AVG Internet Security 7.5

AVG Internet Security is an above average suite with below average extras. In fact, it has almost no extras. The exception to that rule is its advanced email scanner. It does however perform very well when it comes to virus scanning and email scanning. For someone who does not need parental controls or backup features, AVG is a good match.

Firewall:

AVG's firewall is good, but still needs some work. It doesn't have much of a default configuration to speak of. It does have a couple settings for a standalone computer or a computer on a domain, but they mostly change what programs are blocked by default. This is a good start but requires that you approve or deny every program that you connect to the Internet with. Beyond the little issue of default configuration, AVG's firewall is very strong.

Antivirus:

AVG AntiVirus has been a force in the antivirus market for years. Their reputation among computer users is nearly flawless. The virus scanner they have developed is certified by ICSA, W.C.L and VB100%. These certifications are a measure of how well an antivirus utility does its job. Having all three of the certifications listed above is uncommon and shows a commitment to creating an excellent product.

Antispyware:

The antispyware scanner included with AVG Internet Security is one of the most effective in any internet security suite. There are some that are on the same level, but none that are better.

Grisoft thought to include an ADS scanner within the main scanning features included with AVG Internet Security. ADS means Alternate Data Stream and is a way for files to be hidden in a place on your computer that most security scanners do not see. Having the ability to look in these places and find spyware and viruses is extremely important in keeping your computer clean and safe.

Other Security/Features:

Grisoft didn't include much in the way of extras with AVG Internet Security.

Ease of Use:

AVG Internet Security is very easy to use. Most of the configuration is already done for you with the exception of the firewall configuration. The other stuff pretty much stays out of the way and doesn't let you know it even exists.

Ease of Installation/Setup:

The installation of AVG Internet Security is mostly easy and to the point. The install is pretty smooth until you get to some of their configuration questions. Some of the questions can be confusing if you are not an advanced user or experienced with AVG.

Help/Support:

AVG Internet Security has several help and support options available. The application help is helpful, but can be a bit anemic when it comes to more advanced features. AVG also has an online FAQ and email support. Enterprise customers have some other support options as well.

Summary:

AVG Internet Security performed well in all of our testing. It caught all of our viruses we tested it with and stopped all spyware we attacked it with.

The major downfall to this security suite is the significant slowdown of our test system while it was installed. Boot times were about 20 seconds slower and opening just about any program took at least a few seconds longer than normal. The lack of extras was a significant issue with this product as well. These issues are something to keep in mind while you search for an Internet security suite for your computer.

Download:

http://rapidshare.com/files/126481110/AIS.rar

IamBigBrother 9

IamBigBrother is an excellent product. The user design from the main menu is awesome. The designer used colorful icons for each of the applications that are monitored such as yahoo, AOL, and MSN. IamBigBrother is extremely easy to use, as easy as any of the products reviewed.

Feature Set:

IamBigBrother has a stealth option that is hidden from the Windows Task Manager. When the application is running, it always runs in stealth mode, which is a plus if you are always forgetting to put the application back into stealth mode. Another impressive feature that you might stumble upon is that you can click on a date on the calendar icon and it brings up all of the activity for that day.

An additional feature of IamBigBrother was the area where you could identify certain keywords as something of concern. You could add your personal information and anytime anyone mentions that information it is flagged as a problem. You could also add "bad" words. They could improve this by adding some pre-defined words, instead of making you define each of the bad words.

There is also no way of automating the deletion of the log files. It is not hard, you just have to do it manually by clicking a button.

Ease of Use:

IamBigBrother was missing a couple of minor features. IamBigBrother had no Help interface in the application. The good news is that IamBigBrother is so easy to use most people would never need to use a Help button.

Ease of Installation:

This product is easy to install

Monitoring Effectiveness:

IamBigBrother allows you to see both sides of the conversations in Instant Messaging and Chat applications. You can also see the entire text of both incoming and outgoing emails. There is also a "remote" subscription service available for $9.99 per month that allows you to access any of your reporting from anywhere, as long as you have Internet access.

Help/Documentation:

IamBigBrother had no Help interface in the application.

Summary:

IamBigBrother is an excellent product that doesn't impact your computer speed. When you factor in the price, this might be the best value for your money of any spyware/monitoring product in the marketplace.

SpyAgent

Spytech has added many and improved some features in the new SpyAgent 6.0. Just a few of these upgrades include interface enhancements, enhanced log reporting and SmartLogging. SmartLogging allows the user to create a list of keyword triggers. The trigger will activate the software and tell it to begin logging. This software also now works with Windows Vista.

Feature Set:

The keystroke recorder in SpyAgent allows you to see everything that is typed, including chat conversations, Instant Messaging, and emails (both incoming and outgoing on POP3 and SMTP). With the keystroke recorder, you can read the text typed into an email or a document. The log also includes items such as tab functions and enters.

We found that sometimes it gets confusing reading the logs because of all of the special controls imbedded within the text logs. Good or bad, the keystroke recorder also allows you to see logins and passwords that have been used since the monitoring began.

SpyAgent can send you updated activity reports to a specified email address or FTP them to a particular location. You choose how often you receive the reports and what is included in the activity reports.

