Kaspersky Internet Security 3 User 1 Year License
Kaspersky Internet Security 3 User, 1 Year License, 2010 (PC CD)
Kaspersky lab founded in 1997 is basically computer security firm offering anti-spyware, anti-virus, anti-intrusion and anti-spam products. The Kaspersky Internet Security (KIS) is a suite for Internet Security developed in the company’s lab that is congruent with Microsoft Windows. KIS helps with detection and solution of malware along with phishing attempts, emails and data leaks. Protecting your computer form viruses is just not something than can be taken lightly and so, we are happy to inform you that the KIS does a great job in keeping you precious system safe. The three new feature inclusions along with the expected upgrades to their anti-virus engine goes on to keep the Kaspersky competitive. precious system safe. The three new feature inclusions along with the expected upgrades to their anti-virus engine goes on to keep the Kaspersky competitive.
The past of Kaspersky Internet Security:
The Kaspersky Internet Security’s first version, that is, version 6.0 was released in the year 2006 and it detected 100 percent threats on a subset of the Jan 2006 list of prevalent threats. Yet, it went under heavy criticism for not completely removing malware, false positives, impact on computer performance, GUI and relatively high cost. The next version, 7.0 with a redesigned GUI was introduced in the year 2007. This version had the parental controls introduced and protection against data leaks were incorporated in this release. This version enjoyed quite a bit of success. The version8.o again came out with a revised UI, a restructured anti-virus engine, an application filtering module and also a vulnerability scanner. The very next version introduced this year (2009), Version 2010 (9.0), the Internet Security from Kaspersky is an overhauled UI along with a sandbox that runs applications in virtual environment. Let us see about this latest version in detail in the following review.
What has been inherited and what is added:
As in the case of many other security industries, the Kaspersky Internet Security 2010also leverages anonymous data from its customer database in order to create a behavioural engine in order to further enhance the security safeguards. The latest version has also introduced a lot of handy ancillary tools that includes sand boxing feature that runs programs at a considerable reduced risk along with the inclusion of an auto-run disabler that closes a deadly Windows Security hole. Annoyingly, a noteworthy flaw of the interface design is prominent enough, as it correlates to the key feature. The performance is good but the benchmark tests reveal some inconsistencies.
The KIS 2010 version 9.0 is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. Though it costs a few pounds higher than its competitors, one licence can run on up to three computers.
Installation:
A treat for the advanced users:
During the installation of the software, you will be able to find custom methods for advanced users to configure specific parts to be installed. The custom methods also include parental control, various antivirus engines and virtual keyboard. You can also opt to not install the anonymous data collection that the KIS’s new behavioural engine together with the Urgent Detection System depends on. If you do not install this option it does not mean that you are less secure, it is just that you will not be contributing your data to it. And if you allow the software to collect data, a data collection statement appears for your knowledge on what is going on legally and we are very sure that most of the users will treat like every other legalese EULA and just ignore it.
Trust Kaspersky:
The software also requests you to disable your Firewall if it is active and hence offers a protected installation process and so there is not a minute when your computer is less protected. The program can be activated either using the trial program or with purchasing the license immediately. The sensitivity of the program may be toggled to users choice by either selecting the less pushy “Trust Kaspersky” option or go for the more tailor made option of “Ask for user input” with a threat being detected. Again, you get to configure the definition file updates also as automatic (that is the option recommended), manual or scheduled and you are also offered the option to password-protect your settings. They have also included a very smart safety feature for multi user computers. And finally, the last configuration window under the advanced user installation, you will be asked for the kind of malware that you want the KIS to detect.
No need to Reboot:
Once the installation is complete, the Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 suite will not ask you to reboot your system as in past, but note that the process of un-installation still requires a restart. The very first window that you will be seeing after the installation is a virus definition warning stating that your virus definition database requires an update. Once you click over the link, the Kaspersky main window opens and begins to update the program.
