders to control some settings and check boxes for others. I recommend using the default settings Trend Micro gives until you have time to decide how well the program is working for you. Since installing the 2008 program, it has found 2 trojen virus in files that have been on my computer a long time. Maybe it was a false hit, but I removed the files anyway.I did a lot of homework on anti virus programs before I decided on this one. I think it's a crap-shoot to find a program that runs great, protects you, and doesn't cost too much. Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 works for me. Good luck to you.
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Reviewed by: mark71mark
Strengths: Fairly complete system protection. Somewhat low resource and memory usage.
Weaknesses: None.
Overall: Software installation was pretty straight-forward, no problems or conflicts at all. Three User version obviously allows Internet Security to be installed on 3 different pc's. Once runnning, it silently protects you while running in the background. It does not seem to slow my system down at all. Good all-in-one product.
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Reviewed by: lwolff123
Strengths: May be better than symantec
Weaknesses: Deceptive Renewal Process
Overall: When your renewal time comes due, you will be signed up automatically to have your product renewed yearly on your charge card. Trend Micro claims on the web site that you can click and opt out. TRY IT, they "have a glitch" and you can't opt out, unless you want to call and wait on hold. This is how much confidence they have in their product selling itself!
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Reviewed by: capsreviewer
Strengths: Small footprint compared to other brands. 3-PC license for low price. Easy installation. Works w/ Vista
Weaknesses: None found so far.
Overall: As someone that gets annoyed with anti-virus products slowing PCs down, I find that Trend offers the same protection without the slowdown. The 2008 Internet Security package works wonderfully on my new Vista laptop, and doesn't hog system resources. The fact that I can put it on 2 other PCs is nice as well. High-quality product.
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