If you don’t get your emails, you may need to change your outgoing SMTP setting in SpyAgent to send the emails through your own ISP.

A new SmartLogging feature will allow you to create a list of keyword triggers. When one of the keywords is used, SpyAgent automatically begins logging information. The software will log for set amount of time before it stops.

Ease of Use:

SpyAgent is extremely easy to use. As an added bonus, SpyAgent is one of the few spyware monitoring products that includes filtering options as part of the package. The filtering is for doing basic filtering of specific keywords and websites, or blocking applications and ports related to chat and Instant Messaging. This filter is not a complete filtering system.

SpyAgent also has an events viewer that lists all events on a computer as they are performed.

Ease of Installation:

This product is easy to install. We didn’t encounter any problems during installation and setup.

Monitoring Effectiveness:

SpyAgent has an excellent stealth mode feature. If you don’t want anyone to know the application is running in the background, the stealth mode allows you to completely hide the application. You can’t even see the application running when you display the Windows Task Manager, by way of the CTRL–ALT–DELETE combination. It is easy to re–display the application with certain hotkey keystrokes that you can customize for easy remembering.

A related feature is the ability to disable any spyware detectors. It also has a lock–down feature that prevents any activity from occurring on the computer during certain times of the day.

Help/Documentation:

Help features include a context sensitive Help on most pages and also has online access to additional Help and frequently asked questions.

Summary:

SpyAgent is an excellent product that doesn’t slow down your computer. You can find out what is being done on your computer when you’re not around.

NOTE: SpyTech, the manufacturer or SpyAgent, also offers another application called SpyAnywhere. This application allows you to remotely control any PC that has the SpyAnywhere application loaded. Combined with SpyAgent, the two products make a powerful monitoring and surveillance tool.

Download:

http://www.spytech-web.com/download.shtml

Spector Pro 6

Whether you want to monitor a computer in secret or in the open, SpectorSoft’s Spector Pro 6.0 can capture all the action with little effort on your part. The program will even contact you remotely by email or cell phone when activity on your computer triggers specific keywords.

Spector Pro eliminates your worries about what’s going on at home or the office and it even works with Vista.

Feature Set:

SpectorSoft has recently improved Spector Pro’s excellent combination of monitoring features: Screen Snapshots, Chat/IM Activity, Web Sites Visited, Email Activity, Program Activity and Keywords Detected. They also have three new features: MySpace Activity, Online Searches and Top 10 Summary Reports.

“Screen Snapshots” record what appears on the computer screen at specific times. You can instruct Spector Pro to take snapshots every few seconds, every few minutes or when a particular website is accessed or keyword search is detected; then at your convenience, you can view the Screen Snapshots as a slideshow.

“Chat/IM Activity”, “Email Activity” and “MySpace Activity” lets you know who is communicating with who by displaying lists of incoming and outgoing messages including their content.

“Web Sites Visited” lists each website accessed during a specific time and “Online Searches” provides a list of recently used search words and phrases. With “Keywords Detected”, you can instruct Spector Pro to look for and record specific keywords or phrases typed during email and chat/IM conversations.

“Program Activity” records the actions or inactions of programs on your computer. For example, you can find out if your kids played computer games instead of doing their homework or you can find out if an employee opened a program and left it idle to make it look like they were working all day.

“Top 10 Summary Reports” compiles a report of the most frequent keywords used in online searches, the most frequently visited websites and the addresses of the most frequent email and chat conversations.

For additional monitoring, you can purchase eBlaster. This program notifies you by email the instant that specific activity is detected on your computer such as email and chat conversations to a prohibited address and suspicious keywords used in online searches.

Ease of Use:

The ability to view the entire text of both incoming and outgoing email plus both sides of chat/IM conversations is great. The keystroke recorder allows you to review the most innocuous activity for all the programs on your computer.

Ease of Installation:

You can download Spector Pro directly from the SpectorSoft website or you can have the program sent to you in the mail. Privacy laws only allow you to install Spector Pro on computers that you own and you must inform other users that monitoring software is installed.

Monitoring Effectiveness:

A constant reminder that monitoring software is running would negate its need, so Spector Pro has “Stealth Mode”, which hides the program; it will not show up after a program search and it is not listed on the hard drive. You can access the program with a combination of hot keys and a password.

Spector Pro has excellent reporting capabilities for website visits. While other monitoring programs display an intimidating list of accessed websites, Spector Pro organizes their lists for easy scanning. You can view the top–level domain for websites visited by date and if you want to look deeper, then you can drill down to each individual page.

Instead of just a list of email and chat contacts, viewing the content of these messages greatly increases Spector Pro’s monitoring effectiveness.

Help/Documentation:

Spectorsoft provides excellent embedded help as well as online support through a large list of FAQs and a searchable knowledgebase. You can also talk to a SpectorSoft representative through live chat on their website or contact them by phone and email 24 hours a day.

Summary:

Spector Pro monitors and records all the activity on the computer(s) that you own, such as the addresses and content of email, chat room and IM messages. In addition, you can discover what websites have been accessed as well as a list of keyword searches. You can also find useful help information from their online knowledgebase or live chat.

Download:

http://rapidshare.com/files/129897563/Spector_Pro_6.rar