Choose the way that best suites you:
On the whole, our advice is that, only the advanced users should choose the longer and advanced installation process. The experience of installation is smooth and flawless on a Windows system. The software makes no conflicts with the previously installed AntiVirus Security program and after the program is uninstalled, it left just two traces of itself in the registry. If you choose to uninstall using the Repair, Remove or Modify tool you are allowed to retain some program data on your PC itself, namely contents of the activation data or the sandboxed Safe Run Shared Folder. Upon rebooting, the Windows Defender Firewall gets reactivated by KIS.
Features:
The fully featured suite of Kaspersky Internet Security Version 2010 (9.0) offers a complete and very competitive range of comprehensive security options. It has all the usual features that you can find in the other suites except for the Data Backup provision.
Urgent Detection System:
The included new features includes the above mentioned behavioural based detection system which is called the “Urgent Detection System” and this system utilises theanonymous data of 10 million Kasperksy customers who agree to submit their system scans to the central server of Kaspersky for the sake of analysis and research. A suspicious behavior of a program gets red flagged by this software eventually shutting down any recently activated malicious intent even if the program used to be previously safe. We feel that this is a very clever way to take good advantage of a huge consumer base for security purposes with their data remaining to be anonymous. It is essential that people are aware of this feature as most of the other security suites have started to incorporate this feature. One of the sub features of the Urgent Detection System is its capability to customise the period it takes to pass judgement on a newly installed program and even the per user configuration of the rules that govern the program behaviour.
The Vulnerability Scan Option:
Despite a program having deep penetration, if it starts to behave suspiciously, then the suite will stop it from its roots immediately. And if it is an unknown program, the KIS will treat it sceptically by monitoring and restricting the program until it has been proven to be safe. The Vulnerability Scan (which is found under the scan tab) makes use of tech from Secunia to detect programs that pose to be a potential threat for security as they lack patches or recent updates. For certain programs that do not warn about having a pending security update like Adobe Flash, having this tool in your system will prove to be extremely useful.
The “My Protection” Tab:
You will be able to find an array of robust tools under the “My Protection” tab. You will find that it has anti-virus protection for files, e-mail, HTTP traffic and instant messaging. The protection also includes security against Phishing, banner ads, spam and firewall control. For application control, the UDS has options for customisation and requires you to force access for a specific program that Kaspersky identifies as a threat. The tab also includes network monitor that tracks network activities for users who like to drill deep into the behaviour of their system. The parental control filter has options to outright block children from opening particular sites or even the mere log events. By default, the parental control is switched off and when it is activated, the KIS assigns all the other users on the computer in “Child Status” until it is directed otherwise. As an additional treat to the parents, there is a mode called teenager for the sake of more granular control of restrictions.
The “My Security Zone” tab:
Most of the other application control features are in the “My Security Zone” tab. Here you can find a clean chart that organises the programs that you have installed according to trust worthiness. You can uncover the particular files that have your personal information according to program using the Digital Identity Protection and hence the Safe Run Sandbox can be controlled. Safe Run almost doubles that amount of RAM the program originally uses but then, offers you with a very secure environment for launching the program. The Safe Run feature also sports a folder for sandbox wherein you can store all your files without any worries The feature does not currently run on the latest Windows 7 OS. But we had news that Kaspersky will be fixing it before the new OS is released in the end of this month (October).
There are two ways by which the programs can be actually launched into Safe Run. You are allowed to either launch it using the context menu or just insert the program manually via the Security Zone panel of Kaspersky.
The “Update Center” tab:
The “Update Center” tab integrates a smooth update scheduler into the main interface. By click on the Run Mode, the schedule can be changed. This is not remarkable except for the fact that only the definition file update offers this kind of an update. If you are looking at scheduling any other normal scan, click the settings option that can be found on the top right corner in Kaspersky’s main window and select feature you wish to schedule from the menu on the left, if the same wasn’t open in the main window when you selected “Settings”. Then, finally click on the Run Mode tab on the final pop-up window. Though the use is great, KIS has made this basic feature unnecessarily tedious.
