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

An irritating package without a future.

A solid, usable package with online backup to boot.

A dreadful performer in almost every regard.

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

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

Breathtakingly lightweight, but detection rates could be better.

A fierce protector when it comes to web threats, but merely middling elsewhere

See why this relatively unknown, but simple, efficient and affordable package holds its own against the likes of AVG, Norton, Kaspersky and McAfee.

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

A friendly suite for the less-experienced user, but technical types may find it limiting.

A winner on the strength of its excellent protection, coming first or equal-first in our malware and firewall test.

Is it worth paying for the full version of AVG Internet Security?

Excellent support, but a confusing user interface and disappointing firewall let AVG down

Excellent value for money, but a few performance glitches let BitDefender down.

Scanning, site blocking and alerts improved over version 6.

Kaspersky's first integrated security suite relies too much on the anti-virus component.

Norton AntiVirus (NAV) remains the world’s most popular anti-virus program -and for good reason. It is the ideal set-and-forget anti-virus protection that is as close to idiot-proof as anyone has yet got. However, it is not the cheapest and some of its competitors, such as PC-cillin now offer more for the money.

The unusually named NOD32 is finding favour with a growing number of users despite its Spartan interface, which concentrates more on the nuts and bolts of the job at hand than trying to look good.

Norman Virus Control is a very unobtrusive anti-virus program that sits in your system tray and performs much like Norton AntiVirus from Symantec. It scans all incoming emails, new files, removable media and downloaded files from the internet as a matter of course without any user interaction.