Security and encryption

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 continues to outshine its competition with its ease of use combined with thorough antivirus protection.
Specs: Complete package, Intel Pentium 300 MHz or higher (Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP 4 and higher), Intel Pentium 300 MHz or higher (Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP 2 and higher), Intel Pentium 300 MHz or higher (Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP 2 and higher), 7.0, CD-ROM, Intel Pentium 300 MHz or higher (Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP 4 and higher), Intel Pentium 300 MHz or higher (Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP 2 and higher), Intel Pentium 300 MHz or higher (Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP 2 and higher)

Norton 360
For home and student use, we think Norton 360 represents the best value for ease of use, tools offered, and overall system performance. We recommend it over McAfee Total Protection and Microsoft Windows Live OneCare.
Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, 300 MHz or higher, 300 MHz, 1.0, 300 MHz or higher, 300 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later

Norton AntiVirus 2008 with Spyware
Norton AntiVirus 2008 didn't wow us this year. While the protection is solid, the user experience could be much, much better, and the product itself could be more streamlined. Also we can do without the addition of paid services in the technical support section.
Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP2, 300 MHz or higher, 300 MHz, CD-ROM, 300 MHz or higher, 300 MHz, Windows

Norton Internet Security 2008
While Symantec's protection is solid, the overall user experience within Norton Internet Security 2008 could be much, much better. Not all the features work together, and the program could use fewer system resources. We can also do without the addition of paid services within the technical support section.
Specs: 3 users, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP2, 300 MHz or higher, 300 MHz, CD-ROM, 300 MHz or higher, 300 MHz, Windows

Norton 360 2.0
A near-perfect all-in-one solution for brand new PCs, Norton 360 v2 may be hard to install and run on legacy machines. However, don't count on Symantec's time-consuming and expensive technical support for help.
Specs: 3 PC in one household, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Vista Starter, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP2 or later, 300 MHz, 2.0, CD-ROM, 300 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later

McAfee Internet Security Suite 2008 - complete package
McAfee Internet Security 2008 trounces Norton Internet Security 2008, offering a better designed product with more security tools.
Specs: 3 users, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP SP1, 500 MHz, SVGA monitor, Internet connection, 500 MHz, Windows, Mozilla Firefox 1.5 or later, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later

McAfee VirusScan Plus 2008
McAfee VirusScan Plus 2008's protection keeps up with the changing threats on the Internet, but the product itself doesn't excel.
Specs: 3 users, Complete package, Windows

Panda Antivirus 2008
Panda Antivirus 2008 is slower than the competition and lacks independent, third-party antivirus test results, and thus doesn't receive our recommendation.
Specs: 3 PCs, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition, Microsoft Windows Vista (64-bit versions), 150 MHz, CD-ROM, 150 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0

Norton Internet Security 2007
Norton Internet Security 2007 makes significant gains over last year, including cutting-edge rootkit and behavioral monitoring features found nowhere else, but the overall package could be serious overkill for the average desktop owner.
Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, 300 MHz or higher, 300 MHz, CD-ROM, 300 MHz or higher, 300 MHz, Windows

Webroot Spy Sweeper 5.5
Although Webroot Spy Sweeper 5.5 scored well in CNET tests, it installs the Ask.com toolbar, which seems odd for antispyware product to do.
Specs: 1 user, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows Vista, 300 MHz, 5.5, 300 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 5.5 or later

Kaspersky Internet Security 7
Specs: Complete package, CD-ROM

CA Anti-Virus Plus CA Anti-Spyware 2008
CA Anti-Virus Plus CA Anti-Spyware 2008 holds the middle ground this year, featuring faster code but lacking any compelling "must-have" features.
Specs: 3 PCs, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000, 300 MHz, 800 MHz, CD-ROM, Internet connection, 300 MHz, 800 MHz, Windows

Norton AntiVirus 2007
By rewriting much of the code, Symantec made Norton AntiVirus 2007 faster and lighter than its 2006 version, but a few glitches here and there keep us from granting it our Editors' Choice award.
Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, 300 MHz or higher, 300 MHz, CD-ROM, 300 MHz or higher, 300 MHz, Windows

Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2006
PC-cillin Internet Security 2006 has a few shortcomings, but overall it's an affordable and feature-packed security suite that reliably defends against online threats.
Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, 300 MHz, 233 MHz, 300 MHz, 233 MHz, Windows

CA Internet Security Suite 2007
CA Internet Security Suite 2007 feels like a pasted-together trial version of what CA offers in terms of consumer protection. The suite fails to integrate and lacks antiphishing, antirootkit, and basic IM protection found elsewhere.
Specs: 1 user, Complete package, 300 MHz Intel Pentium, CD-ROM, 300 MHz Intel Pentium

Trend Micro Internet Security 2008
Specs: 3 users, Complete package, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 SP2, 800 MHz, 350 MHz, CD-ROM, XGA monitor, Internet connection, 800 MHz, 350 MHz, Windows, AOL Mail, ICQ Lite, MSN/Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail, Internet Explorer 7, Microsoft Outlook 2000, Microsoft Outlook 2002, Microsoft Outlook 2003, Microsoft Outlook 2007, Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or later

PC Tools Spyware Doctor 2007
Until this recent release, Spyware Doctor was one of the better antispyware choices. Nettlesome glitches and a low rate of spyware removal, however, keep us from recommending Spyware Doctor 5 for now.
Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, 60 MHz, 8x CD-ROM, SVGA monitor, Internet connection 56k, 60 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0

Microsoft Windows Live OneCare 2.0

McAfee VirusScan Plus 2007
Despite a face-lift, the redesigned McAfee VirusScan Plus continues to consume system resources and leaves its customer support lacking.
Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000, Intel Pentium, 300 MHz, Intel Pentium, 300 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later

Windows Live OneCare - complete package
Specs: 3 PCs, Complete package, 300 MHz, CD-RW, Internet connection 56k, Mouse or compatible device, 300 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0

Symantec Endpoint Protection ( v. 11 ) - media
Specs: Media, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP3 or later, 400 MHz, 11, 400 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later

Norton AntiVirus 2005
Norton AntiVirus 2005 is a tenacious virus fighter that, given its premium price, should also--but doesn't--include a firewall. It's a good bet for Norton users who want to upgrade, though.
Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, 300 MHz, 133 MHz, 150 MHz, CD-ROM, 300 MHz, 133 MHz, 150 MHz, Windows, Internet Explorer 5.5 or later

Microsoft Live OneCare 2.0

Recover My Files - complete package
Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows NT, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, CD-ROM, Windows

Norton AntiVirus 2006
Norton AntiVirus 2006 improves its detection and removal of spyware and adware but lags behind the more proactive McAfee VirusScan 2006.
Specs: 1 user, Complete package, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP3 or later, 300 MHz Intel Pentium, 300 MHz, 2006, CD-ROM, 300 MHz Intel Pentium, 300 MHz, Windows