Auto Run Disable and Virtual Keyboard:
The suite also has the auto run disable and virtual keyboard feature and so, you can enter your passwords without having to worry about the keylogger. Then again, be aware of the warning of security experts that onscreen keyboards don’t really trim down the hazards of password theft, with majority of the users finding it superfluous. Again, the all new gamer mode keeps the internet security suite functioning as you plays games and kills off the interrupting pop ups and also strips off the memory usage to minimum.
A false alarm:
Who does not like to bring up a controversy? We like it too. So, here we have one. An annoying yellow bar stating that “your computer’s security is at risk” appears when you are running a trial version. The wordings of the message are not appreciable as they falsely equate the security of your computer with the status of your licence, that too when Kaspersky Labs are itself offering the trial version to be fully featured.
Performance of the Kaspersky Internet Security 2010:
The performance of scans and definition file updates were empirical as expected. The quick scan takes less than three minutes to complete and the Vulnerability scan also takes less than four minutes. And the full scan that we expected will be slow and would take hours to complete, finished in less than an hour and as it approached 80 percent, it oscillated with its details of finishing time.
A comparison between the KIS and KAV:
The KIS slows down the computers boot time and shutdown time significantly. The scan time in Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 is faster than that of Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2010 by 9 seconds. Though both of them have similar engines, the latter has fewer ancillary features. Performances of both the products of Kaspersky are same while decoding MS Office and iTunes but the performance of the KIS deteriorated during media multitasking.
The virus and malware efficiency scores of the Kaspersky Internet Security version 2010 are simply excellent according to the results of AV-Test org. It is noted that the suite detected 98.4% and above malware with 98.3% or more spyware on demand with the rate of false positives being a bare minimum. The above mentioned Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2010 works on the same engines and features as that of the Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 but the former lacks some features the latter possesses like privacy and parental control, personal 2-way firewall, anti-spam protection, white listing and application control, along with safe run virtual sandbox and also banner ad blocking.
Support:
The support offered by Kaspersky is organised and straightforward. It is just a click away from the support link at the bottom of the main screen that pops up a new window. This window has options to browse Kaspersky’s knowledge base, directly submit a ticket or visit user forums. Users can e-mail or call a toll-free number for live technical support, and a link to the Help database appears on pop-ups as well as the main window.
Verdict:
Kaspersky has been certified by some of the top labs in the world time and time again for good reason: they take antivirus and internet security seriously. With a couple of extra stars and stripes the Kaspersky Internet Security Suite 2010 sure does look to be a wise investment; nonetheless, it is their price tag that makes an average user think twice before settling for it.
Kaspersky Internet Security version 2010 is doubtlessly an effective security suite and it is the additional features of KIS that makes it worth paying for. Its rapid threat detection and elimination based on the system behavior and virus definitions is absolutely marvelous. There are some very negligible blots in the design of the interface and we feel that the performance could have been even better. The inclusion of the Behavioural Engines is a very smart decision. The Kaspersky Internet Security 3 User with one year licence is just adequate for both the advanced users and novice users. We know that cost is an important factor, and we hope Kaspersky will reconsider their price in the future so they can make this robust internet security more accessible.
Technical Specification Details of KIS 2010 version 9.0
| Lab | Kaspersky |
| Software name | Kaspersky Internet Security version (9.0) 2010 |
| Suite type | Internet Security |
| License Type | Complete package |
| License validation period | One year |
| License quantity | Three users |
| System requirements | Windows Vista 32/64-bit, Windows XP 32/64-bit, Intel Pentium 800MHz, 512MB RAM, 50MB free HD space, CD-ROM, mouse, Internet connection, Internet Explorer 6 or higher |
| Anti-Virus | Yes |
| FireWall | Yes |
| Anti-Spyware | Yes |
| Other Key features | Web, File, Email protection IM Antivirus Application Control Proactive Defence Network Attack Blocker Anti-Spam Network Monitor Anti-Phishing Anti-Banner Parental Control |
April 27th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Very useful application. Easy to use and install and doesnt slow down my p.c. to much.
On the latest version you can control when you want updates to run which is really useful. One annoying thing is when you are in the middle of something and the whole thing slows down when the updates start.