Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0

System: Windows

License: Commercial/Free 30 Day Trial

Application: Internet Security 7.0

Homepage: http://www.kaspersky.com/

Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0 is an integrated tool that includes Firewall, Anti-Virus, Anti-Spam, and Parental Controls.

Quick start: Anyone that works with a computer knows the importance of protecting the system from outside threats. Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0 does that with an integrated package of security tools.

Internet Security 7.0 is a quick installation with the Express Install but also offers a Custom Install that will allow the user to select the components to install. And once installed Internet Security 7.0 has an easy to use friendly interface. After a system restart I. S. 7.0 is ready to roll. The first time I. S. 7.0 is opened the program will want to connect to the Internet to update database signatures for the Anti-Virus component. It will also look to make sure that all of the modules are up to date.

From the Main Window the user can get a quick look at the Protection Status, the date of the latest scan and the status of that scan as well as the Signature release date and status. A nice feature is the ability to roll the signatures back to a previous version with a mouse click. This is a nice feature to have in case a program cannot work with the updated database due to an error.

Also from this screen the user can go into the various components and adjust the security settings. Although for most users the default settings will work just fine.

The main components

File Anti-Virus – launched at system startup and remains in RAM scanning files as they are opened, executed or saved. The user can select from three levels of protection and include High, Recommended and Low. When a threat is detected Internet Security 7.0 can attempt to disinfect the file, block the threat or prompt the user for what action to take.

Mail Anti-Virus – scans all messages transferred via SMTP, POP3, IMAP, MAPI and NNTP protocols. Again the user can choose from three levels of protection that include High, Recommended, and low. And just like in the File Anti-Virus Internet Security 7.0 will attempt to disinfect the file, delete the file, block the threat or prompt the user for what action to take.

Web Anti-Virus – scans all objects loaded onto the computer via the HTTP protocol and monitors all Java and Visual Basic scripts that are executed. The user can choose from the three different levels of protection that are High, Recommended, and low. The user also has the ability to list addresses that does not require the traffic to be scanned.

Proactive Defense – shows the status of application activity and the system registry monitoring. Inside the settings the user can set the action that I. S. 7.0 will take when it encounters a problem. Also every time that Proactive Defense detects an issue a box will pop up with details of the risk and the running process as well as the option to terminate, deny, skip or add the process.

Firewall – protects the computer at both the physical and application level by making the computer invisible to other computers on the network. When the firewall detects a network it will give the user the option of Block all, Maximum protection, Minimal protection, Training mode or Allow all. The firewall is a two-way personal firewall that monitors both incoming and outgoing traffic.

Privacy Controls module – has three components that are pretty self explanatory. They include Anti-Phising, Anti-Dialer and Protection of confidential data.

Anti-Spam – gives the user five Anti-Spam protection levels that range from Allow All to Block All. The Recommended setting is probably appropriate for most users. With any of the components or modules within Internet Security 7.0 these settings can be easily fine tuned to meet any need.

Parental Controls – not enabled by default but a simple check in the appropriate box will take care of that. It allows the creation of multiple profiles for child, teenager and parent and will apply these profiles to the user of the PC. Each profile is password protected to restrict switching of profiles. The following restriction levels can be applied to each profile High, Medium and low. The profile can even be restricted based on daily time quotas and or by time of day.

Virus Scanning can be set to scan an individual file, folder or drive.

The scanning can be set for Maximum protection, Recommended or Maximum speed and can be set to scan startup objects, the scanning of My Computer, including network drives and removable drives.

Other useful features: Tools for creating a Rescue Disk. Internet Security 7.0 will take the user through the process of creating a Rescue Disk step by step.

Activation of Internet Security 7.0 is quick and easy and technical support is provided 24/7. Kaspersky I. S. 7.0 is easy to setup, use, and maintain.

Disadvantages: Anyone that uses Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0 will be hard pressed to find something wrong with this product.