A powerful and capable suite with some excellent features, although it isn’t the easiest to use, nor the cheapest around.

A few disappointing extras make this an unappetising upsell from the standard ZoneAlarm suite

We've been impressed with Norton 360 - security for those who want something simple but effective. We're also impressed with the changes in Norton Internet Security 2009. So how does Norton 360 version 3.0 stack up?

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

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

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

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

A suite with some nice features but slow startup times made us disappointed with ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2009

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

A mixed performance undermines an otherwise good-value product.

A big improvement from Microsoft, but there’s still some way to go. OneCare can now call itself a serious security contender.

The Vista version lacks many of the features of the XP suite, while slowing down the PC noticeably in usage

A three-PC licence as standard, superb silent interface and effective security utilities make Norton 360 a tempting buy.

A competent suite delivering good value for money, but it offers only average spyware and spam protection

With the prevalence of Net connections and all the good things a connected society brings such as community, the ability to share ideas and the openness of information, comes the flipside of digital life -- hackers, spyware, viruses and spam.

Spam! spam! spam! spam! . . . if it had not been for Monty Python nobody would ever have thought there was anything funny about it. With almost 50 percent of the world’s email now junk mail, offering everything from unwanted penis extensions to stockmarket tips, spam has become as big a problem as viruses.

By sticking with the same intuitive management console, the latest version of Computer Associates' (CA) antivirus software remains notably easy to use, and has increased its coverage by adding new virus-scanning capabilities for PDAs, plug-ins for a variety of gateways, and protection options for Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes/Domino. You also get remote browser access and the option to designate secondary signature servers, which clients will use if the primary distribution server fails.

With less hand-holding and a greater feeling of control and configuration, Norton is definitely geared more towards the advanced user than McAfee. Although the interface is quite different, it's undoubtedly a more professional product.

With less hand-holding and a greater feeling of control and configuration, Norton is definitely geared more towards the advanced user than McAfee. Although the interface is quite different, it's undoubtedly a more professional product.