An internet security product such as Panda Internet Security 2012 has to do two things, which often work against each other. Panda has a technology called Collective Intelligence, which is a cloud-based system for detecting, scanning, classifying and disinfecting thousands of new malware samples every day.
Panda is an acceptable package for detecting and blocking malware, but its abysmal scan speeds–along with other speed issues–keep it toward the bottom of our ranking. It has to protect a PC or laptop from all kinds of malware, so it can be used for the everyday tasks a PC is asked to perform, without suffering from viruses, adware or other nasties which can compromise data held on it. It also has to do this without putting such a processing burden on the machine that it grinds to a halt.The interface is straightforward and clear, with an emphasis on delivering essential information rather than eye-pleasing graphics. This is one reason why Panda Internet Security 2012 feels less system resource hungry than some of its flashier competitors.
Security experts agree…
Panda Security outperforms competitors’ paid products in independent tests, leading in detection rate and scan speed. AV-Comparatives.org rated Panda Antivirus Pro as the fastest paid antivirus software.
| 3 PC |
$ 44.99 |
| 1 Year | |
Auto – renewal |
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Features
- Virus and malware protection
Panda Internet Security 2012 protects your PC from all types of malicious code and programs. Panda Internet Security also includes Behaviour analysis which works by monitoring applications and files for signs of malware or suspicious activity.
- Collective Intelligence
Panda also uses knowledge gathered from its community of users to identify and provide protection against new threats.
- Personal Firewall
Panda Internet Security includes a Firewall designed to block intruders from entering your computer. There is also a Home Network Manager that allows you to check the security status of computers connected to the network.Note: When I started testing Panda Internet Security, it presented me with a pop-up message asking if I wanted to enable the Panda Firewall or continue using the Windows firewall. Internet Security programs usually enable their Firewall automatically – instead, Panda doesn’t seem to have enough faith in its own Firewall to automatically enable it.
Panda USB Vaccine will disable the autoplay feature on your PC – this prevents malware from automatically infecting your machine when you connect a removable storage device.
Virtual Keyboard is a useful tool to prevent Keyloggers stealing sensitivity information such as login details. Virtual keyboard is an on-screen keyboard that allows you to type by using your mouse.
Remote PC AccessRemote Access needs to be installed on at least two PCs before it can be used. It can then be used to connect to another PC running Remote PC Access over the Internet. Panda seems to have partnered up with Be Anywhere here. The remote access module can be used to access and manage the remote computer, to share and transfer files, and to create guest invites, which can be useful to allow tech support or friends to access your own computer temporarily.
Here is a short video demonstrating the Remote Access feature:
System RequirementsThe minimum system requirements for Panda Internet Security 2012 are as follows:
- Windows operating system Windows XP (32-bit), Vista (32 and 64 bit) and 7 (32 bit and 64 bit)
- A Pentium processor running at 300 Mhz or faster
128 MB RAM or 512 MB RAM with TruPrevent (though 1 GB RAM is recommended) - 265 MB of available hard drive space
Internet Explorer 6 or higher (if you have IE 6 change it now!) / Firefox 2 or newer / Google Chrome
Help & Support
Panda publishes volumes of support information online but only provides direct support via email. They publish telephone numbers, but those numbers are not for technical support; they are only for customer sales inquiries. Fortunately, they provide a quick start guide, FAQs and a searchable knowledgebase online. You can follow Panda on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and YouTube. They also host an active user forum that discusses all basic topics and current issues.Panda provides global support. They have over 50 offices spread across the globe, and their Panda Internet Security is available in over 20 languages, including Chinese, German, Russian, Japanese and Portuguese. They provide unique contact avenues for different regions and languages. Their headquarters are in Spain and they have U.S. headquarters in Glendale, California.
Effectiveness
Running a full scan with this program gave a surprising result – it took close to two hours when the Panda Antivirus program had previously taken closer to 20 minutes to undertake the same task. That said, CPU and memory usage was just as low so it didn’t bother me too much as I was able to multitask quite effectively whilst the scan was in progress. Still a strange result though.As per the antivirus program, I would imagine that this internet security suite is well suited to lower end computers that may otherwise struggle to run newer security programs from other vendors.
I threw my usual malware links at the program and it identified each and every one of them so there are no worries there.The GoodIt is a comprehensive security suite that encompasses plenty of protection layers that keep the computer safe from malware. You can easily navigate from one module from another and configuring the suite does not require excessive knowledge.Sensitive information can be prevented from leaking outside the computer. The set of extra tools (local and online backup, Safe Browser, USB Vaccine, Virtual Keyboard) add to the value of the suite.
The Bad
Panda permanent protection crashed on us twice. Info about the state of each module is not accurately displayed at times, or it may take a while for the screen to refresh and show the correct state.The firewall did not work as expected and showed that it cannot face more elaborate forms of attack. There is no anti-spam support for Outlook 2010 or Mozilla Thunderbird.
The Truth
Panda Internet Security 2012 is not the best suite on the market. It is capable to protect a system, but only up to a point. Not all the modules are adapted to current time and we experienced some trouble on our test system. However, malware detection rate is quite good and positions it among the best products users can grab.
Summary
Like Panda’s latest antivirus program, this internet security suite is a good choice if you are looking for protection in 2011/2012.Panda has monopolized on its over 20 years of experience and the processing of over 200 million specimens of malware to create a fast, comprehensive and proficient internet security suite. The Panda Internet Security suite has a reliable record for malware detection and includes a full toolset for protecting your PCs, identity and family.Panda Internet Security 2012 is a very mixed bag. On one hand it does offer a great firewall and an interface which is easy to use and configure.Panda Internet Security 2012 is recommended only to geeks who can compensate for its protection, integration & configuration shortcomings.