A credible contender, but F-Secure Internet Security 2009 is neither the lightest nor the most effective security suite for your PC

Symantec’s latest offering is lighter than ever and an extremely effective security package. And get this, a RAM footprint smaller than Kaspersky

Lighter than ever, but its all-round performance isn’t quite first class.

A dreadful performer in almost every regard.

An improvement on last year’s package, but sadly still flawed.

A comprehensive package, but not the most usable or effective

A capable package, but McAfee Total Protection 2009 is conspicuous and expensive.

A well-featured package with some unusual tricks that falls just short of a first-rate performance.

More approachable than ever, with excellent malware detection in an affordable package

Our former champion loses its crown but remains a strong contender.

A broad and likeable package, but needs better malware detection.

As you can see from the performance table, Core i7 is still a safe bet in terms of sheer speed, though the case for AMD is not as simple as that.

Our full guide to saving cash-saving secrets is here, from how to get discounts on PCs, to SIM only phone contracts, the best DSLR cameras deals, and discount licensing from Adobe, Microsoft and others.

With Windows 7 arriving soon, is now the time to upgrade to 64-bit? Here's the first part of our guide to everything you need to know

After the disappointment - perceived or otherwise - of Windows Vista, many are pinning their hopes on a revival with Windows 7. And from our first impressions of the pre-beta code, that's exactly what they can expect.

A new behavioural analysis module only adds to AVG’s capabilities, although it isn’t the most elegant marriage

Still not sure whether it's worth upgrading to Vista? We put XP and Vista through the ultimate face-off.