A new interface and extra web-protection capabilities make AVG our top free antivirus choice

We've had a quick play with the new version - and we like what we see. Definitely one to stick in your PC toolkit for 2008.

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

A free package that scores highly, beating almost all its big-name competition. It’s just a shame it’s such a nag

With peerless detection capabilities, this well-conceived package is a joy to use.

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

A good concept, but the on-demand anti-virus scanner lacks real-time email and IM protection.

A best-of-breed approach to Internet security pays off. This flexible and resource-friendly suite returns to the A-List.

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

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.

Do the new features of McAfee’s latest addition to its Security Suite stack up for home and business?

PreviewA good attempt at all-in-one system security, fully integrated into the OS.

Scanning, site blocking and alerts improved over version 6.

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

McAfee puts out its VirusScan 2004 in two versions - boxed or downloaded and managed from the internet. Whatever way you do it, the installation is simplicity itself with no difficult questions to answer or confusing choices to make.

AVG offers a free home user edition with free updates for the life of the product and that has made it popular with a lot of home PC users looking for a cheap anti-virus solution.

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.